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Psychology Unit 2 - Resit > Stress > Flashcards

Stress Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the 2 systems in the body?

A

Nervous System

Endocrine System

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2
Q

What branches does the Nervous System have?

A

Central Nervous System

Peripheral Nervous System

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3
Q

What is the CNS made up of?

A

The spinal cord and the brain

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4
Q

What is the PNS made up of?

A

Sensory and motor pathways that control responses such as muscle movement

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5
Q

What does the PNS go in to?

A

Autonomic Nervous System

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6
Q

What are the 2 branches of the ANS called?

A

Sympathetic Branch and the Para-sympathetic branch

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7
Q

What does the sympathetic branch do?

A

Controls bodily arousal - increase in HR and BP

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8
Q

What does the para-sympathetic branch do?

A

Bodily calm

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9
Q

What is the other system in the body called?

A

The Endocrine System

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10
Q

What is the Fight or Flight response?

A

It enables us to deal with threats triggered by events which we consider physically or psychologically threatening

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11
Q

What are the 2 general responses to stress?

A

Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary (SAM) and the Pituitary Adrenal System (PAS)

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12
Q

What is the process in the SAM response?

A
  1. Stressor acts upon Hypothalamus
  2. Activating the sympathetic branch of the ANS
  3. Stimulating the Adrenal Medulla
  4. Which releases adrenaline and non-adrenaline
  5. Which increases BP, HR and sweat gland activity
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13
Q

What does SAM involve?

A

ANS
Hormones
Adrenaline
Non-Adrenaline

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14
Q

What does PAS involve?

A

Only hormones

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15
Q

What is the process of PAS?

A
  1. Stressor acts upon hypothalamus
  2. Which activates the Pituitary Gland
  3. Which releases ACTH
  4. ACTH stimulates the Adrenal Cortex
  5. Which releases Corticosteroids such as Cortisol
  6. Which convert stores fat and protein in the liver into energy
  7. However over time this can suppress the immune system
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16
Q

Name some examples of hormones that glands produce?

A 
Thyroid gland = thyroxin
Pancreas = insulin
Testes - testosterone
Ovaries - oestrogen 
Adrenal glands = non/adrenaline
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17
Q

What is the tend or befriend theory?

A

This is more likely to be caused when there is an attachment to the related objects and it results in NO fight or flight response

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18
Q

What is the immune system?

A

A bodily system that defends us against disease - billions of cells travel through the blood stream, tissues and organs and protect the body against antigens

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19
Q

What is an antigen?

A

A foreign body such as bacteria, viruses and cancer cells

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20
Q

What does an overproduction of Cortisol result in?

A

Cortisol does help to protect us however an overproduction weakens the immune system - reduces leucocyte activity and therefore production of antibodies

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21
Q

What is the relationship between stress and illness?

A

Stress doesn’t actually cause illness, it simply reduces the immune systems ability to fight antigens which leaves the body vulnerable to illness

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22
Q

What are the different types of Immunity?

A

Natural Immunity
Specific Immunity which is split into
Cellular and Humoral

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23
Q

What is natural immunity?

A

The cells are called macrophages and phagocytes (cells in the blood stream)
They non-specifically attack/ingest invading pathogens and viruses
It is quite inaccurate

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24
Q

What is specific immunity?

A

Based in the lymphocytes cells
Destroys invading pathogens
Highly accurate

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25
Q

What is Cellular immunity?

A

Includes killer/memory/helper T Cells
Involved the T lymphocytes (thymus gland)
T Cells attack intra-cellular (within) pathogens such as viruses

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26
Q

What is Humoral Immunity?

A

Another type of lymphocyte cells called B cells (bone marrow)
End product is the secretion of antibodies from B cells and attack extra-cellular cells such as bacteria or parasites

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27
Q

Describe the Cohen et al Experiment?

A
  • 394 ppts completed questionnaires on the number of stressful events in their daily life in the past year
  • Rated the degree of stress and levels of -emotions
  • Also exposed to a common cold
  • 82% became infected
  • People with higher stress levels developed the cold quicker
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28
Q

What are the strengths of Cohen et al?

A

It is supported by other research = Evans and Eddington found that -life events predicted the likelihood of getting a cold
The findings have also been replicated

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29
Q

What are the weaknesses of Cohen et al?

A

The study is correlational = no cause and effect
High possibility of ex variables
They did not manipulate the levels of stress

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30
Q

Describe Kiecolt-Glaser

A
  • Natural Experiment
  • 75 medical students
  • Blood samples taken 1 month before and during their exam period
  • Also asked to fill out a questionnaire about life events and loneliness
  • T cell activity was significantly reduced during exam period the stress caused a reduction in immune function
  • Making the students more vulnerable to stress
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31
Q

What are the strengths of Kiecolt-Glaser?

A

Findings are supported by - The immune function is reduced in LT carers of Alzheimer’s patients and women going through a divorce - more representative

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32
Q

What are the weaknesses of Kiecolt-Glaser?

