Stress Flashcards
Sympothomedullary pathway
Short term Stimulus causes shock Hypothalamus triggers sympathetic branch Adrenal medulla stimulated Releases adrenaline and noradrenaline Inc heart rate/ red digestion Fight or flight response
Stress
State of physiological arousal to stressor
Or
Psychological tension between perceived demands and ability to cope
Pituitary adrenal system
Long term Hypo released CRH CRH stimulates anterior pituitary gland Releases ACTH ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex Cortex releases corticosteroids Fat and protein converted into energy
GAS
General
Adaptation
Syndrome
Alarm reaction stage
1- shock: blood press drops- faint
2-counter shock- adrenaline
Resistance stage
Long term
Hormones released to cope
Normal externally
Exhaustion stage
Body runs low on energy
Unable to cope
Alarm signs occur
Become ill- impaired immune system
Brady’s monkeys
Pairs Both given electric shock One could prevent shocks- button Exec monkeys- more likely to become ill- stress of preventing Impaired immune system Ethical issues Can't generalise
Wound healing
13 non carers 13 carers of family that's ill All given small cut Take pictures everyday of healing 9 days longer- carers Reliable- supporting evidence (civil servants)
Civil servants
7000 Rate job on pay, control Those with lower control- more ill Correlation Questionnaire
Sawmill workers
Cleaners- a lot of control
Mill workers- isolated, controlled
Developed more stress hormones in urine
High ecological validity- nat exp
Navy- SRRS
2500 navy men Filled questionnaire before tour Those with higher LCU more ill All in same individual diff removed Androcentric- only men Cannot generalise Correlation- no cause and effect
SRRS issues
Does not separate positive and negative life events
No consideration on daily hassles
Weak correlation
Type A personality
Competitive
Aggressive
Hostile
More likely to be stressed
Type B
Non aggressive
Relaxed
Non hostile
Type X
Mix of both A and B
Hardy personality
Controlled Committed See life as a challenge Least likely to be stressed High internal locus of control
Personality and illness study
3000 ps 40-60 yo Personality assessed- Q's and observ Non had CHD 8ys later, 200 developed CHD 70% were type A Weight, smoking taken into account Too simplistic- 3 types
Gender- biology explanation
Men- higher fight or flight than women- hunger gatherers- protect family
Females release hormone in stress that allows them seek support
Gender- social
Western view- men less able to talk about feelings
May drink or smoke to cope
CHD inc in women- more acceptable to smoke and drink
Gender- cognitive
Women better able to control anger
Men feel aggression is right response
Feel stress if can’t show anger
Culture- stress
Can effect way we think
ie- low socioeconomic-
More likely to be stressed- prejudice and poorer living conditions
