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Stress
an unpleasant emotional state that results from the perception of danger - can be positive or negative - highly individual and idiosyncratic
Stressor
The source of stress
Diathesis-stress model
predicts that stress can contribute to the development of major depressive disorder (MDD), schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other serious conditions
Walter Cannon
demonstrated the ability of a number of stressors to activate the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system
Hans Selye
extended Cannon's findings by studying the effects of stronger, longer-lasting stressors
Selye tested stressors in rats
found that the rats responded with a consistent pattern of behaviour - labelled the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
The GAS occurs in three stages
An alarm reaction - initiated when a stressor is first perceived and identified - same as fight or flight response
Resistance stage - continue to experience ongoing stress - requires us to adapt and cope as well as possible
Exhaustion stage - strength and energy drop to very low levels - can lead to death
Cognitive appraisal models
help us to predict when a particular stimulus or event is likely to be a stressor for an individual person - primary appraisal and secondary appraisal
Primary appraisal
evaluate how relevant the situation is to our overall well-being - as well as whether the situation is consistent or inconsistent with our goals
Secondary appraisal
involves the evaluation of our resources and coping potential
Holmes and Rahe (1967)
compiled a list of life events that they believed might be correlated with stress - surveyed participants about the amount of adjustment that each event required
Hassles
Relatively insignificant sources of stress can contribute to a person's overall level of stress - Ex. waiting in long lines
Once the amygdala identifies danger
it communicates with the hypothalamus, which triggers the autonomic nervous system (ANS) - the sympathetic division responsible for the fight-or-flight response
Sympathetic Adrenal-Medullary (SAM) System
Triggers the release of adrenaline and norepinephrine into the bloodstream, causing immediate responses (ex. rapid heart rate, quick breathing)
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis
The hypothalamus communicates with the pituitary gland, which signals the adrenal glands to release cortisol into the bloodstream, providing energy to cope with the stressor
High cortisol levels
can damage neurons particularly in the hippocampus
Chronic stress can inhibit neurogenesis
worsening the effects of stress on brain health
Cushing's disease
elevated cortisol levels, leads to hippocampal shrinkage, memory issues, sleep disturbances, and depression
The hippocampus
detects high cortisol levels - signals hypothalamus to reduce cortisol production - if feedback loop fails - continued cortisol release
Chronic stress can lead to further damage of the hippocampus
leads to disorders like PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
Fight-or-flight
often associated with male responses to stress
Tend-and-befriend
may be more typical for women - involves soothing children, forming social alliances, and protecting others
Oxytocin
a hormone linked to social bonding - released in response to stress, enhancing social support and caretaking behaviours in women
Chronic stress especially from social or environmental factors
contributes to poorer health outcomes, including immune suppression, and accelerates aging
Stress hormones
affect gene expression and brain structure, with long-term consequences for physical and mental health
Short-term stress
Can enhance immune function and boost biological systems for coping
Stress can stiffen blood vessel
increasing the risk of heart attacks - especially in people with pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure
Stress affects mood, sleep, health, and appetite
leading to negative impacts on health
Viktor Frankl’s Tragic Optimism
tragic optimism encourages finding ways to cope with challenges with courage and responsibility rather than asking "why me?"
Coping with stress
involves using effective strategies such as controlling stressors, maintaining good health habits, exercising, and engaging in mindfulness
Coping with a stressor can take three forms
problem-focused, emotion-focused, and relationship-focused coping
Problem-focused coping
designed to address an issue head-on
Negative problem-focused coping
can include escape and avoidance
Emotion-focused coping
helps you deal with the negative emotions associated with a stressor
World Health Organization (WHO)
stated that physical health is important to improve mental health
Behaviours that contribute to our major causes of death
smoking, alcohol use, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and loneliness, which are discussed in more detail in the following sections
Tobacco use remains a major public health issue
severe health consequences including increased risk of diseases and premature death
Adolescents and those with mental health struggles are particularly vulnerable to tobacco use
social support and self-tailored cessation programs can help
Positive psychology
pioneered by Martin Seligman - emphasizes studying positive experiences like happiness, gratitude, love, and hope, which contribute to well-being
Humanistic psychology and cognitive-behavioral psychology
laid the foundation for positive psychology
Seligman’s learned optimism
suggests that optimism can be learned, just as helplessness can be unlearned
Hedonic Approach
Focuses on obtaining pleasure and avoiding pain
Eudaimonic Approach
Focuses on meaningfulness and self-realization
Transience of Happiness
Happiness is often fleeting and relative - it changes based on circumstances
Happiness Set Point
Research suggests we have a genetic "set point" for happiness - life experiences can temporarily raise or lower happiness from this point
Heritability
Some people experience more pleasure from activities than others
Habituation
Pleasurable experiences tend to lose their impact over time (ex. food, material items)
To improve happiness from the good life
identify strengths and incorporate them into work and hobbies
Flow
A state of deep engagement in an activity (work, creativity) where time seems to stand still
Traits Contributing to Well-Being
Hope, Resilience, Spirituality
Values
Enduring beliefs about preferable modes of conduct or goals
Virtue Correlation
People with higher value scores tend to have better self-esteem, lower violence, and fewer addictions, anxiety, and depression
Positive Institutions
places that foster well-being like workplaces and schools - have an emphasis on clear goals, fairness, reciprocity, respect, and safety
Job
Focused on supporting family - without seeking fulfillment from work
Career
Provides status and achievement - fulfilling more personal and professional needs
Calling
Combines personal achievement with contributing to the community - less concerned with money and status
Positive Workplaces
A workplace that helps individuals achieve personal goals leads to greater satisfaction and well-being
Positive Schools
Schools that promote growth and satisfaction in students lead to positive outcomes like higher grades and fewer behavioural problems
Family-Centered Positive Psychology (FCPP)
Focuses on strengths of families rather than their weaknesses, aiming to improve family dynamics and overall satisfaction
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