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Psychology > Unit 3 AOS 1 SAC 2 - Stress > Flashcards

Unit 3 AOS 1 SAC 2 - Stress Flashcards

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1
Q

Sources of Stress

A

Daily Pressures
Life Events Acculturative stress
Major Catastrophe

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2
Q

Eustress

A

A positive psychological response to a stressor, characterised by positive psychological states, that helps the body perform at an optimal level

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3
Q

Distress

A

A negative psychological response to a stressor, characterised by negative psychological states, that impedes optimal performance

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4
Q

Daily Pressures

A

Frequently experienced stressors consisting of relatively minor events that require adjustments in behaviour.

E.g. traffic, losing your phone/keys, running late

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5
Q

Life events

A

Stressors that consist of significant but relatively rare events that require substantial adjustments in behaviour within a relatively short time

E.g. marriage, having children, graduating, death of a loved one, job loss

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6
Q

Acculturative Stress

A

Stress caused by attempting to psychologically and socially adapt to the demands and values of a foreign culture.

E.g. language barriers, loss of social status, immigrant

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7
Q

Major catastrophe

A

A catastrophe is a sudden, unpredictable, uncontrollable, intense event that is out of the control of an individual and causes intense and prolonged suffering.

E.g. natural disasters, war

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8
Q

Chronic vs Acute stress

A

Chronic - the body’s response to prolonged stress; leads to exhaustion and health problems

Acute - body’s immediate and short-term response to stress

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9
Q

Stress

A

A state of mental or physical tension that occurs when an individual must adjust or adapt to their environment but they do not feel they have the capacity to do so.

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10
Q

Stress Reaction

A

The physiological or psychological result of stress

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11
Q

What causes stress?

A

Depends on an individual’s perception, experiences, desire and interpretation of what’s going on
Any stressful situation can bring about a number of different responses

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12
Q

Stress reactions/symptoms - Physiological

A

skin rashes, headaches, colds/flu, heart palpitations, heart attack, stomach ulcers, fatigue, sleep problems, hypervigilance

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13
Q

Symptoms of stress - cognitive

A

intrusive thoughts, reoccurring memories, flashbacks, nightmares, poor concentrations/memory, confusion

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14
Q

Symptoms of stress - behavioural

A

avoiding places that remind them of previous stressors, social isolation, loss of interest in activities, changes to eating habits, changes to sleep

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15
Q

Symptoms of stress - emotional

A

fear, numbness, detachment, depression, guilt, anger, anxiety, irritability, aggression

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16
Q

During the final stage of Selye’s GAS model, the organism…

A

has depleted resources

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17
Q

You are most likely to experience eustress when you are experiencing a stressful situation that is…

A

Challenging

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18
Q

Fight-flight-freeze response

A
  • Very quick and initial response to a stressor
  • Occurs due to the arousal of the sympathetic NS and is activated when the body is confronted with a stressor and choose to either confront (fight), run (flight) or remain motionless (freeze).
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19
Q

Stress hormone and function

C

A

Cortisol is vital for many reasons including maintaining non-vital functions such as digestion, mood and growth.

The activation of cortisol increases the body’s ability to fight the stressor however it also decreases the body’s immunity

If a stressor is persistent, cortisol is activated over a prolonged period of time and it becomes depleted

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20
Q

What effect does very high arousal have on performance?

A

Low performance

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21
Q

Which hormone is first released in times of stress?

A

A

Adrenaline

22
Q

What is the name of the hormone released to maintain the functioning of the body in times of stress?

A

Cortisol

23
Q

Name a negative effect of an increase in the release of cortisol.

A

Decreased immunity

24
Q

The fight-flight-freeze response is typically an example of

A

A short-term physiological response to stress.

25
Q

GAS model

A

Explains the experience of stress from a physiological/biological perspective

26
Q 
Alarm Reaction (shock) 
When resistance to stress is...
A

Below normal

➢ When we first perceive a threat, we go into a state of shock
➢ Our resistance levels fall below normal
➢ Our body acts as though it is injured
➢ Physical effects = blood pressure
drops

27
Q 
Alarm reaction (countershock)
When resistance to stress is...
A

Above normal

➢ Our body rebounds after shock
➢ Our sympathetic NS is activated - FFF response
➢ We have higher than normal resistance to stress
➢ Adrenaline and cortisol are released
➢ Speeds up some body processes, slows down others = ensures energy is where it is needed most

28
Q

Resistance stage

When resistance to stress is…

A

Above normal

● If the stressor still remains after alarm reaction stage, we go into the stage of resistance
● This is when the body attempts to stabilise our internal systems and fight the stressor

Cortisol is released and all unnecessary functions are shut down. Individual appears as though all is normal.

29
Q

Exhaustion stage

When resistance to stress is…

A

Below normal

  • Resources are depleted.
  • Immune system is left weakened and prolonged release of adrenalin has negative effects on the body.
  • Individual is susceptible to illness or disease.
30
Q

GAS model

Strengths and Weaknesses

A

Strengths:

  • It measures a predictable pattern that can be measured in individuals
  • If stress is not prolonged stages are still experienced, therefore tracks biological patterns in different types of stress.

Limitations:

  • Research wasn’t conducted on humans
  • Does not account for individual differences and psychological factors
31
Q

Lazarus and Folkman

Primary Appraisal
Secondary Appraisal
Reappraisal

A

Primary Appraisal: assess the situation. Is it irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful. Does this matter to me?

