Stress

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

Person-environment transactions lead an individual to perceive a discrepancy between the demands of the situation and their resources to cope.

Question 2

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Answer 2

Low and high arousal reduce performance. An optimal level of arousal is best. This peak changes from person to person.

Question 3

Eustress

Answer 3

Positive stress that optimises performance.

Question 4

Distress

Answer 4

Negative stress that reduces performance.

Question 5

Strain

Answer 5

Physiological and psychological response to stress.

Question 6

Hassles and Uplifts

Answer 6

Small issues associated with daily living that can accumulate and affect wellbeing.

Question 7

Burnout

Answer 7

Physical, emotional and mental exhaustion as a result of long term involvement in emotionally demanding events.

Question 8

Physiological Symptoms of Stress

Answer 8

Increased heart rate and blood pressure, heightened awareness, increased respiration and hormone release.

Question 9

General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 9

Alarm - threat occurs (initial mobilisation)
Resistance - fight against stressor
Exhaustion - depletion of resources (can lead to illness)

Question 10

Adrenaline and Noradrenaline

Answer 10

Clot formation, increased heart rate, immunosuppression.
Increased physical and cognitive performance.
Increased risk of CHD and Kidney Disease.

Question 11

Cortisol

Answer 11

Regulates blood glucose and blood pressure.
Provides energy to muscles.
Increased risk of infection and damage to hippocampal neurons (learning and memory).

Question 12

Stress and Immune Function

Answer 12

Stress hormones can supress immune function, making it easier for foreign organisms to invade.

Question 13

Stress Reactivity

Answer 13

How negatively or positively someone reacts to stress. Partially genetic. High reactivity can increase risk of CHD and Hypertension.

Question 14

Stress Recovery

Answer 14

How quickly levels of stress hormones return to baseline after stress occurs.

Question 15

Allostatic Load

Answer 15

Cumulative wear and tear on the body as a result of chronic stress. Recovery becomes less complete over time.

Question 16

Stress Resistance

Answer 16

Some people remain healthy even when exposed to stress (disposition, coping, social support etc).

Question 17

Transactional Model

Answer 17

Environmental demands prompt an appraisal which the individual interprets positively or negatively. IE Cannot define an event as stressful because it varies for everyone.

Question 18

Appraisal Process

Answer 18

Primary - initial appraisal of the situation
Secondary - judgement about the match between coping resources and the demands of the situation.
Reappraisal - based on feedback from the results of the first two stages of appraisal

Question 19

Diathesis Stress Model

Answer 19

Emphasises the interaction between predisposing factors and environmental stressors.

Question 20

Individual Differences

Answer 20

Affect and personality can influence levels of stress and strain (eg Type A anger in can lead to increased stress).