Stress

Question 1

stressor

Answer 1

• stimuli that causes stress (person, event, item)
• internal (within individual)
• external (outside individual)

Question 2

stress

Answer 2

• psychobiological process
• perceived by individuals as challenging or exceeding their ability to cope
• subjective and depends on our personal interpretation of the stressor (psychological perspective)

Question 3

eustress

Answer 3

• positive psychological response
• short term
• provides energy and motivation needed to achieve goals
  eg. excited, motivated, alert

Question 4

distress

Answer 4

• negative psychological response
• long term if not managed
• serious consequences for physical and mental health
  eg. anxiety, anger, nervousness

Question 5

fight - flight - freeze

Answer 5

fight - responding and fighting off the threat
flight - escaping by running away safely
freeze - keeping absolutely still and silent

Question 6

cortisol (stress hormone)

Answer 6

effect: energise the body by increasing energy supplies (blood sugars)
anti-inflammatory effect by blocking the activity of white blood cells
physical problems: colds, flu, hypertension (high blood pressure), cardiovascular disease, diabetes
psychological effects: impaired cognitive performance, learning problems, impaired memory formation and recall, mental disorders

Question 7

general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Answer 7

• explains stress from a biological perspective
• 3 stage response
• response is not specific
• developed same time as fight - flight reactions

Question 8

transactional model

Answer 8

stress involves transaction - encounter between the individual and their environment.
stress response depends on the individual’s interpretation of the stressor and their ability to cope with it - appraisal.
reappraise - allows us to change our thinking about a stressor and our response

Question 9

coping strategies

Answer 9

an attempt to manage the demands of a stressor in some effective way.
specific method that people use to manage or reduce the stress.

Question 10

context - specific effectiveness

Answer 10

there should be a match between the coping strategy and the…
- physical environment
- stressor
- individual’s personal characteristics

positive action - planning, time management