Unit 4: Stress And Physical Wellbeing

Question 1

What is allostasis?

Answer 1

Allostasis is where the body maintains stability or homeostasis through change. When a person interprets an event as being stressful; several internal physiological and behavioural processes are activated so that adaptation to the stressor or allostasis can be achieved.

Question 2

What is Allostatic Load?

Answer 2

Allostatic load refers to the cumulative effects of our body trying to re-establish allostasis in response to frequent and intense stressors

Question 3

What is Autonomic Arousal?

Answer 3

Autonomic arousal is the response of the autonomic nervous system generally operating below the level of conscious awareness, and responsible for the fight-or-flight response

Question 4

What is Biofeedback?

Answer 4

Biofeedback is a scientifically based treatment that uses sensitive instruments to monitor and provide feedback/information about a person’s heart rate, respiration rate, brainwaves, skin temperature, moisture on the skin and muscle tone in ‘real time’ (ie. As they happen). A person may use this information to consciously alter their readings whilst using relaxation techniques.

Question 5

What is Distress?

Answer 5

Distress refers to a negative psychological response to a perceived stressor

Question 6

What is Eustress?

Answer 6

Eustress refers to a positive psychological response to a perceived stressor

Question 7

What is the Fight, Flight or Freeze Response?

Answer 7

An organism’s survival response, readying the body for action. Stems from the sympathetic nervous system

Question 8

What is Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping?

Answer 8

A cognitive model focused on the transaction between an individual’s perception of a stressor and the stressor itself. A person went through primary appraisal of the situation and then secondary appraisal. Then either/both emotion-focused coping or problem-focused coping strategies were used to deal with the stressor

Question 9

What is Primary Appraisals?

Answer 9

Primary appraisal is the initial evaluation process where the person determines whether the event (stressor) is a threat or a challenge.

Question 10

What is Secondary Appraisal?

Answer 10

Secondary appraisal is the second stage where the person considers what options are available to them and how they will respond to the event (stressor). This appraisal is made at a more conscious level.

Question 11

What is emotional forecasting?

Answer 11

Emotional forecasting is in the primary appraisal phase, the person experiences an emotional response to the given situation. In the secondary appraisal phase, the person considers how it will feel when considering each different option.

Question 12

What is problem-focused coping?

Answer 12

Problem-focused coping involves trying to reduce the negative situation by using practical ways to deal with stress such as seeking information and evaluating the pros and cons of a situation

Question 13

What is Emotion-Focused Coping?

Answer 13

Emotion-focused coping involves trying to reduce the negative emotional responses associated with stress such as embarrassment, fear, anxiety, depression, excitement and frustration by using strategies such as: meditation, relaxation, talking to a friend/family, ignoring the problem and distraction.

Question 14

What is Meditation?

Answer 14

Meditation is a deliberately induced altered state of consciousness in which a person uses mental exercises to become highly focussed on a single thought, to the exclusion of others.

Question 15

What are some examples of negative emotions?

Answer 15

Anger, anxiety, disgust, envy, fright, guilt, jealousy, sadness and shame

Question 16

What is physical exercise?

Answer 16

Physical exercise refers to an activity that requires exertion with the purpose of improving fitness or health

Question 17

What is Social Support?

Answer 17

Social support refers to the network of family, friends, neighbours and community members that are available during difficult times to provide emotional, physical and financial assistance.

Question 18

What is Stress?

Answer 18

Stress is a psychological and physical response to internal or external sources of tension (stressors) that challenge a person’s ability to cope. These can be real or perceived.

Question 19

What is a Stressor?

Answer 19

A stressor is a source of tension that challenges a person’s ability to cope.

Question 20

What happens when the fight-or-flight response is activated?

Answer 20

In the fight-or-flight response, adrenalin and noradrenaline are released into the blood stream, thereby increasing the heart rate which in turn increases the respiration rate. Pupils dilate and glucose is release from the liver, allowing greater energy to deal with the stressor. Functions such as digestion are suppressed.

Question 21

What part of the nervous system is responsible for the fight-or-flight response?

Answer 21

Sympathetic branch of the Autonomic Nervous System

Question 22

Which part of the nervous system returns the body to normal after the fight-or-flight response?

Answer 22

Parasympathetic branch of the Autonomic nervous system

Question 23

What is Allostatic Overload?

Answer 23

Allostatic overload occurs when the body demands of the stressor exceed the body’s ability to repeatedly adapt. The frequent activation of the fight-or-flight response has a cumulative effect that can result in long-term damage to the body and can lead to serious illnesses.

Question 24

What is the Biopsychosocial Model?

Answer 24

The Biopsychosocial model is a holistic approach to mental disorders which incorporates biological, psychological and socio-cultural factors when considering the assessment and treatment of mental disorders.

Question 25

What are some examples of biological factors of getting a mental disorder?

Answer 25

Bodily structures
Biochemical processes (neurotransmitters)
Genetic predisposition

Question 26

What are some example of psychological factors contributing to mental disorders?

Answer 26

Individual personality

Thoughts, feelings and behaviours

Question 27

What are some examples of social/cultural factors which contribute to mental disorders?

Answer 27

Home
School
Friends
Work
Societal expectations
Cultural expectations

Question 28

When are you most likely to experience Eustress?

Answer 28

You are most likely to experience Eustress when you are experiencing a stressful situation that is challenging

Question 29

What are the physiological processes involve in the fight-or-flight response?

Answer 29

Physiological processes involved in fight-or-flight response are:
increased heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate, respiration rate; increased release of oxygen and glucose into the bloodstream. These processes are all aimed at improving the survival chances of an organism by enabling energy for quick action to avoid threat or danger.