Stress as a phycobilogical process Flashcards
define the term stress
is a phycological and physiological experience that occurs when an indavidal encounters something of significants and demands their attention and efforts to cope
stressor
the term used to describe the stimulus (internal or external) that prompts the biological and phycological stress response
what is internal stressor
originates from within the phycological and biological processes
eg. attitude, rummination, low self esteem
what is external stressor
originates from outside the individuals environmental stimuli
eg. arguments, work pressure, school.
Psychological stress response
relates to how we think and feel about a stressor and differs between people
eustress
is a positive phycological stress response
- involves feelings of feeling happy
-ushally occurs when the stressor provides positive opportunities for challenge and growth
-phycological stress response that can enable high performance
-temporary response
distress
is a negative phycological stress response
- involves emotions such as being worried or upset
-Usually occurs when the stressor is a negative circumstance
-A prolonged response
Acute stress response (FFF)
chracterised by intense phycological and phycological symptoms that are brief in duration
-Occurs when the stressor prevents an imminent threat to an organisms safety
-In this circumstance the fight, flight, freeze response is activated
-An involuntary and autonomic response
-It is an adaptive response allowing an organism to survive in the face of a stressor
fight Acute stress response
- Organism flees from the stressor
- Activation of the sympathetic nervous system allows the organism to flee quickly
- Escaping the stressor may be perceived as the safest option
Flight Acute stress response
- Organism confronts the stressor
- Activation of the sympathetic nervous system to energise the body and make it able to deal with danger
- Prompting adrenaline to be released
Freeze Acute stress response
The body’s immobility and shock in response to a stressor
* Involves brief activation of the parasympathetic NS then involve the activation of the sympathetic NS with the freeze only lasting seconds
* Body perceives a lack of energy/ resources to cope
chronic stress response (cortisol)
a form of stress that endures for several months or longer
a long-term biological response that will energise the body over a period of weeks/months
Cortisol
hormone that is released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heightened arousal
Released by the adrenal glands and is involved in both short term and long term responses to stress
what does cortisol do
o During FFF, cortisol helps to energise the body by inducing the release of glucose and a rise in blood sugar levels
o Helps the body to maintain at above-average levels of arousal
o Cortisol is released over a prolonged period and therefore takes longer to be secreted into the body
o High levels of cortisol long term can supress the immune system
o Causes the body’s functions to operate at heightened levels, depleting the energy required to fight off bacteria
The gut
refers to the long flexible tube from mouth to anus that is the passageway involved in digestion
Gut health
Lots of bacteria makes the gut biome more diverse which increases digestive support, protects against infection, and supports our reproductive health
what happens if Gut microbiota is imbalanced
When the gut microbiota is imbalanced- called gut microbiota dysbiosis (too much bad not enough good bacteria)
when the Gut microbiota is balanced
When the gut microbiota is balanced its called gut microbiota symbiosis
define the term Gut microbiota
all of the microorganisms that live in the gut
define Gut microbiome
Refers to all of the genes of the microorganisms that live in the gut
Gut-Brain Axis
refers to the bidirectional connection between the gut and the brain
- Through the enteric and central NS
The vagus nerve
the longest cranial nerve that connects the gut and the brain enabling them to communicate
Responsible for 10% of nerve fibres in the vagus nerve are involved on conveying information from the brain to the gut
90% are responsible for conveying information from the gut to the brain
Enteric Nervous System
Enteric nervous system refers to the network of nerves in the gut and is a subdivision of the autonomic NS
Nerves within the enteric NS communicate with nerves in the central NS
GBA IN PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND BEHAVIOUR
-The gut can impact out phycological processes ands behaviours
-Research suggest that there is potential links between the gut and experiences of stress
-A diverse gut microbiota is associated with greater levels of overall health
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Biological model os stress
what is general adoption syndrome in relation to stress
Explains the physiological reactions that occur in the presence of stressors
- Individuals progress through the stages and substages of the general adaptation syndrome in a sequential manner
- Alarm reaction stage
(GAS)
individual first encounters and becomes aware of a stressor
- Divided into two substages/phases: shock and countershock
Substage no.1- shock
Momentary decrease in bodily arousal (similar to freeze response)
- Decrease in blood pressure, Decrease in heart rate, Decrease in muscle tension - The parasympathetic NS is dominant
- Body reacts as though its injured
- Ability to deal with the stressor falls below normal
Substage no.2- Countershock
- Increase in bodily arousal
- Increases in blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension
- Stress hormone released- cortisol, adrenaline initially then followed by cortisol
- Body is mobilised to deal with the stressor due to sympathetic NS becoming dominant
- Fight/flight response becoming activated
- Ability to deal with the stressor increases above normal
- Resistance Stage
- Bodily arousal and ability to deal with the stressor remain above normal levels of resistance to stress
-Increased cortisol levels
