Stress as a psychobiological process Flashcards
Stress
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.
Internal stressor
Originate within the individual.
External stressor
Originate outside the individual; from the environment and external events.
Eustress
A positive psychological response to a stressor, relating to feeling enthusiastic, excited and alert.
Distress
A negative psychological response to a stressor, relating to feelings of anger, anxiety, and irritation.
Daily pressure
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors
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.
Life events
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors
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.
Acculturative stress
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors?
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.
Major stress
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors
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.
Catastrophe
- why it causes stress
- examples
- how is it different from other stressors
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.
Fight-flight-freeze response - process
- Stressor
- Adrenal glands secrete adrenaline
- fight, flight or freeze is activated
- Physiological changes occur
- Hypothalamus activates the HPA axis, releasing cortisol.
- Cortisol allows us to adapt to stressor
Cortisol
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.
HPA axis
Hypothalamic-Pituitary gland-adrenal cortex
Relates to the release of cortisol.
Role of HPA axis in regard to cortisol
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.
Selye’s General Adaption Syndrome (GAS model)
A biological model of stress that tracks the physiological reaction to stress overtime. It occurs in the face of a persistent stressor.
General Adaption Syndrome stages
- name and explain each stage
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.
Strengths + Limitations of GAS model
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
What is the biological model of stress?
Selye’s General Adaption Syndrome model
What is the psychological model of stress?
Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping
Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - stages
- 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.
Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - Primary appraisal
Evaluating the significance of the event and whether anything is at stake in this encounter.
Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - Secondary appraisal
Evaluating our ability to control or overcome the situation in which we find ourselves.
Transactional Model of Stress and Coping - Strengths + Limitations
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
Context-specific effectiveness
When there is a match between the coping strategy and the stressful situation.
Coping flexibility
Refers to the ability to effectively modify or adjust one’s coping strategies according to the demands of different stressful situations.
Approach coping strategies
Involves efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it.
Avoidance coping strategies
Involves efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it.
Exercise
A physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one’s physical condition.
How can exercise counter stress?
- uses up stress hormones that had been released into the bloodstream as demand for energy is higher.
- Promotes relaxation
- Releases endorphins
List all 5 sources of stress
Daily pressures
Life events
Acculturative stress
Major stressors
Catastrophes
Appraisal
- subjective
- an estimation of our ability to cope with a stressor
- not necessarily a conscious response
