Stress

Question 1

Deifne Stressor

Answer 1

stimuli that causes stress & challenges ability to cope

Question 2

What are the three types of stress and define

Answer 2

o Acute stress – brief & specific
o Episodic stress – comes back
o Chronic stress – serious and ongoing

Question 3

What are the 2 responses to stress and define

Answer 3

• Eustress – positive psychological response to stress being enthused & motivated
• Distress – negative psychological response being anxious and angry

Question 4

What system(s) is the fight flight response activated from

Answer 4

• Sympathetic nervous system

Question 5

What physiological effects does the fight flight response have

Answer 5

o Increases: heart rate, blood pressure, glucose & pupil dilation
o Supresses: non-essential functions (e.g. digestion)

Question 6

What system(s) are activated in the freeze response

Answer 6

• Both Sympathetic NS & Parasympathetic NS are activated (but Parasympathetic NS dominates)

Question 7

What physiological effects does the freeze response have

Answer 7

• Muscle movement stops, heart slows, blood pressure drops

Question 8

What is used for long term stressors

Answer 8

Cortisol & Hyperalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis

Question 9

How does the Cortisol & Hyperalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis work

Answer 9

• Activated after the FFF response
o Body can’t maintain for long periods of time
• Decreases inflammation & helps to keep going
• Can cause weakened immune systems causing disease (if activated for a prolonged time)

Question 10

What are the stages of Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome and describe

Answer 10

1. Alarm Reaction
   o Shock – where resistance to stressor lowers (a blind panic)
   o Counter shock – sympathetic nervous system activates
2. Resistance
   o If a stressor is not dealt with the body resists it
   o Parasympathetic nervous system activated and HPA axis
3. Exhaustion
   o Resistance to stress drops significantly
   o Become fatigued & vulnerable to mental illness (anxiety, depression & nightmares)
   o Vulnerable to disease

Question 11

Strengths of the GAS model

Answer 11

• Demonstrated how stress reduced immunity to disease

* Showed how the body deteriorates if stressed for too long

Question 12

Weaknesses of the GAS model

Answer 12

• Described stress as a one size fits all
• Doesn’t take into account psychological factors
• Researched only on rats

Question 13

What model describes the psychological resposne to stress

Answer 13

Lazarus & Folkman apraisal model

Question 14

What does the Lazarus & Folkman model assume

Answer 14

• Believe reactions & processes are unique

 Stress is processed differently across people

Question 15

Strengths of the Lazarus & Folkman model of stress

Answer 15

• Focuses on psychological rather than just philological
• Performed on humans
• Active role in managing stress & responses
• More variability in stress response

Question 16

Weaknesses of the Lazarus & Folkman model of stress

Answer 16

• Difficult to test

* Primary/secondary appraisal could be simultaneous

Question 17

Define Coping process

Answer 17

involves cognitive & behavioural efforts for dealing with internal & external stressors appraised as exceeding our ability to cope

Question 18

Define coping strategy

Answer 18

a specific method, behavioural or psychological, used to manage or reduce stress

Question 19

Define Approach coping strategy

Answer 19

confronting the stressor to deal directly with it & finding a solution to resolve

Question 20

Define Avoidant coping strategies

Answer 20

evading the stressor & being indirect/focused away from stressor, with no attempt to confront it

Question 21

Define context specific effectiveness

Answer 21

match/good fit between strategy and stressor

Question 22

Define Coping flexibility

Answer 22

ability to adjust coping strategies for situations, recognising if its effective & knowing when to change strategies