SNS responses decrease in intensity as the body attempts to stabilise its internal environment - Resistance to subsequent stressors may decrease
what happens in Resistance Stage in relation to cortisole
Prolonged presence of stress hormones (cortisol) In the bloodstream supresses the immune system functioning
Increases susceptibility to illness (cold and minor flu)
- Individual is still able to cope with demands of the initial stressor
- Bodily resources are used at an increased rate to maintain heightened arousal- eventually depleted
3.Exhaustion stage
The depletion of energy levels and bodily resources
- Resulting in an inability to cope with the stressor as bodily resources have been depleted
- Can no longer cope with the demands of the stressor or any other stressors that may arise - Vulnerable to more serious psychological and physiological illnesses
- Extreme fatigue, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, anxiety, depression emotional instability
- bellow Normal levels of resistance to stress
Explanatory power of the GAS model
Strengths
- Recognises a predictable pattern of physiological responses
- Recognises the relationship between chronic stress and illness
-Provides objective, empirical information about the biological processes involved in the stress response
Explanatory power of the GAS model
weaknesses
- Research was conducted on rats and therefore doesn’t account for the human element
-Biological and physiological structures are different to those of rats
- Ignores the importance of psychological factors
- Fails to recognise the subjective nature of the stress response
Stress as a psychological process
- The thoughts and emotions behind stress
how an individual may interpret stressors
subjective in nature and are influenced by personal feelings or preferences
Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping
- Proposes that stress is a subjective ‘transaction’ between an incoming stressor and the personal and environmental factors specific to an individual
- The unique stress response arises from the individual’s appraisal and their belief in their ability to cope with it
- Stress results from a perceived imbalance between the requirements of a stressor and an individual’s available coping resources
Primary appraisal
Evaluating the nature of the incoming stressor
Deciding whether or not the incoming stimulus will actually cause them to experience stress - What the likely impact of the stressor will be
Benign-positive
Initial appraisal of a stimulus as neutral or good, that does not cause stress for the individual
Irrelevant
An initial appraisal of a stimulus as a non-issue for the individual, it is disregarded as it doesn’t affect the patient in any way
Stressful
An initial appraisal of a stimulus as a source of worry or emotional significance for the individual
Transaction only continues if this initial component of primary appraisal evaluates the stimulus as stressful
what are the further aprasles after stressful
- Harm loss-
- threat
3.challange
Harm loss
a further appraisal of the stressor as having caused some damage to the individual, meaning the individual has already experienced direct distress from the stressor
Threat
further appraisal of the stressor as potentially causing damage to the individual in the future, causing the individual to experience distress despite no direct distress from the stressor yet
Challenge
a further appraisal of the stressor as potentially providing a positive opportunity for growth or change for the individual
Secondary appraisal
*The individual evaluates their coping resources and decides what types of coping mechanisms and strategies to employ
*Further stress is created when the individual believes their coping mechanisms cannot meet the demands of the stressor
*The coping strategy will be either avoidance or approach in nature
strengths Explanatory power of the model of Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model
- Allows one to track the subjective stress response of an individual
- Considers the cognitive processes within the stress response
- Human subjects were used when sourcing data to create the model
- Explains why the same stressor has different effects on individuals
- Provides suggestions for coping with the stressor
disadvantages Explanatory power of the model of Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model
- Some argue that the stages of appraisal can occur simultaneously
- Ordering them chronologically may not be reflective of a true stress response
- Does not include the biological process
- Cannot be easily tested by research, as
human subjects aren’t always consciously aware of stages of appraisal
Coping
process of dealing with stress
Some coping mechanisms directly confront or reduce the source of stress
Coping can either be an approach or avoidance strategy
coping avoidance strategy
- involve evading or distancing oneself
- Sometimes a short term refile but not effective long-term.
coping strategy that is an approach
directly confront the source of stress
Deal with the stress in a particular way
Potential to eliminate the stress for good
Context Specific effectiveness
Refers to the coping strategy or mechanism used is appropriate for the unique demands of the stressor. The effectiveness of the particular strategy.
- High or low levels of context specific effectiveness
coping flexibility
ability to adjust or change ones coping strategies depending on the unique and changing demands of a stressor (to replace an ineffective strategy for an effective strategy)
- Ability to be flexible
- An individuals initial coping strategy may no longer be the most effective if something about the individual, stressor or situation changes.
Relationship between coping flexibility and context specific effectiveness
High levels of coping flexibility ensures that an individual can achieve context specific effectiveness, and lead to greater levels of general wellbeing as individuals are able to adjust their approach to many different situations and are more likely to find an effective one.
