Week 6 - Stress / Coping With Stress

Question 1

Explain the fright vs flight model to explain stress

Answer 1

-Shock, cardiac arousal = SNS

Question 2

Explain the gas model to explain stress

Answer 2

• All rats developed peptic ulcers
• Same general response to all kind of unpleasantness
• General adaption syndrome

Question 3

Explain the transactional model to explain stress

Answer 3

• Stress reaction determined by interaction how we appraise events in the environment and ability to cope
• Stressor = Primary Appraisal -
  Yes = secondary appraisal (resources to cope or not)
  = stress if no

Question 4

Explain prospect theory as a way to cope with stress

Answer 4

• Equal presentation of positive & negatives
• Try to avoid negative outcomes and gain positive\
• 64% of our vocabulary is negative

Question 5

Explain brain and programmings response to stress to cope

Answer 5

• Assume negativity & exaggerate threat (evolutionary)
• Modern society isn’t dangerous but response doesn’t change

Question 6

How does coping with stress affect cortisol response?

Answer 6

• [Kirschbam et al] cortisol response to public speaking stressor
• Day 1 = novel. Day 2-5= Novel gone, desensitised, can cope

Question 7

Emotional stress pathway

Answer 7

• Sympathetic Adrenal Medulla
• Activates adrenaline = cortisol = CV activity + metabolic change

Question 8

Three measurements of stress pathways

Answer 8

• Subjective reports of negative emotions in questionnaires
• SAM/HRA outputs, cortisol release, saliva etc
• Diurnal Profiles ; following patten

Question 9

How can social support help us cope with stress?

Answer 9

• Presence of partner = reduced BP in acute lab based stress task
• Psychological, endocrine, health ; inverse association with social support and anxiety with caregivers of children with a developmental disorder
• Limit = 4 friends , 4+ unrelated, 11+ change direction

Question 10

How does having an internal locus of control affect coping with stress?

Answer 10

• Adaptive response ; commit, control, challenge
• Type A and B found Type A personality was more susceptible to stress related disease
• Hostility (A) risk type for reoccurring CHD

Question 11

How can animal assisted interactions help the coping of stress?

Answer 11

• Majority of students reported 2-3 point reduction in stress levels with Therapy dogs
• Therapy pigs in airports / Alzheimer’s patients

Question 12

How can virtual reality affect how we cope with stress?

Answer 12

• Psychotherapy : time efficient, low cost, no training
• Helps people comfort fears (PTSD/Anxiety/Autism/Depression) through exposure
  = desensitisation