Stress as an example of a psychological processes Flashcards
Define stress.
The automatic psychological and psychical arousal a person feels in response to stressors.
Define stressors.
Challenges in internal and external environment (people, objects, events etc).
Define Eustress.
When a positive psychological response is triggered by the stress that helps the body perform at an optimal level.
Define Distress.
A negative psychological response is triggered by the stress that inhibits the body’s performance.
Outline and define the two different types of stress.
Acute stress. A brief and intense period of arousal in response to an immediate stressor such as daily pressures. Does not affect us for long enough to cause damage.
Chronic stress. A state of prolonged psychological arousal in response to a persistent stressor that negatively impacts health and wellbeing. If experienced for long enough will deplete the body of resources and make us vulnerable.
Define stress response.
A set of physical/ psychological responses triggered automatically by the SYNS perceiving a threat.
Outline and explain the stages of Lazarus and Folkmans Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.
(Psychological model of stress)
Primary appraisal. Person evaluates the stressors impact and if it is a potential threat. The stressor is either deemed insignificant (and ignored) or significant and the model continues.
Secondary appraisal. Person evaluates internal and external resources available to deal with the stressor. If we determine to have insufficient resources we form a negative appraisal and become stressed, if we determine to have adequate resources we form a positive appraisal (no stress).
Stress response. We use these resources to deal with the stressor. It is either defeated and the situation resolved or not defeated and the stressor remains.
Define the Flight/ Fight/ Freeze response.
(FFF) An automatic reaction of the SYNS to stress. Causes physiological change as it prepares the body to confront the stressor by either: confronting, fleeing, or to become immobilised by the stress (As we feel so hopeless about it, and PYNS dominates SYNS to calm us).
What is the role of cortisol?
A hormone released by the adrenal glands, it is released when we experience stress to prepare the body for the FFF response by sending a burst of energy to muscles through flooding the bloodstream with glucose.
Outline and explain the stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome.
(Biological model of stress)
Alarm reaction stage. Comprises two sub stages: Shock (resistance level falls abnormally low and we act as if injured, decreasing our ability to deal with the stressor), and Counter shock (SYNS activates and floods hormones like cortisol in our blood stream which allows us to fight the stressor. FFF response happens here).
Resistance. We attempt to stabilise the internal environment and fight the stressor. Our body puts all resources towards fighting the stressor, leaving us vulnerable.
Exhaustion. Takes place if the stressor is not defeated in resistance stage. All resources like hormones are depleted. Leaving us vulnerable to additional stressors or mental illness, resistance levels fall to their lowest point.
What are the the effects of an excess of cortisol?
Impaired cognitive ability, blood sugar imbalances, weight gain, lowered immunity, the adrenal glands become fatigued and this results in emotional hypersensitivity or depression.
Define coping.
All the things we do to manage and reduce the amount of stress experienced.
Define a coping strategy and give two examples.
A behavioural or psychological method we use to reduce the amount of stress incurred.
Eg exercise and meditation.
Outline and explain two factors that influence the effectiveness of coping strategies.
Context specific effectiveness. The unique characteristics of a stressor that must be adapted to. Effectiveness depends on past experience, and any helpful or unhelpful previous coping strategies employed.
Coping flexibility. Individuals ability to adapt when faced with a range of stressors. Effectiveness comes from developing dynamic problem focused and emotion focused coping strategies for stressors.
