Stress

Question 1

What is stress?

Answer 1

Stress is a biological and physical response to external threat (stressor)

Question 2

Describe stress as a physical response

Short term

Answer 2

Increased blood pressure, breathing rate and heart rate. Flood of adrenaline, corticosteroids and immunosuppression of immune system.

Question 3

Describe stress as a psychological response

Answer 3

displacement
shut down
over-sensitivity/vulnerability
projection
irritability
depression
decreased libido

Question 4

Name the three types of stress

Answer 4

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

Question 5

what is the sympatherma-dullary pathway

Answer 5

In this order:

1. Hypothalamus is activated which activates the autonomic nervous system
2. Arouses the sympathetic branch which sends a signal to the adrenal medulla, which releases adrenaline and noradrenaline
3. Sends to heart
4. Heart beats faster, increased blood pressure and breathing rate
5. When stressor is over, pathway activates to calm down HR, BP and BR

Question 6

What are the effects of adrenaline on the heart?

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

What are the 3 parts of the ‘Hardy Personality’?

Answer 7

Commitment, control and challenge

Question 8

Who founded the ‘Hardy personality’

Answer 8

Kobosa et al(1977)

Question 9

Describe Hans Selye (1936)

Answer 9

Found that stress occurs in response to a stressor, an external stimuli that causes the body to prepare for action

Question 10

What is distress

Answer 10

Unpleasant, overwhelming stress

Question 11

What is eustress

Answer 11

Challenging, engaging stress

Question 12

Who founded the type A and type B personalities

Answer 12

Friedman and rosenman

Question 13

Symptoms of a type A personality

Answer 13

Impatient
Competitive
High achiever
Alert
Self critical
Hostile
Rushed

Question 14

What is are symptoms of the type B personality

Answer 14

Calm 
Relaxed
Laid back
Less ambitious
Do one thing at once
Make time for friends and family
Less competitive

Question 15

Describe Rosenman (1976)

Answer 15

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

Question 16

Name two methods of dealing with stress

Answer 16

SIT (Stress innoculation therapy)

Beta blockers

Question 17

What is stress innoculation therapy

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What are beta-blockers

Answer 18

Drugs that reduce blood pressure and dampen the effects of adrenaline and norepinephrine, reducing anxiety and stress