Stress as a phycobilogical process

Question 1

define the term stress

Answer 1

is a phycological and physiological experience that occurs when an indavidal encounters something of significants and demands their attention and efforts to cope

Question 2

stressor

Answer 2

the term used to describe the stimulus (internal or external) that prompts the biological and phycological stress response

Question 3

what is internal stressor

Answer 3

originates from within the phycological and biological processes

eg. attitude, rummination, low self esteem

Question 4

what is external stressor

Answer 4

originates from outside the individuals environmental stimuli

eg. arguments, work pressure, school.

Question 5

Psychological stress response

Answer 5

relates to how we think and feel about a stressor and differs between people

Question 6

eustress

Answer 6

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

Question 7

distress

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Acute stress response (FFF)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

fight Acute stress response

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

Flight Acute stress response

Answer 10

• 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

Question 11

Freeze Acute stress response

Answer 11

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

Question 12

chronic stress response (cortisol)

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Cortisol

Answer 13

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

Question 14

what does cortisol do

Answer 14

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

Question 15

The gut

Answer 15

refers to the long flexible tube from mouth to anus that is the passageway involved in digestion

Question 16

Gut health

Answer 16

Lots of bacteria makes the gut biome more diverse which increases digestive support, protects against infection, and supports our reproductive health

Question 17

what happens if Gut microbiota is imbalanced

Answer 17

When the gut microbiota is imbalanced- called gut microbiota dysbiosis (too much bad not enough good bacteria)

Question 18

when the Gut microbiota is balanced

Answer 18

When the gut microbiota is balanced its called gut microbiota symbiosis

Question 19

define the term Gut microbiota

Answer 19

all of the microorganisms that live in the gut

Question 20

define Gut microbiome

Answer 20

Refers to all of the genes of the microorganisms that live in the gut

Question 21

Gut-Brain Axis

Answer 21

refers to the bidirectional connection between the gut and the brain
- Through the enteric and central NS

Question 22

The vagus nerve

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Enteric Nervous System

Answer 23

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

Question 24

GBA IN PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES AND BEHAVIOUR

Answer 24

-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

Question 25

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Answer 25

Biological model os stress

Question 26

what is general adoption syndrome in relation to stress

Answer 26

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

Question 27

1. Alarm reaction stage (GAS)

Answer 27

individual first encounters and becomes aware of a stressor - Divided into two substages/phases: shock and countershock

Question 28

Substage no.1- shock

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Substage no.2- Countershock

Answer 29

- 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

Question 30

2. Resistance Stage

Answer 30

- 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

Question 31

what happens in Resistance Stage in relation to cortisole

Answer 31

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

Question 32

3.Exhaustion stage

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Explanatory power of the GAS model Strengths

Answer 33

- 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

Question 34

Explanatory power of the GAS model weaknesses

Answer 34

- 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

Question 35

Stress as a psychological process

Answer 35

- The thoughts and emotions behind stress how an individual may interpret stressors subjective in nature and are influenced by personal feelings or preferences

Question 36

Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model of stress and coping

Answer 36

* 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

Question 37

Primary appraisal

Answer 37

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

Question 38

Benign-positive

Answer 38

Initial appraisal of a stimulus as neutral or good, that does not cause stress for the individual

Question 39

Irrelevant

Answer 39

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

Question 40

Stressful

Answer 40

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*

Question 41

what are the further aprasles after stressful

Answer 41

1. Harm loss- 2. threat 3.challange

Question 42

Harm loss

Answer 42

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

Question 43

Threat

Answer 43

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

Question 44

Challenge

Answer 44

a further appraisal of the stressor as potentially providing a positive opportunity for growth or change for the individual

Question 45

Secondary appraisal

Answer 45

*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

Question 46

strengths Explanatory power of the model of Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model

Answer 46

* 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

Question 47

disadvantages Explanatory power of the model of Lazarus and Folkman’s transactional model

Answer 47

* 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

Question 48

Coping

Answer 48

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

Question 49

coping avoidance strategy

Answer 49

- involve evading or distancing oneself - Sometimes a short term refile but not effective long-term.

Question 50

coping strategy that is an approach

Answer 50

directly confront the source of stress Deal with the stress in a particular way Potential to eliminate the stress for good

Question 51

Context Specific effectiveness

Answer 51

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

Question 52

coping flexibility

Answer 52

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.

Question 53

Relationship between coping flexibility and context specific effectiveness

Answer 53

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.