STRESS AS A PHYSCOBIOLOGICAL PROCESS Flashcards
define Stress
a psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something of significance that demands their attention and/ or efforts to cope
define Stressor
the term used to describe the stimulus (internal or external) that prompts the biological and psychological stress response
Internal
Originates from within the internal psychological or biological processes
Eg: attitude, low self-esteem
External
Originates from outside of the individual, environmental stimuli
Eg: exams, arguments with others, work pressure external stressors can manifest into internal stressors
do internal and external work together?
they are interrelated
common for both internal and external stressors to contribute to somebody experiencing the stress approach
Psychological stress response
relates to how we think or feel about a stressor and differs between different people
-A highly unique experience that depends on many factors
what is Eustress
a positive phycological stress response
what does Eustress involve in its response
- 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
what is Distress
a negative psychological stress response
what does distress involve
-Involves emotions such as being worried and upset
-Usually occurs when the stressor is a negative circumstance
-A prolonged response
Physiological stress response
relates to how the body reacts to a stressor
-Comprised of acute stress response and the chronic stress response (cortisol)
what is Acute stress response (FFF)
chracterised by intense phycological and phycological symptoms that are brief in duration
when does an acute stress response occur
when the stressor prevents an imminent threat to an organisms safety
-In this circumstance the fight, flight, freeze response is activated
what type of response is a acute stress response
An involuntary and autonomic response
It is an adaptive response allowing an organism to survive in the face of a stressor
Fight
*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
*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
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
what is Chronic stress response (cortisol)-
a form of stress that endures for several months or longer
what type of response is a chronic stress response
*Does not demand an immediate response
*Rather a long-term biological response that will energise the body over a period of weeks/months
what is Cortisol
is a hormone that is released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heightened arousal
were is cortisol released from
Released by the adrenal glands and is involved in both short term and long term responses to stress
what does cortisol do
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