What kind of stress?

  • Harm/loss (damage already done)
  • Threat (how much damage can be done)
  • Challenge. (potential for growth/positive)

Secondary Appraisal: - Assesses the available resources to deal with demands.

  • Internal resources, such as character and personality and
  • External resources: such as support networks and money.
  • No adequate resources to cope = STRESS

Coping mechanisms involve problem-focused coping and emotional based coping

Reappraisal is an important component for stress appraisal.

32
Q

Lazarus and Folkman

Strengths and Weaknesses

A

Strengths:

  • Accounts for individual differences in responses (subjective)
  • Responds to changes in individuals response though reappraisal

Limitations:

  • Lack of empirical evidence
  • An overlap between primary and secondary appraisal stages
33
Q

What does the second stage of the Lazarus and Folkman evaluate?

A

Ability to cope

34
Q

Coping flexibility

A
  • The ability of an individual to replace an ineffective coping strategy with a different strategy
  • Positive outcomes for the individuals with high coping flexibility
  • High levels are linked to low incidence of mental illness, but measurement tools can be inconsistent
35
Q

Effects of excess cortisol on the body

A
  • Weakened immunity
  • Decreased metabolism
  • Decrease in muscle tissue
  • Increase in weight
  • Anxiety
  • Hypertension
  • Suppressed thyroid function
  • Sleep disturbances
  • High blood sugar
  • Decreased bone density
  • Impaired cognition
  • Chronic fatigue
36
Q

Transactional model of stress and coping

A

A model that proposes that stressful experiences are a transaction between a person and their environment; if demands exceed resources, stress is the likely result

37
Q

Context-specific effectiveness

A

There is a good match between the stressful situation and the coping strategy used

e.g. Worried about exams - study, plan time
Waiting for VCE results - distract, wishful thinking

The coping strategy takes into account individual needs
e.g. exercise is not suitable for everyone

38
Q

Coping

A

Efforts to manage internal and external stressors that we perceive as challenging

39
Q

Coping strategy

A

A specific behavioural or psychological method of managing a stressor
- Can be adaptive, effective, maladaptive or ineffective

40
Q

Approach strategies

A
  • Involve behaviours that attempt to decrease the stress by alleviating the problem
    e.g. start applying for jobs, commence homework
    Approach strategies are typically a healthy response to stress and confront the stressor and deal with it directly
    e.g. lose job - try to find a new one
41
Q

Avoidance strategies

A
  • Involve avoiding dealing with the stress by protecting oneself from psychological distress e.g. ignore the facts, denial.
  • Avoidance strategies are typically maladaptive, unhealthy for the individual and unhelpful for relieving the source of the stress.
    Evades the stressor and deal with it and its effects indirectly
    e.g. worried about a spot on your skin - don’t think about it
42
Q

Examples of Approach Strategies

A
  • Find out more information
  • Consider alternatives
  • Think about it more positively
  • Ask a professional for advice
  • Take steps to eliminate the cause of the problem
  • Make a plan of action and follow it
43
Q

Examples of Avoidant Strategies

A
  • Stop trying
  • Pretending it doesn’t exist/change the subject
  • Distract yourself
  • Try not to think about it
44
Q

Problem-focused strategies

A

Aim to reduce the stressor

45
Q

Emotion-focused strategies

A

Aim to change the unpleasant emotions associated with the stressor

46
Q

Substituting a new strategy when you are engaging in an ineffective one is known as what?

A

Coping flexibility

47
Q

Identify two effects of exercise on the autonomic nervous system and state how each may reduce the experience of stress.

A
  • Exercise reduces levels of the body’s stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which reduces the experience of stress
  • Exercise helps to reduce muscle tension associated with elevated sympathetic NS reactivity
  • Exercise increases the efficiency of the cardiovascular system/flexibility and stamina for encountering future stressors
  • Exercise results in the release of beat-endorphins, reducing pain and stress levels
  • Exercise leads to focus on breathing and perfecting a repetitive motion, leading to calm feelings like meditation
48
Q

Benefits of Exercise

Physiological and Psychological

A

Physiological:

  • uses excess stress hormones like adrenaline, noradrenaline, cortisol
  • cardiovascular efficiency
  • releases beta-endorphins
  • reduces the risk of illness and disease
  • can reduce muscle tension

Psychological:

  • focuses thoughts away from stressors
  • reduces anxiety
  • distraction
  • mood enhanced from release of beta-endorphins
49
Q

How does exercise reduce stress?

A
  1. When we are stressed, stress hormones are released into the bloodstream. Exercise uses them up
  2. Increases cardiovascular efficiency, strength, stamina for dealing with future stressors
  3. Promotes relaxation - relief from stress
  4. Mood-enhancing beta-endorphins are released. They also relieve pain and improve the sense of wellbeing
  5. Time out/distraction from a stressor
  6. Exercising with others improves social connections and support
50
Q

Role of cortisol in a stress response

A

● A hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands
● Essential for maintaining homeostasis
● Referred to as the ‘stress hormone’ because greater levels are produced when we are stressed
● Eustress, distress and the fight/flight response trigger the release of cortisol
● The short term increase of cortisol is beneficial as it energises and prepares the body for fight/flight

Psychology (9 decks)

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