Topic 12 part 1

Question 1

Psuychoneurounology

Answer 1

Studies the relationships amongst psychological factors, the immune system and the brain

• Stress was seen as purely biological
• Stress impacts immunity
• Positive emotions boosts health

Question 2

Stress

Answer 2

People response to events that threaten or challenge them

Stress is personal - depends on perception

Something is stressful when

• You perceive it as threatening
• You lack the resources to deal effectively with it

Question 3

Lazarus & Folkmans transactional stress model

Answer 3

Stress is subjective

• Individual differences in terms of what we notice and how we appraise an event

Primary appraisal

• Is this event relevant to me? is this even significant, threatening, or potentially harmful to me?

Secondary appraisal

• Can I deal with this event? Do I have the resources to cope?

Question 4

Cataclysmic events

Answer 4

Strong stressors that occur suddenly affect may people simultaneously

• Tornado
• Pandemics

Question 5

Personal stressors

Answer 5

Major life events that produce immediate major reactions that usually soon taper off

• Moving
• Death

Question 6

Background stressors

Answer 6

Everyday annoyances that cause minor irritations may have long-term ill effects when continuous or compounded

Question 7

Post Traumatic stress disorder

Answer 7

Victims of major catastrophes that have long-lasting effects that include, vivid flashbacks or dreams

Innocent stimuli can trigger episodes

Symptoms

• Re-experiencing flashbacks or dreams, emotional numbing, sleep difficulties, interpersonal issues, substance use, suicide

Question 8

Categories of personal stressors

Answer 8

Changes in our life

Internal conflicts

• Experience 2 or more incompatible motivations, forced to choose

Frustration

• When a valued goal is blocked/thwarted

Pressure

• Mismatch between what we have to do/want to do & resources

Question 9

Holmes rahe life stress inventory (social readjustment scale)

Answer 9

Numerical values assigned to 43 major life events/changes

Asked how often they experienced each event in the last 12 months

Higher scores positively correlated physical & mental health issues

Question 10

Uplifts

Answer 10

Minor positive events that make one feel good

Protective of psychological health

The more uplifts the fewer negative psychological symptoms

Question 11

Cost of stress

Answer 11

Biological & psychological consequences

Stress triggers hormone secretion by the adrenal glands

Short-term response adaptive (fight or flight)

Chronic exposure

• lower biological functioning due to continuous hormone releases
• Can lead to tissue deterioration in blood vessels and the heart
• Increased susceptibility to diseases, as the immune system weakens over time

Question 12

How can stress affect your brain & body

Answer 12

Chronic activation of flight or gith associated with

• High blood pressure, plaque build-up in arteries, heart attack
• changes gut bacteria - GERD
• Cortisol increases appetite and weight gain

Question 13

Stress & our immune system

Answer 13

Immune system

• System that defends against infection & cancer
• Does not perform well under long-term chronic sources of stress
• Greater frequency & service of viral illnesses

Lymphocytes

• White blood cells that are products of the immune system
• Stress hormones directly suppress activist of lymphocytes

Question 14

Psychophysical disorders

Answer 14

Class of physical problems know as often result from or are worsen by stress

High blood pressure, headaches, backaches, skin rashes, indigestion, fatigue, digestive issues

Question 15

Psychoneuroimmunology & stress

Answer 15

Stress has 3 main consequences

• Direct physiological result
• Leads people to engage in harmful behaviors
• Produces indirect consequences that result in a decline in health