A

Findings are not generalisable - only uses students - of a certain age
Not a varied group - population validity is low

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33
Q

What are acute time limited stressors?

A

(Lab stressors) Up regulation of natural immunity - number of natural killer cells - logical as natural immunity is fast and would be activated immediately by the stressor

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34
Q

What are brief naturalistic stressors?

A

They are stressors that naturally occur in your environment - not overall affect on immune system

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35
Q

What are chronic stressors?

A

Make you change yourself and your role - development of a disability - they have the most consistent effects on the immune system - down regulation of immune function across gender and age

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36
Q

What is a retrospective event?

A

Past event

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37
Q

What is prospective event?

A

Future event

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38
Q

What is the SRRS?

A

Social Readjustment Rating Scale

39
Q

What does the SRRS do?

A

By checking off events people have experienced in the last year they give themselves a pre-set score called the Life Change Unit Score
The higher the overall score the higher the risk for illness

40
Q

What are the issues with the SRRS?

A

It is correlational
You cannot inflict life issues on people
Individual Differences - people react differently to illness or stress
Doesn’t distinguish between positive and negative life events
Self report is poor as attitudes can change over time
It is considered to be dated and androcentric

41
Q

Describe Rahe et al?

A
  • 2500 Navy personnel fill in the SRRS for the last 6 months
  • Over the following 7 months the number and severity of stress related illness was recorded

-Positive correlation of 0.12 (very weak)

42
Q

What did Sarason do to develop the SRRS?

A

Ppts had to rate events from -3 to +3 which distinguished between positive and negative events

Reduces effect of individual differences

43
Q

What is a daily hassle?

A

Minor, everyday annoyance that most likely causes stress

44
Q

Example of a daily hassle?

A 
Concerns with weight
Health of family member
Property investment 
Taxes 
Misplaced items
45
Q

What is a daily uplift?

A

Positive everyday experiences that will help to protect you from stress

46
Q

Examples of a daily uplift?

A

Completing a task

Getting enough sleep

47
Q

Describe Kanner et al 1981?

A
  • Devised a hassles scale of 117 -daily items and 135 +daily uplifts
  • 100 ppts studied over 1 year
  • Daily hassles correlated - with psychological symptoms and were a better indicator of illness than life changes
  • Changes led to hassles which then led to vulnerability to illness - life changes and hassles interact to affect health levels
48
Q

Describe De Longis et al?

A
  • 75 married couples were studied

- Found no relationship between life changes and health or between uplifts and health

49
Q

What affect does Workplace Stressor’s have on people?

A 
Negative impact on health
Decreased productivity 
Increased absenteeism 
Accidents 
Higher Staff turnover
50
Q

Describe Johansson et al?

A
  • 14 finished (non control and lots of stress) and 10 cleaners (lots of control and less stress) were studied
  • The finishers quality of work affected everyone’s pay
  • They also have a heavy and repetitive workload

-Finishers had high levels of stress hormones, stress related illness and levels of absenteeism

51
Q

What were the strengths of Johansson et al?

A

Measured 2 different factors that determine stress levels:

Physiologically through adrenaline levels and Behaviorally through absenteeism

52
Q

What were the weaknesses of Johansson et al?

A

Doesn’t account for individual differences (some are more vulnerable than others)
Doesn’t identify which stressors are most stressful - should have separated low control/repetitive work

53
Q

Define decision latitude?

A

Do not decide what you do you have low decision latitude and little control over your job

54
Q

Example of low control and low demand job (KM)

A

Cleaner

55
Q

Example of high control and low demand job (KM)

A

Architect

56
Q

Example of low control and high demand job (KM)

A

Waitress

57
Q

Example of high control and high command job (KM)

A

Teacher

58
Q

Describe Van der Doef and Maes?

A
  • Found a strong -correlation between job control and illness
  • Combination of high demand jobs and low control causing an increase in the chance of developing heart disease
  • Related to Karasek model by it stating that high demand and low control = high strain causing illness
59
Q

Describe Marmot et al?

A

-Used questionnaires and health screening to find the link between workplace stress and illness

  • Found civil servants with low job control were 3x more likely to have a heart attack than those with high job control - low job control harmful to health
  • No correlation between workload and stress related illness - contradicts Johansson
60
Q

What are Type A Personalities like?

A

Time Pressured - always in a hurry
Competitive - both socially and work related
Angry - easily frustrated

61
Q

What are Type B personalities like?

A

Relaxed - don’t get stressed
Not competitive - not bothered if someone is better than them
Calm - more reflective - don’t get angry

62
Q

Describe Friedman and Rosenman?

A
  • Measure the personalities of over 3500 middle aged men over 12 years
  • 70% of heart attack patients were type A

However this could be due to lifestyle factors

63
Q

Describe Miller et al?

A

Found that hostility is a major risk factor and is a component of behaviour that is highly likely with people considered to be Type A

64
Q

What are the 3 components of hardiness?

