Stress Flashcards
What is stress?
Stress is a biological and physical response to external threat (stressor)
Describe stress as a physical response
Short term
Increased blood pressure, breathing rate and heart rate. Flood of adrenaline, corticosteroids and immunosuppression of immune system.
Describe stress as a psychological response
displacement shut down over-sensitivity/vulnerability projection irritability depression decreased libido
Name the three types of stress
Acute stress- response to immediate threat e.g fight or flight
Episodic acute stress- repeated instances of short term stress e.g taking on too much work
Chronic stress- persistent over a long period of time e.g unhappy marriage
what is the sympatherma-dullary pathway
In this order:
- Hypothalamus is activated which activates the autonomic nervous system
- Arouses the sympathetic branch which sends a signal to the adrenal medulla, which releases adrenaline and noradrenaline
- Sends to heart
- Heart beats faster, increased blood pressure and breathing rate
- When stressor is over, pathway activates to calm down HR, BP and BR
What are the effects of adrenaline on the heart?
Sympathetic arousal = adrenaline intake = heart works faster, blood vessels constrict and arteries become blocked. This has been linked to cardiovascular disorders such as heart diseases, heart attacks and angina.
What are the 3 parts of the ‘Hardy Personality’?
Commitment, control and challenge
Who founded the ‘Hardy personality’
Kobosa et al(1977)
Describe Hans Selye (1936)
Found that stress occurs in response to a stressor, an external stimuli that causes the body to prepare for action
What is distress
Unpleasant, overwhelming stress
What is eustress
Challenging, engaging stress
Who founded the type A and type B personalities
Friedman and rosenman
Symptoms of a type A personality
Impatient Competitive High achiever Alert Self critical Hostile Rushed
What is are symptoms of the type B personality
Calm Relaxed Laid back Less ambitious Do one thing at once Make time for friends and family Less competitive
Describe Rosenman (1976)
Interviewed 3,200 men categorised type A, type B or type X. Followed up 8.5 years later and discovered that 257 had coronary heart disease. 70% of these were type A, creating a link between personality and stress
Name two methods of dealing with stress
SIT (Stress innoculation therapy)
Beta blockers
What is stress innoculation therapy
Stage 1: Conceptualise
Learn about anger, and how it can be useful. Analyse their own anger patterns (meta-cognition)
Stage 2: Skill acquisition
Physiological and behavioural. Taught skills such as self regulation and relaxation, resolving conflicts without anger
Stage 3: Application
Apply learned skills, with feedback from therapist and group members
What are beta-blockers
Drugs that reduce blood pressure and dampen the effects of adrenaline and norepinephrine, reducing anxiety and stress
