stressors in the environment Flashcards
what is one of the largest problem in the western world?
stress
what is stress?
a state of physiological or psychological strain caused by unpleasant stimuli
during stress, what is there a mismatch between?
the perceived demands of a situation and the individual’s ability to cope
selye and stress
selye borrowed the term ‘stress’ from engineering- the response of the body of a stress response, any stimulus producing the stress response is a stressor
what does the idea of arousal refer to?
a heightened state of physical and mental alertness
what do high levels of arousal usually accompany?
high emotional states and involve physiological changes such as a rise in the heart rate
what is a stressor?
any stimulus that produces a stress response in a person. stressors are not objective, as they don’t produce the same response in all people.
types of stress
eustress vs distress
what happens when you feel stress?
the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activates the adrenal glands -> the adrena medulla floods your system with adrenalin -> if the threat continues the adrenal cortex releases cortisol
what does the adrenal cortex produce?
cortisol and aldosterone for metabolism and blood pressure
what does the adrenal medulla produce?
adrenaline
what does cortisol do?
converts fats, proteins and carbohydrates into energy for fight or flight
effects of adrenaline
- senses and perception sharpen- time slows down
- sweat profusely
- blood flow to muscles increases- become tense/ready for action
- hormones make blood stickier- loose less blood if injured
- heart beats faster- preparing for exertion
- want to urinate- become lighter to run faster
what is the general adaptation syndrome (GAP)?
selye proposed a three stage response to stress
GAP stage 1: alarm
a threat or stressor means that the body prepares for fight or flight with the release of adrenaline
GAP stage 2: resistance
if the situation continues, the body tries to adapt to it cope with the long- term demands of the stressful situation through cortisol
GAP stage 3: exhaustion
ultimately, the body’s resources will be depleted; damage to the body starts to occur includes high blood pressure, heart disease and stomach ulcers
what types of environmental stressors are there?
noise, crowding, traffic congestion
light and temperature
changes in light during the winter may cause seasonal affective disorder. it affects the production of melatonin, which is thought to influence mood and energy.
what do negative mood and aggression increase with?
temperature- kenrick and macfarlane investigated using a green light and a motionless motorist. drivers honked more the warner the weather was. in the hottest weather drivers leaned on their horn for nearly 50% of the 12 seconds.
overcrowding
feeling crowded is a subjective psychological experience which varies between individuals
overcrowding study
a study on deer in chesapeake bay found 60% died when the population reached one per acre. post mortem showed increased weight of their adrenal glands.
why did the deer die?
prolonged hyper-stimulation cause fatal levels of arousal
noise
unwanted sound- long exposure over90dB can damage the eardrums (normal conversation is 40dB)
what does sudden unexpected noise do?
increases blood pressure and heart rate- but this wears off as people become accustomed to it
noise study
glass and singer looked at whether volume, unpredictability, or perceived control was the most stressful when it came to noise. the greatest impact was caused by predictable noise out of the participant’s control
environmental catastrophes
single powerful events that affect a lot of people- natural disasters/technological catastrophes. PTSD found in over half of the survivors at the cocoanut grove nightclub fire in 1942.
what was black and black’s study?
a cross-sectional study of environmental noise and community health in a residential neighbourhood near sydney airport
what did black and black’s study include?
50 events of aircraft noise, louder than 70dB per day. 750 surveys to both neighbourhoods. questionnaire measures subjective health outcomes.
what were black and black’s results?
- people in the noise exposure group were more sharply annoyed by aircraft noise than controls
- those in the noise group showed a less positive health status compared to controls, notably with mental health
- more likely to report stress and hypertension
black and black
looked at the impact of aeroplane noise on health comparing a cross-section of two sydney suburbs. one was affected by noise, the other was not. residents were sent a questionnaire about noise and health and noise stations were set up too. those in the noise-exposure group were more sharply affected by noise and were less healthy- particularly with regard to their mental health. long-term exposure to aircraft noise leads to increased reports of stress and hypertension.
reducing stress
situational strategies- problem-focused strategies that look at changing the situation causing the issue
individual strategies- emotion-focused strategies directed at managing an individual’s distress, rather than changing the situation
situational strategies
- make aeroplane engines quieter
- limit times planes can use airports
- insulate houses to reduce noise
- relocating airports
- changing flight paths
individual strategies
- anti-hypertensive drugs
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- mindfulness practice
- imaginal exposure therapy to desensitise the particiapnt to the sound
