STRESS AS A PHYSCOBIOLOGICAL PROCESS

Question 1

define Stress

Answer 1

a psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something of significance that demands their attention and/ or efforts to cope

Question 2

define Stressor

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Internal

Answer 3

Originates from within the internal psychological or biological processes

Eg: attitude, low self-esteem

Question 4

External

Answer 4

Originates from outside of the individual, environmental stimuli

Eg: exams, arguments with others, work pressure external stressors can manifest into internal stressors

Question 5

do internal and external work together?

Answer 5

they are interrelated

common for both internal and external stressors to contribute to somebody experiencing the stress approach

Question 6

Psychological stress response

Answer 6

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

-A highly unique experience that depends on many factors

Question 7

what is Eustress

Answer 7

a positive phycological stress response

Question 8

what does Eustress involve in its response

Answer 8

• involves feelings of being happy
  -temporary response
  -stressor provides a positive opportunity for growth/challenge
  -Cause a physiological stress response that can enhance or hider performance

Question 9

what is Distress

Answer 9

a negative psychological stress response

Question 10

what does distress involve

Answer 10

-Involves emotions such as being worried and upset
-Usually occurs when the stressor is a negative circumstance
-A prolonged response

Question 11

Physiological stress response

Answer 11

relates to how the body reacts to a stressor

-Comprised of acute stress response and the chronic stress response (cortisol)

Question 12

what is Acute stress response (FFF)

Answer 12

chracterised by intense phycological and phycological symptoms that are brief in duration

Question 13

when does an acute stress response occur

Answer 13

when the stressor prevents an imminent threat to an organisms safety

-In this circumstance the fight, flight, freeze response is activated

Question 14

what type of response is a acute stress response

Answer 14

An involuntary and autonomic response

It is an adaptive response allowing an organism to survive in the face of a stressor

Question 15

Fight

Answer 15

*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 16

Flight

Answer 16

*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 17

Freeze

Answer 17

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 18

what is Chronic stress response (cortisol)-

Answer 18

a form of stress that endures for several months or longer

Question 19

what type of response is a chronic stress response

Answer 19

*Does not demand an immediate response
*Rather a long-term biological response that will energise the body over a period of weeks/months

Question 20

what is Cortisol

Answer 20

is a hormone that is released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heightened arousal

Question 21

were is cortisol released from

Answer 21

Released by the adrenal glands and is involved in both short term and long term responses to stress

Question 22

what does cortisol do

Answer 22

During FFF, cortisol helps to energise the body by inducing the release of glucose and a rise in blood sugar levels

Helps the body to maintain at above-average levels of arousal

Cortisol is released over a prolonged period and therefore takes longer to be secreted into the body

Increases blood sugar levels, improves metabolism, energises the body, reduces inflammation

High levels of cortisol long term can supress the immune system

Causes the body’s functions to operate at heightened levels, depleting the energy required to fight off bacteria