Stress as a psychobiological process (U3 AOS 1)

Question 1

What are the two types of stress. Define them

Answer 1

Eustress: positive psychological response to a stressor characterised by positive psychological states, allowing us to perform at our best

Distress: negative psychological response to a stressor characterised by negative psychological states, inhibiting optimal performance

Question 2

What is a stressor?

Answer 2

A stimuli that is demanding or challenging to the individual

Question 3

Does the body recognise the distinction between eustress and distress?

Answer 3

No

Question 4

What are two categories of stress with brief explanations of each.

Answer 4

Acute: commonly occuring, brief-intense physiological arousal to an immediate perceived stressor that appear and disappear over a short period of time

Chronic: ongoing demands/pressures, prolonged physiological in response to a persistent perceived stressor

Question 5

What are the four sources of stress?

Answer 5

Life events - Daily pressures - Acculturation - Catastrophes

Question 6

What is a daily pressure with an example of one.

Answer 6

A frequently experienced, relatively minor stressors that may require an adjustment in behaviour.
If allowed to accumulate, may decrease out ability to cope and thus amplify negative effects of stress
E.g, traffic, or losing phone

Question 7

What is a life event with an example of one

Answer 7

Major, infrequent, significant events that forces an individual to adjust their life to manage new circumstances.
E.g, divorce, death of a loved one, job loss, marriage

Question 8

What is acculturative stress with an example

Answer 8

Stress caused by attempting to psychologically and socially adapt to the demands and values of a foreign culture
E.g Loss of social support, language barriers, entering a new culture at a lower socioeconomic level

Question 9

What is a major stressor with an example

Answer 9

An event that is extraordinarily stressful for almost everyone who experiences it
E.g, victim of crime, terminal illness

Question 10

What is a catastrophe with an example

Answer 10

Sudden, unpredictable, uncontrollable intense event that causes large scale damage and suffering
E.g, natural disasters

Question 11

Bob was concerned his dad was developing Parkinson’s disease. After going to a doctor, Bob’s dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This became a significant source of stress for Bob. How could this diagnosis of his dad being diagnosed with PD be considered a life event for Bob. (2 marks)

Answer 11

Bob’s father being diagnosed is a major, infrequent, significant event that forces an him to adjust his life to manage new circumstances. Bob might need to be more active in taking care of his father leaving less time available for himself.

Question 12

Why can appropriate increases of stress helpful?

Answer 12

• Increased glucose secretion which allows more energy for the body
• Release of adrenaline making the body more alert and able to concentrate more

Question 13

What are the 3 stages of the GAS model?

Answer 13

Alarm (shock and counter-shock), resistance and exhaustion

Question 14

What is the alarm stage of the GAS model?

Answer 14

• Once aware of the threat, the body goes into a temporary state of shock. This is where resistance to the stressor temporarily falls below normal.
• The body then rebounds and enters counter-shock where the sympathetic nervous system is activated and thus arousal is increased.
• This is also when cortisol and adrenaline are released to speed up processes.
• Body’s resistance to stress is above normal too.

Question 15

What is the resistance stage of the GAS model?

Answer 15

If stressor remains,
- arousal is above normal as the body is trying to fight the stressor
- cortisol levels continue to be high resulting in the immune system to be weakened making the body susceptible to illnesses such as the flu
- if resistance is successful, arousal returns to normal

Question 16

What is the exhaustion stage of the GAS model?

Answer 16

If stressor is still present,
- body’s resistance falls below normal (exhaustion)
- cumulative exposure to cortisol that leads to wear and tear on the body and brain
- body’s resources and immune system is depleted
- body becomes susceptible to major illnesses (anxiety, depression, insomina, etc…)

Question 17

What is a strength and limitation of the GAS model?

Answer 17

Strength:
- Biological explanation of stress response
- Easier to test in an experiment

Limitation:
- It does not explain cognitive aspect
- It is not subjective as it assumes everyone has the same physiological response

Question 18

What is cortisol’s role in the stress response?

Answer 18

It is an essential hormone released by the adrenal glands that help assist in the maintenance of homeostasis.

Short term increases of cortisol are beneficial for fight & flight preparations. When threat is over, parasympathetic system should take over, reversing increase in cortisol

Question 19

What are biological functions of cortisol?

Answer 19

Glucose metabolism, BP regulation, immune function, NS activation, anti inflammatory reactions

Question 20

What happens if the parasympathetic system does not take over in regards to cortisol?

Answer 20

Cumulative exposure to cortisol occurs which leads to wear and tear on the body and brain.
This can result in a:
weakened immunity, chronic fatigue, anxiety, impaired cognition, etc…

Question 21

What autonomic system is activated in the shock stage?

Answer 21

Parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 22

What does the Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping suggest?

Answer 22

That stress is a subjective experience that depends on how one interprets the stressor and their ability to cope with it.

Question 23

What are the different types of psychological responses to stress?

Answer 23

Emotional changes - feelings tend to change under stressful situations
Behavioural changes - behaviour may change significantly when stressed
Cognitive changes - perceptions become distorted, leading to difficulties in concentration & organising thoughts

Question 24

What is the primary appraisal of the LFT model of S&C?

Answer 24

Where an individual evaluates the severity of the stressor as either irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful.

If it is evaluated as stressful, they then either consider it as a harm/loss (where they assess damage that is already done), a threat (where they assess possible additional harm in the future), or a challenge (where they assess opportunity for a positive outcome).

Question 25

What is the secondary appraisal of the LFT model of S&C?

Answer 25

This stage involves evaluating the internal (knowledge/skills/energy) and external (money/items) resources an individual has to cope with the stressor.

If the individual believes they have the resources to cope with the demands of the stressor, they will positively appraise the stressor and experience eustress.
If not, the individual will negatively appraise the stressor and experience distress.

This stage often involves reappraisal

Question 26

What are two coping strategies? Include a brief explanation of each with an example.

Answer 26

Emotional focused and problem focused coping strategies.
Emotional focused: strategies to deal with emotional responses to stress
E.g, seeking emotional support
Problem focused: aiming to manage/change the cause of the stressor
E.g, making a plan of action

Question 27

What is a strength and a limitation of the LFT model of S&C?

Answer 27

Strength:
- accounts for individual differences in responses to stress
- responds to changes in individuals response through reappraisal

Limitation:
- lack of empirical evidence (relies on self-reports which is subjective data)
- overlap between primary and secondary appraisal stages
- difficult to test experimentally due to multiple variables

Question 28

What is coping flexibility?

Answer 28

Involves an individual ceasing a coping strategy that is no longer working and implementing alternative coping strategies.

Question 29

What are the 3 components of coping flexibility?

Answer 29

Cognitive flexibility, strategy situation fit and goal attainment

Question 30

What is a physical strategy for coping with stress?

Answer 30

Exercise

Question 31

What are the physical benefits of exercise?

Answer 31

Increased energy levels
Strengthens the immune system
Depletes levels of excess cortisol

Question 32

What are the psychological benefits of exercise?

Answer 32

Promotes positive mood due to release of serotonin & endorphins (natural pain relieving hormones)
Improves concentration
Reduces mental fatigue
Reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol which help reduce experience of stress

Question 33

What is the difference between an approach strategy and an avoidance strategy?

Answer 33

Approach strategy involves confronting the stressor directly whereas avoidance strategy is evading the stressor as a way of not dealing with it.