The Nature of Stress Flashcards
Define: general adaptation syndrome
according to Hans Selye…
-a physiological reaction occuring in 3 stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion
Define: alarm phase
- “fight or flight” response
- body activates sympathetic nervous system to meet immediate threat
Define: resistance phase
- physiological reactions continue, increased vulnerability to stressors
- body tries to resist or cope with the unavoidable stressor
Define: exhaustion phase
- persistent stress depletes body of energy
- vulnerability increased for illness
- long-range responses are unhealthy
Biological changes that are adaptive in the short run, are _______ in the long run.
-hazardous
Under stress, _______ sends messages to ________ along 2 pathways.
- hypothalamus
- endocrine glands
1- activates ________, releasing ______ and _______ from the inner (_____) adrenal glands.
- sympathetic nervous system
- epinephrine
- norepinephrine
- medulla
2- hypothalamus initiates activity along ________.
-HPA Axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex)
Define: HPA Axis
system activated to energize body to respond to stressors
-hypothalamus sends messages to pituitary, which prompts adrenal cortex (outer) to produce cortisol and other stress hormones
People’s response to stress vary according to…
- learning history
- gender
- preexisting health problems
- genetic predispositions
Health Psychology investigates…
-aspects of how mind-body affect eachother to preserve wellness to cause illness
Explain and interdisciplinary specialty, (PNI) psychoneuroimmunology.
studies the relationship between…
- psychology
- nervous system and endocrine system
- immune system
_______ cells are important in tumor detection and rejection, and also protection against the spread of cancer cells and viruses.
-natural killer
______ cells enhance and regulate immune response. They are primary target of HIV virus.
-helper t
Every time a cell divides, enzymes take away a piece of the _____. When it is reduced to almost nothing….
- telomere
- the cell stops dividing and dies
________ appears to shorten telomeres.
-chronic stress, especially beginning in childhood
A way to better a pessimist’s outlook is to tell him…
“count your blessings instead of your burdens”
_______ is better for your health and well-being than _____ is.
- optimism
- pessimism
Define: locus of control
-a general expectation about whether the results of your actions are under your control (internal locus) or beyond your control (external locus)
Most people tolerate stressors if they can ____ or _____ them.
- predict
- control
_______ is elevated when people feel they are being judged negatively or have no control over the task at hand.
-cortisol
The greatest threat to our well-being occurs when…
-people feel that they are stuck in a situation that has no foreseeable end
Those with ___ locus of control are more likely to take action to improve their health when necessary.
-internal
Western cultures celebrate _____ control.
-primary control
