Stress, Emotion and Coping Flashcards
Stress definition
An experience that is produced through a person–situation relationship that is perceived as taxing or exceeding the person’s resources.
Typically caused by an external trigger (work deadline, important game, relationship conflict)
Acute vs. chronic stress
Chronic stress= stressors that occur over a long period of time.
Acute stress= stressors that occur within a short period of time, and with a sudden onset.
Stressors definition
External events, forces, and situations that have the potential to be interpreted as
stressful
Expected vs. unexpected stressors
Expected stressors= stressors that an athlete plans or prepares for.
Unexpected stressors= stressors that are not anticipated and cannot be prepared for.
Competitive vs. non-competitive stressors
Competitive stressors= stressors that are experienced prior to, during, or immediately following competition.
Non-competitive stressors= stressors that are related to sport, but are not directly part of an actual competitive performance.
Stress response
Physiological, cognitive, emotional and behavioural reactions when we are faced with heavy demands
Emotions definition
A subjective and complex psychological state involving feelings, thoughts, and physiological responses. Emotions are a natural part of human experiences and can be triggered by internal or external stimuli (including personal experiences, social interactions,
thoughts, memories, and sensory stimuli).
Anxiety definition
Anxiety is defined by persistent, excessive worries that don’t go away even in the absence of
a stressor. Anxiety leads to a nearly identical set of symptoms as stress: insomnia, difficulty
concentrating, fatigue, muscle tension, and irritability.
Typically caused by an anticipation of future events or situations that are perceived as threatening, even if the threat is not immediate or tangible.
*Anxiety comes into play when stressors go away, and stress becomes chronic
Significance of stress and emotions
Can see that someone’s interpretation of a situation, or his or her cognitive appraisal, is a key concept
Primary vs. Secondary appraisals
Primary: an evaluation of what is at stake for a person in a situation. During primary appraisal, people ask themselves questions such as:
–Is this situation a threat to my well-being?
–Does it represent a challenge or an opportunity for growth?
Secondary: an evaluation of what can be done in the situation. People assess their available resources and coping abilities to handle the stressor. Questions asked during secondary appraisal include:
– Do I have the knowledge and skills to manage this situation?
– Is there support available from others who can help me?
Cognitive appraisal processes psychological results/evaluations (3)
- Harm/loss: An evaluation of a situation in which psychological damage has already been done and the loss is irrevocable.
- Threat: An evaluation or perception of a situation where an individual anticipates harm might occur or is likely to occur.
- Challenge: An evaluation or perception that although there are obstacles in the way, they can be overcome.
Coping definition
Cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific external/internal demands that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person.
Coping strategies (6)
- Problem-focused coping- coping efforts that help people change the actual situation (e.g. seeking info to improve performance, changing tactics, confronting teammate to resolve conflict).
- Emotion-focused coping- coping efforts that do not directly address the stressors but focus on changing the way a situation is attended to or interpreted–to deal with the emotions that arise during the situation (e.g. exerciser convinces himself that no one actually cares about how he looks in the gym).
- Avoidance coping- coping efforts in which athletes attempt to remove themselves from the stressful situation (e.g. avoiding a situation that creates feelings of anxiety).
- Task-oriented coping- coping strategies aimed at dealing directly with the source of stress and its resulting thoughts and emotions (athletes use relaxation, mental imagery, thought control, logical analysis, increased effort, and seeking support to manage situation).
*problem and emotion-focused coping - Distraction-oriented coping- coping strategies to focus on internal and external stimuli that are unrelated to the stressful situation (momentarily focusing on things unrelated to the stressful situation, e.g. thinking about leisure or friends).
*avoidance coping - Disengagement-oriented coping- coping strategies to disengage from the process of trying to make progress on a personal goal (cursing, swearing, letting themselves feel hopeless, and hoping that the stressor will end immediately).
*avoidance coping
Management skills
Behaviours that are routine but that still help the individual avoid problems and help prevent stress from happening in the first place (once coping behaviour becomes automatic, better considered a management skill. *not considered coping
Emotional regulation
Managing and modifying one’s emotional experiences and expressions. It involves understanding, accepting, and modulating emotions in response to different situations and
circumstances.
*Both coping and emotion regulation are essential in psychological well-being and mental health.