A

Control
Commitment
Challenge

65
Q

What does control mean in relation to hardiness?

A

The belief that you can control things that happen in your life and it is not down to faith

66
Q

What does commitment mean in relation to hardiness?

A

Sense of purpose and involvement with people and careers

67
Q

What does challenge mean in relation to hardiness?

A

Life change are seen as challenges to be overcome rather than stressors

68
Q

What are hardy people more likely to be like?

A

Less affected by stressors and more resilient to effects of stress

69
Q

Describe what Kobasa found?

A

Highly stressed executive with low levels of illness had high levels of hardiness than highly stressed executives with high levels of illness - hardiness protects you from illness

70
Q

Describe Lander and Rodin?

A
  • Compared 2 wards in elderly homes
  • Group 1 = allowed to decide where their plant went and which night they went to the cinema
  • Group 2 = given no choice

-Group 1 were happier, more active and alert and less of them died - better health

71
Q

What are the biological methods of stress management?

A

Drugs

72
Q

How do drugs work?

A

They reach the brain via the bloodstream which affect the neurotransmitter levels - affecting their communication

73
Q

What are Benzodiazepines used for?

A

Treat psychological disorders such as stress and anxiety:

Social phobias
PTSD
GAD

74
Q

How do benzodiazepines work?

A

Increase the effect of GABA (inhibitory neurotransmitter - less likely for neurons to fire = reduced brain activity = reduced anxiety)

Suppressing the neural activity by stimulating an increase of chloride ions into brain neurons = difficult for neurotransmitters to stimulate them

75
Q

What are the side effects of benzodiazepines?

A

Drowsiness

Episodic memory

76
Q

What is the withdrawal like for benzodiazepines?

A

Long term use may lead to dependency and withdrawal symptoms such as:

Anxiety
Tremors
Headaches

77
Q

What is the effectiveness of benzodiazepines?

A

Modest affect - only short term

78
Q

Describe Davidson?

A

Found that 78% of patients with anxiety improved with drug treatment
Compared to only 20% who were given placebo
2 year follow up found more effective functioning in those treated with BZ

79
Q

Give an overall evaluation of benzodiazepines?

A

Introduced to counteract the addictiveness of barbiturates but proved addictive even at lower dose with severe withdrawal symptoms when treatment stopped

Treatment should not exceed 4 weeks - however some can use them in long term - resultant risk of addiction

80
Q

How do Beta Blockers work?

A

When a person is anxious = increased adrenaline production which stimulate beta-adrenergic receptors = results in increased HR

BBs act upon beta-adrenergic receptors to prevent stimulation

Resulting in reduced HR and physically damaging effects of anciety

81
Q

What are Beta Blockers used for?

A

Treat psychological and physical results of stress

High BP

Also designed to reduce the risk of stroke and CHD

82
Q

What are the side effects of Beta Blockers?

A

Breathing difficulties
Hallucinations
Cold extremities

83
Q

What are the affects of withdrawal from Beta Blockers?

A

Long term use can lead to dependency -

not many problems as they do not affect the brain significantly

84
Q

What is the effectiveness of Beta Blockers?

A

MA showed hardly any effect at all and argued that calcium channel blockers are better

85
Q

Give an overall evaluation of Beta Blockers?

A

They work immediately - acting directly to reduce heart rate and blood pressure = effective treatment

Unlike BZs they are not addictive but they can incur serious side effects such as hallucinations and cold extremities

86
Q

What is the aim of SIT?

A

Increase the ability of the patient to cope with stressors and increase their resilience to stress

87
Q

What are the 3 elements of SIT?

A

Conceptualisation
Skills training
Real life Application

88
Q

Describe Conceptualisation?

A

This is the cognitive element where they try to change their thoughts or behaviour
Involves discussing and categorising stressors, main features and possible ways of coping with this

89
Q

Describe Skills Training?

A

They are taught relaxation techniques and social skills such as eye contact, conversational skills and body posture
It is done through role play and other safe situations

90
Q

Describe Real Life Applications?

A

Trying the techniques they have learnt in the real world
Contact with their therapist is maintain - follow up sessions and further training when and if required
Successful application is reinforcing as it gives them more confidence to continue

91
Q

Describe Meichenbaum?

A
  • SIT vs systematic desensitisation with pre-exam anxious students
  • SIT group performed better in exams and gave better self report after
  • 2 fold they feel better and were less anxious meaning they performed better
92
Q

Describe Saunders et al MA?

A
  • 18000 ppts and 37 studies

- Results showed that SIT was more effective for reducing performance anxiety and enhanced their behaviour under stress

93
Q

Give an overall evaluation of SIT?

A

Difficult to ascertain which element is most important
Not a simple option requires dedication and motivation
Future solution

94
Q

What is hardiness training?

A

It is increasing the ability of people to cope by training them to be more hardy
By developing levels of control, commitment and challenge

LITTLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THIS

Psychology Unit 2 - Resit (3 decks)

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