11/6 Stress and Identity

stress itself isn’t inherently negative

stress can help you do well in exams, do well in stuff that means a lot to us, do well under pressure

What is Stress?

The anticipation and/or experience of encountering demands; Any internal or external factor, positive or negative, can disrupt homeostasis and elicit sympathetic activation

How do people try to address their stress

conventional thinking portrays stress as negative. Many methods address negative effects of stress on stress reduction or removing stressors

When asked for the best advice to help someone perform a stressful task

91% of people choose to “try to relax and calm down”

included in the biopsychosocial model

biology, social, psychological

biology

physical health, genetic venerabilities, drug effects

social

peers, family circumstances, family relationships

psychological

physical health, coping skills, social skills, family relationships, self-esteem, mental health

what happens dynamically

with the biopsychosocial model, how we view something can change how our body reacts biologically

Biopsychosocial model of Challenge & Threat

stressor → psychological processes → physiological processes → enhanced or impaired cognitive functioning 

psychological processes

can be a CHALLENGE appraisal which is when Resource > Demands (this is when stress is seen as positive) or THREAT Approsal when Demand > Resource which is when stress is seen as a negative

Physiological Processes

Challenge Physiological resonses or threat physiological responses (danger and uncertainty or prolonged stress response-stress state)

example of biopsychosocial model of challenge and threat in action

POSITIVE EXAMPLE: person x wants to do well. They believe that they will do well, then the stress experience INCREASES cognitive function to do better. NEGATIVE EXAMPLE: person X did not sleep enough leading them to believe that they won’t do well leading to decreas chrotozel levels and them not believeing that they will do well

MORE demand, LESS resources =

Threat; example threat responses are small increases or no change in cardiac output; increased cortisol levels; negative emotions like fear, anxiety, and worry; hinders performance and can lead to impaired decision-making

LESS demand, More resources =

challenge; example of challenge response: increased cardiovasular output; fast-acting nervous system; increase epinephrine and nerepinephrine; typically associated with positive emotions like excitment and enthusiasm; enhanced cognitive function and decision making

during times of stress, out identity can affect how we interact with people

people can see themselves as asian-american, woman, first gen (stigmatized identities). 

how do people appraisee their own identities and how do those appraisals shape their outcomes?

perception of identity

steps for to measure people’s appaisal

measure development, validation, group-based application

resources vs demand in appraisals

resources: high collective self-esteem, lower perceived discrimination, lower intergroup anxiety, higher interracial trust, lower behavioral avoidance; Demand: lower collective self-esteem, higher perceived discrimination, higher intergroup anxiety, lower interracial trust, higher behavioral avoidance

expanding to sexual identity (Lee, 2020)

Sexual minority individuals face higher victimization & mental health risks; Online spaces provide identity exploration & connection; Lack of validation → Feelings of rejection, distress (high vs low number of likes)

study 2 results

found that when there was increase demand appraial on the x axis and feelings of rejection on the y axis, marginalized sexual identities and low likes condition scored higher on feelings of rejection. ALSO FOUND that when demand apprisal was the x axis and fundemental needs was the y axis that marginalized groups had a negative slope while the heteosexuals had a horizontal line and low likes had a negative slope and high likes had a ever so slightly negative slope

summary of study 2 (this may be important)

moderation of identity appraisals: higher demand appraisals → greater feelings of rejection (sexual minorities & low likes condition); higher demand appraisals → greater negative self-concept (low likes condition); higher demand appraisal → lower fundamental needs (met) satisfaction (sexual minorities & low likes condition)

stress optimization

shifting the valuation of stress from “is bad for me” to “can be good for me; Optimization suggests that one’s life can be enhanced and significant goals can be achieved not despite stress but rather because of it

Stress Reappraisal

Reframe physiological stress (e.g., heart rate) as functional, not harmful; Focus on the situational meaning of stress; Encourages adaptive performance under acute stress

Stress Mindsets

Broaden beliefs about stress as enhancing, not just debilitating; Target general attitudes toward stress across contexts; Can improve motivation, coping, and long-term well- being