Stress response psychological P5 Flashcards
Define syndrome
A syndrome is a set of medical signs and symptoms which are correlated with each other and often associated with a particular disease or disorder.
General adaptation syndrome (GAS) definition
General adaptation syndrome (GAS) describes the physiologic changes your body goes through as it responds to stress. These changes occur in stages: An alarm reaction (also called fight-or-flight) A resistance phase (in which your body recovers) A period of exhaustion.
Tell me about Hans-Selye (1936) study on GAS
Hans-Selye (1936) experimented with rats subjected to various stresses, (I.E. Surgery/extreme cold). He found it didn’t matter what the stress of was the response was the same. He concluded that stress is a general response of the body to any stressor.
He called this response a general adaptation syndrome because it is a general reaction to all stressors, adaptive it helps the body cope with stress, and syndrome as it includes a group of symptoms/responses.
Explain stage 1 and 2 GAS
Stage 1-Alarm:
When a threat is recognised the hypothalamus in brain triggers the production of adrenalin/noradrenalin in readiness for fight or flight
Stage 2-Resistance:
When the threat ends, functioning returns to normal, but if the threat continues, a longer term response starts using the bodies resources (Sugar/hormones). The body appears to be coping, but in reality physiologically speaking, things are deteriorating and the immune system becomes less effective.
Tell me about stage 3 GAS
Stage 3 -Exhaustion:
The resources needed to resist the stressors are depleted. The individual begins to re-experience the initial symptoms (increased heart rate), the adrenal glands may become damaged, and immune system compromised. Stress-related illness disease of adaptation are now likely, such as coronary heart disease.
What components make up the Peripheral nervous system (PNS)
Autonomic nervous system
Sympathetic nervous system
Somatic nervous system
Parasympathetic nervous system
What components make up the central nervous system (CNS)
Brain
Spinal cord
What does the SAM system control
the body’s response to an acute immediate stressor (the fight or flight response). Sam stands for sympatho-medullary.
Explain how the SAM system works
• Hypothalamus activates sympathetic branch of the ANS
The sympathetic branch sends a signal to the adrenal medulla
the adrenal medulla releases adrenaline and noradrenalin
These contribute to the stress response e.g. increasing blood pressure and heart rate
Tell me how the HPA system works
At the same time as the Sam system begins a slower response starts, the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal system (HPA).
Hypothalamic refers to the hypothalamus which activates the HPA system alongside activating the Sam system. It does this by releasing into the bloodstream hormone called corticotropin releasing factor (CRF).
Pituitary gland detects CRF which responds by releasing a hormone called adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) into the bloodstream.
Adrenal glands are again involved, but this time is outer portion of the gland, called the adrenal cortex which releases cortisol
HPA
Negative feedback loop
The HPA is self-regulating by the negative feedback loop.
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Hypothalamus
CRH
The hypothalamus and pituitary both monitor levels of cortisol in the bloodstream.
When levels exceed a set point, CRF and ACTH are reduced.
These lower levels are detected by the adrenal cortex, which in turn reduces cortisol.
If the threat disappears the whole HPA system response stops and Homeostasis is returns.
Tell me about cortisol
Cortisol is central to the body’s chronic stress response.
For example, it affects the metabolism of glucose, a source of energy for the body which fuels the stressresponse.
But it also has damaging effects on the body. It suppresses the immune system which leaves us vulnerable to illness.
Evaluation of the psychological stress response
-different for males and females. Taylor (2006) argued that the fight or flight response applies only to males.
Fight or flight would be risky for our female ancestors because running away would have left offspring defenseless. A more adaptive response for females would have been to tend and befriend.
A stressor is met with nurturing of offspring and befriending other females to provide social support. This suggests that explanations of stress in terms of GAS, SAM and HPA are biased towards male psychology
