Stress

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

a psychological process, a state of mental, emotional or physiological tension

Question 2

Chronic stress

Answer 2

• long-lasting
• less severe
• more detrimental to health
• body releases cortisol as prolonged stress uses resources and body struggles to maintain Sympathetic NS arousal

Question 3

Acute stress

Answer 3

• short-lived
• sharp
• can be beneficial
• more severe
• when body first encounters acute stressor body initiates a physiological response before the brain interprets what is happening (fight-flight-freeze response)

Question 4

Benefits and limitations of cortisol

Answer 4

+
- increased energy
- increased blood sugar
- more alert
- increased metabolism
- keeps inflammation down

-
- weakened immune system
- blood sugar imbalance
- mental disorders
- impaired cognitive functioning

Question 5

Internal stressors

Answer 5

within the person
ie. mood, fears

Question 6

External stressors

Answer 6

comes from outside the person
ie. deadlines, finances, weather

Question 7

Physical effects of stress

Answer 7

• pain
• weak immune system
• headaches
• shaking

Question 8

Psychological effects of stress

Answer 8

• change in eating habits
• anxiety/ depression
• addiction
• low-self esteem
• irritable

Question 9

Lazarus and Folkman’s model

Answer 9

explains individual differences in the stress response from a psychological perspective

Question 10

Hans Selye’s model

Answer 10

explains physiological responses to different stressors

Question 11

strengths and limitations of Selye’s GAS model

Answer 11

+
- theory based on empirical evidence, can be replicated

• overlooks psychological responses to stress
• humans and rats physiologically different therefore cannot be generalised to humans

Question 12

Stage one of the General Adaptation Syndrome model

Answer 12

Alarm reaction stage
- state of “shock” (freeze)
- initially parasympathetic NS dominant (blood pressure and temperature drop - physiological effects)
- resistance to stress goes below normal levels
- combats stress or through “countershock”
- sympathetic NS activated (fight/ flight)
- resistance to stress rises above normal levels
- initial release of cortisol
- body temperature and blood pressure increases

Question 13

Stage two of General Adaptation Syndrome model

Answer 13

Resistance
- body’s resistance to stressor stays above normal levels
- continued release of cortisol
- arousal decreases (parasympathetic NS) but physiological responses remain

Question 14

Stage three of General Adaptation Syndrome model

Answer 14

Exhaustion
- cortisol depleted
- weakened immune system
- anxiety/ depression
- resistance to stress drops below the normal level

Question 15

Transactional model of Stress and Coping
-> Stressful

Answer 15

Stressful Event
l
Primary Appraisal
(make a judgement, is it stressful or not?)
l
Stressful
-> Harm
(how much damage occurred?)
-> Threat
(how much loss or harm might occur in future?)
-> Challenge
(what is potential gain?)
l
Secondary Appraisal
(evaluate coping options)
-> Coping resources INADEQUATE
l
Stress HEIGHTENED
-> Coping resources ADEQUATE
l
Stress MINIMISED/ MANAGED

Question 16

Transactional model of Stress and Coping
-> Not stressful

Answer 16

Stressful Event
l
Not Stressful
-> Irrelevant
(event had no implications)
-> Benign/ positive
(event is pleasurable)
l
No Stress

Question 17

Reappraisal

Answer 17

1. reappraise the situation - as more or less important
2. reappraise coping strategies - find further resources to help cope with stressors

Question 18

Strengths and limitations of Transactional model of Stress and Coping

Answer 18

+
- focuses on psychological causes of stress
- views individuals as being active in their own stress response
- accounts for why individuals respond differently to stress

• subjective
• overlooks physiological responses
• individuals may not be aware of all factors causing stress

Question 19

Emotion- focused coping strategies

Answer 19

• denial
• distancing
• exercise
• venting
• avoiding

Question 20

Problem- focused coping strategies

Answer 20

• evaluate pro’s and con’s
• seek more info on stressor

Question 21

Enteric nervous system

Answer 21

network of nerves in the gut

Question 22

Gut- brain axis

Answer 22

the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain (the gut can communicate with the brain and the brain can communicate with the gut)

Question 23

microbiota

Answer 23

disrupting the balance of gut microbiota can impact psychological processes

Question 24

Coping

Answer 24

an attempt to manage the demands of a stressor in an effective way

Question 25

Approach strategies

Answer 25

efforts to confront the stressor and deal with it directly -> find a solution or minimise its impact

Question 26

Avoidance strategies

Answer 26

efforts to prevent contact with the stressor, dealing with it indirectly -> maladaptive behaviours - avoid thinking or doing stressful things

Question 27

Benefits and limitations of approach strategies

Answer 27

+ - adaptive and effective - leads to fewer psychological symptoms - - may increase stress in short-term - requires lots of energy and may cause them to neglect aspects of their lives

Question 28

Benefits and limitations of avoidance strategies

Answer 28

+ - can conserve energy - minimises stress in short-term - appropriate for situations out of your control - - only helpful in short-term - long-term use can lead to other problem

Question 29

Context-specific effectiveness

Answer 29

degree to which a coping strategy is successful in alleviating or minimising stress -> is there a 'good fit' between the coping strategy and stressful situation? -> does the strategy meet the demands of the situation?

Question 30

Coping flexibility

Answer 30

a person's ability to effectively change their coping strategy to meet the demands of the stressor - higher the coping flexibility the higher their wellbeing