Stress (3A) Flashcards
What is stress?
A psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something of significance that demands their attention and efforts to cope.
What is a stressor?
A stimulus that can be internal or external that prompts the stress response.
Give an example of an internal stressor.
Attitude - negative
Rumination - repeatedly thinking about negative components of an event.
Low self esteem
Nervous system dysfunction
Give an example of an external stressor.
A test or exam
Meeting new people
Arguments
Working long hours
Financial difficulties
What is an internal stressor?
A stimulus from within a person’s body that prompts the stress response.
What is an external stressor?
A stimulus from outside of a person’s body that prompts the stress response.
What do psychological processes relate to?
Mental processes.
What do physiological processes relate to?
Bodily processes.
What word is the same as physiological and can be used interchangeably?
Biological
Where do internal stressors originate at?
From within the individual
Where do external stressors originate at?
From outside the individual
Eustress and distress are examples of _____________ responses.
Psychological
What is distress?
A form of stress characterised by a negative psychological state.
What is eustress?
A form of stress characterised by a positive psychological state.
What are two examples of physiological stress responses?
Flight-fight-freeze response
Cortisol release
What is acute stress?
A form of stress characterised by intense psychological and physiological symptoms that are brief in duration.
What is the fight-flight-freeze response?
An involuntary and automatic response to a threat that takes the form of either escaping it, confronting it or freezing in the face of it. It is a physiological response.
What division of the nervous system is responsible for the fight-flight-freeze response?
The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
List the physiological characteristics of the flight response.
An organism flees from the stressor.
This is usually perceived as the safest option.
Depends on the activation of the sympathetic nervous system which prompts a quick release of adrenaline.
List the physiological characteristics of the fight response.
An organism confronts the stressor.
The sympathetic division of the nervous system activates to energise the body and make it better able to deal with danger.
List the physiological characteristics of the freeze response.
The body immobilizes in the face of stress.
Involves a brief activation of the parasympathetic nervous system as some bodily reactions drop below a normal level.
It can also involve the sympathetic nervous system simultaneously.
What is chronic stress?
A form of stress that endures for several months or longer.
What is cortisol?
A hormone that is released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heighted arousal.
When stress is long term and high cortisol levels continue, what can be the result of this?
Suppressing the immune system.
What are some responses to acute stress?
Cortisol helps to energise the body
Confrontation of the threat
Fleeing from the source of danger
Immobility and shock
What are some responses to chronic stress?
Enduring release of cortisol
Increased blood sugar levels
Improved metabolism
Energises the body
Reduced inflammation
Immuno-suppression (lowered capability of the immune system)
Stress is a
a) psychological response
b) biological process
c) psychological and biological process
C
Stress is a response with both psychological and biological components.
