Stress as a Psychobiological Process

Question 1

Define Internal Stressor.

Question 2

Define External Stressor.

Answer 2

Originates outside the individual from situations and events in the environment.

Question 3

Define Acute Stress.

Answer 3

Stress that lasts for a relatively short time.

Question 4

Define Chronic Stress.

Answer 4

Stress that continues for a prolonged period of time.

Question 5

Define Stressor.

Answer 5

Any stimulus that produces stress.

Question 6

Define Fight-or-Flight-or-Freeze Response.

Answer 6

An involuntary response to a threatening, fearful or otherwise stressful situation, involving physiological changes produced by the sympathetic nervous system in readiness for:
1. Fight - confronting and fighting off the threat, or,
2. Flight - escaping by running away to safety, or,
3. Freeze - keeping absolutely still and silent to avoid detection.

Question 7

List the bodily changes that characterise the fight and flight reactions.

Answer 7

1. Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
2. Redistribution of blood supply from the skin and intestines to skeletal muscles.
3. Increased breathing rate (to increase oxygen supply).
4. Increased glucose (sugar) secretion by the liver (for energy).
5. Dilation of the pupils (so the eyes can take in as much light as possible).
6. Suppression of functions that are not immediately essential in order to conserve energy (such as digestion and sexual drive) and which can be delayed without damage to the organism.

Question 8

List the harmful effects associated with a prolonged high level of Cortisol.

Answer 8

1. Vulnerability to heart disease.
2. Impaired immune system functioning.
3. High blood pressure.
4. High blood sugar level.
5. Digestive problems.
6. Vulnerability to colds and flu.

Question 9

Define Gut-Brain Axis (GBA).

Answer 9

A bi-directional, multi-faceted communication link between the central and enteric nervous systems.

Question 10

How can stress disturb the GBA?

Answer 10

Gastrointestinal disorders, stress-induced changes in psychological processes and behaviour, vulnerability to mental health and various other disorders.

Question 11

Define General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS).

Answer 11

A three-stage physiological response to stress that occurs regardless of the stressor that is encountered.

Question 12

List the stages/substages of GAS.

Answer 12

1. Shock (Alarm Reaction)
2. Countershock (Alarm Reaction)
3. Resistance
4. Exhaustion

Question 13

When does Alarm Reaction occur?

Answer 13

Occurs when the person (or animal) first becomes aware of the stressor.

Question 14

Describe what happens during Shock.

Answer 14

At first, the body goes into a temporary state of shock, and its ability to deal with the stressor falls below its normal level. This is marked by a decrease in body temperature, blood pressure, and muscle tone and loss of fluid from body tissues.

Question 15

Describe what happens during Countershock.

Answer 15

During countershock, the sympathetic nervous system is activated and the body’s resistance to the stressor increases. Body becomes highly aroused and alert as it prepares to deal with the stressor. Adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol are released into the blood stream.

Question 16

Describe what happens during the Resistance stage.

Answer 16

The body’s resistance to the particular stressor rises above normal. The intense arousal of countershock diminishes through activity of the parasympathetic system. All unnecessary physiological processes are shut down, including: digestion, growth and sex drive stall, menstruation stops, and the production of testosterone and sperm decrease.

Question 17

Describe what happens during the Exhaustion stage.

Answer 17

Some of the alarm reaction changes may reappear, but the body cannot sustain its resistance and the effects of the stressor can no longer be dealt with. Its resources such as stress hormones have been depleted, and symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, severe loss of concentration, vulnerability to anxiety attacks, irritability, depressed mood, jumpiness and crying spells may appear.

Question 18

Define the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.

Answer 18

Proposes that stress involves an encounter (‘transaction’) between an individual and their external environment, and that a stress response depends upon the individual’s evaluation (‘appraisal’) of the relevance of the stressor to his or her wellbeing and their ability to cope with it.

Question 19

Define Primary Appraisal.

Answer 19

We evaluate, or ‘judge’, the significance of the event and whether anything is at stake in this encounter.

Question 20

What are the different types of primary appraisals?

Answer 20

1. Harm/loss: an assessment of how much damage has already occurred (e.g. ‘I have lost my job’).
2. Threat: an assessment of harm/loss that may not have yet occurred but could occur in the future (e.g. ‘I mightn’t be able to afford the rent’), and
3. Challenge: an assessment of the potential for personal gain or growth from the situation (e.g. ‘I’ll get any other job I can and will learn to budget and save money’).

Question 21

Define Secondary Appraisal.

Answer 21

We evaluate our ability to control or overcome the situation in which we find ourselves. This includes an evaluation of our coping options and resources for dealing with the event.

Question 22

Define Coping.

Answer 22

A process involving ‘cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person’ in a stressful situation.

Question 23

Define Coping Strategy.

Answer 23

A specific method, behavioural or psychological, that people use to manage or reduce the stress produced by a stressor.

Question 24

Define Context-Specific Effectiveness.

Answer 24

When there is a match or ‘good fit’ between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation.

Question 25

Define Coping Flexibility.

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Define Approach Coping Strategies.

Answer 26

Involve efforts to confront a stressor and deal directly with it and its effects.

Question 27

Define Avoidance Coping Strategies.

Answer 27

Involve efforts that evade a stressor and deal indirectly with it and its effects.