Stress as a psychobiological process

Question 1

Stress

Answer 1

A state of psychological and physiological arousal produced by internal and external stressors that are perceived as challenging or exceeding an individual’s ability or resources to cope.

Question 2

Internal stressor

Answer 2

Originate within the individual.

Question 3

External stressor

Answer 3

Originate outside the individual; from the environment and external events.

Question 4

Eustress

Answer 4

A positive psychological response to a stressor, relating to feeling enthusiastic, excited and alert.

Question 5

Distress

Answer 5

A negative psychological response to a stressor, relating to feelings of anger, anxiety, and irritation.

Question 6

Daily pressure
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors

Answer 6

Little problems of everyday living that are irritants.

• It causes stress because it can impact a person’s everyday life negatively.
• Conflict with others
• Concerns about money

It doesn’t cause long-term physical or psychological effects.

Question 7

Life events
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors

Answer 7

Involves change that forces an individual to adapt to new circumstances.

• It causes stress because it requires a person to change their lifestyle, therefore change their established ways of thinking, feeling and behaving.
• loss of a significant relationship
• beginning a new career
• It can be a eustressor or distressor and the individual can adapt in a short period of time.

Question 8

Acculturative stress
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors?

Answer 8

Experienced when people try to adapt to a new culture when living in it for a considerable period of time.

• It causes stress because of the risk of experiencing racism and being taken advantage of by others.
• moving to a new country
• learning a new language

It specifically refers to learning a new culture, whereas other stressors can be anything.

Question 9

Major stress
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors

Answer 9

An event that is extraordinarily stressful or disturbing for almost everyone who experiences it.

It causes stress because it affects a person’s ability to function adequately, causing unwanted physical or psychological reactions after the event.

• Terminal illness
• Being a victim of a violent crime.

Can cause long-lasting psychological trauma.

Question 10

Catastrophe
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors

Answer 10

An event that causes widespread damage or suffering, majority of those involved interpreting it as stressful.

• It causes stress because it can cause long-lasting physical and psychological effects on communities and countries as a whole.
• Earthquake
• Tornado

It causes widespread damage whereas other stressors usually relate to a single individual.

Question 11

Fight-flight-freeze response - process

Answer 11

1. Stressor
2. Adrenal glands secrete adrenaline
3. fight, flight or freeze is activated
4. Physiological changes occur
5. Hypothalamus activates the HPA axis, releasing cortisol.
6. Cortisol allows us to adapt to stressor

Question 12

Cortisol

Answer 12

A hormone secreted from the adrenal cortex in response to a stressor.

It can suppress the immune system.
It also has an anti-inflammatory effect by blocking activity of white blood cells that contribute to inflammation.

Question 13

HPA axis

Answer 13

Hypothalamic-Pituitary gland-adrenal cortex
Relates to the release of cortisol.

Question 14

Role of HPA axis in regard to cortisol

Answer 14

The HPA axis is activated if a stressor persists, resulting in the release of cortisol in the bloodstream. This allows us to adapt to a stressor.

With long-term stressors, the HPA continues to be active and cortisol remains high in the bloodstream.

Question 15

Selye’s General Adaption Syndrome (GAS model)

Answer 15

A biological model of stress that tracks the physiological reaction to stress overtime. It occurs in the face of a persistent stressor.

Question 16

General Adaption Syndrome stages

• name and explain each stage

Answer 16

Stage 1: Alarm reaction
Shock - Parasympathetic NS activated, momentarily decreasing body’s resistance to stress.
Counter Shock - Sympathetic NS activated, releasing adrenaline and cortisol from HPA axis.

Stage 2: Resistance
Body is able to maintain higher than normal levels of physiological arousal because cortisol levels are high.
However, high cortisol suppresses the immune system.

Stage 3: Exhaustion
Cortisol in body has depleted, so resistance to a stressor falls below normal levels.
Long-term immunosuppression leads to fatigue, major sickness and mental health disturbances.

Question 17

Strengths + Limitations of GAS model

Answer 17

Strengths:
- Identifies biological processes associated with body’s stress response
- Influenced many theories on stress and stress responses

Limitations:
- Doesn’t account for personal differences
- Hasn’t been tested on humans

Question 18

What is the biological model of stress?

Answer 18

Selye’s General Adaption Syndrome model

Question 19

What is the psychological model of stress?

Answer 19

Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

Question 20

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - stages

Answer 20

• Primary appraisal
• decide whether stressor is irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful.
• If deemed stressful, we decide whether its harm/loss, a threat or a challenge.
• Secondary appraisal
• Decide whether coping resources are adequate or inadequate
• if inadequate, then we experience stress.

Question 21

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - Primary appraisal

Answer 21

Evaluating the significance of the event and whether anything is at stake in this encounter.

Question 22

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - Secondary appraisal

Answer 22

Evaluating our ability to control or overcome the situation in which we find ourselves.

Question 23

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - Strengths + Limitations

Answer 23

Strengths
- It is subjective
- Focuses on psychological determinants of the stress response

Limitations:
- overlooks physiological response to stressor.
- may not account for all stressful situations

Question 24

Context-specific effectiveness

Answer 24

When there is a match between the coping strategy and the stressful situation.

Question 25

Coping flexibility

Answer 25

Refers to the ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations.

Question 26

Approach coping strategies

Answer 26

Involves efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it.

Question 27

Avoidance coping strategies

Answer 27

Involves efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it.

Question 28

Exercise

Answer 28

A physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one’s physical condition.

Question 29

How can exercise counter stress?

Answer 29

• uses up stress hormones that had been released into the bloodstream as demand for energy is higher.
• Promotes relaxation
• Releases endorphins

Question 30

List all 5 sources of stress

Answer 30

Daily pressures
Life events
Acculturative stress
Major stressors
Catastrophes

Question 31

Appraisal

Answer 31

• subjective
• an estimation of our ability to cope with a stressor
• not necessarily a conscious response