Stress Flashcards
Lecture 6?
Describe Cannon’s (1932) physiological model of stress
The fight or flight response is a physiological response to a threat in which the ANS mobilises the organism for attacking or feeling an enemy (trauma responses).
Describe Selye’s 1956 General adaptation syndrome
Alarm is when the organism recognises the threat and mobilises resources.
Resistance comes next which is when the stress is prolonged, the organism copes with the stressor and adapts to it.
Then comes exhaustion , the organisms’ resources are depleted and adaptation fails.
What are some problems with Selye and Cannon’s models?
They ignore the individual variability and psychological factors. They have been criticised for describing the physiological responses to stress as consistent, regardless of the nature of the stressor . The models also describe individuals as passive - this may not be the case.
What do life events models of stress focus on?
Examines stress and stress- related changes as a response to life experiences
What is Holmes and Rahe’s Social Readjustment Rating scale ?
An extensive list of possible life changes or life events i.e divorce, going on holiday, getting fired. Indicates how likely an individual is to experience a related health issue in their lifetime.
In a study, 2,500 military members completed the SRRS and their health records were assessed over the following 6 months. The higher the scale score, the more likely they were to develop health issues.
What are some limitations of the life events model of stress?
- The individual’s rating of the event is not considered
- Influence of an individual’s present state of mind on their retrospective ratings should be factored.
- Is the outcome of a series of life experience necessarily a health issue?
Describe the transactional model of stress
Lazarus’ model of appraisal described individuals as psychological beings who appraise the outside world rather than simply passively responding to it.
What is the primary appraisal process?
Determines whether the environment is perceived as psychologically threatening, harmful or challenging to the person.
What is the second appraisal process?
A complex evaluative process in which a person considers resources available to cope with the primary appraised stressor.
What events are typically appraised as stressful?
Frustration, lack of control, conflict - incompatible motivations, purely internal thoughts, change, pressure, ambiguous events and overload.
What are the two types of stress?
Eustress –> perceived as manageable
Distress –> uncontrollable, prolonged or overwhelming
What is distress divided into ?
Acute stress - immediate response to a threat or challenge
Chronic = ongoing exposure to stress, may seem unrelenting
Describe the biological mechanisms of stress.
Stress activates the amygdala which contributes to emotional processing, sending a distress signal to the hypothalamus. The brain area functions like a command centre, activating the sympathetic nervous system by sending signals through the autonomic nerves to the adrenal glands . These glands respond by pumping adrenaline into the bloodstream, bringing about physiological changes
Why can the biological mechanisms of stress lead to medical illness?
The biological processes of stress are designed to be a short term process. So when these systems are active for long periods, it can lead to several medical illnesses.
Name some common stress associated illnesses.
Diminished immunity, headache, fatigue, weight gain, hypertension and heart disease
How is stress, aggression and heart disease linked?
A type A personality pattern has been found to link to CHD. This personality is characterised by competitiveness, impatience, time urgency, anger and hositility (AGGRESSION). A longitudinal study followed 3000 middle aged ppts for 8 years. Type A men had twice as many heart attacks or other forms of CHD as men who were not type A. Through hyperresponsivity of the sympathetic nervous system to stressful situations, blood pressure and heart rate increase more.
What are the indirect effects of stress on health
- We stay up at night
- skip meals , link on junk food
- drink more , smoke more
- stop exercising , become sedentary
- drinking more makes coping even more difficult
Describe the role of genetics in mediating the stress response
Genes control the stress response - individuals have different responses to stress. There are genetic components to fearful behaviour, anxiety disorders, neurobiological response.
Describe the role of development in mediating the stress response
Life experiences can affect a person’s stress response. Social support, protective: profound effect on life expectancy , patients have better outcomes with strong social support. Early life stress increases stress reactivity as an adult
what are some stress management techniques?
behavioural coping mechanisms such as biofeedback progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training , meditation, aerobics. Cognitive coping techniques: CBT , meaning making , reframing, mindfulness.
What are positive beliefs and humour associated with?
Well being, cognitive reframing, positive thinking, refuting negative thinking, belief in a meaningful cause
How does pessimism affect health?
Directly = higher blood pressure
Indirectly = reduces our tendency to engage in health-promoting behaviours
What is hardiness?
Hardiness is when a person does not become physically or mentally impaired due to stress. Hardiness predicts better health and there are three dimensions
What are the three dimensions of hardiness?
Commitment - important to remain involved, no matter how stressful
Control - belief in our ability to influence situations
challenge - stress is a normal part of life, a challenge , an opportunity
How can coping behaviours be categorised?
- Problem focused - changing our environment to reduce stress
- Emotion focus - changing our response to the stress ; can be a behavioural or cognitive strategy
What do cognitive techniques help to identify?
Helps identify the situations that produce symptoms and alter the mental responses of these
What is meant by mindfulness?
the practice of learning to focus attention on moment by moment experiences with an attitude of curiosity , openness and acceptance
What did Libermann et al. (2018) find relating to practiced relaxation techniques?
34 people who practices relaxation response - decreased systolic blood pressure and could reduce Blood pressure medications.
Britt et al (2001) hardiness in soldiers
Amongst soldier on a peacemaking mission in Bosnia - those that measured highly on hardiness tests believed they obtained benefits from the mission
What is autogenic training?
Teaches to self produce feelings of warmth and heaviness throughout the body to create a mental peace
(Freidmann & Martin , 2007) Exercise
Those who exercised had lower heart rates and blood pressure in stressful situations .
Meaning making as a cognitive technique to recover from stress / trauma - what is assimilation?
Reframing the experience as a less dissonant with pre-existing global meaning .
Meaning making as a cognitive technique to recover from stress / trauma - what is accommodation ?
changing one’s global meaning system
What is reframing?
creating a different of looking at a situation , conflict, person, or relationship by changing its meaning , it is a technique often used by therapists . E.g ‘‘are these thoughts really true?
What are three modules of the ReSource project?
- Presence - meditation
- Affect - compassion, gratitude ect
- Perspective - taking a bird’s eye view on one’s life
