Psych 202 Chapter 14

stimulus-based definition

stress is a demanding or threatening event/situation, characterizes stress as a stimulus that causes certain reactions

response-based definitions

emphasize physiological responses that occur in response to demanding or threatening situations, characterizes stress as a response to environmental conditions

stress

a process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events he appraises as overwhelming or threatening to his well-being

primary appraisal

judgement about the degree of potential harm/threat to well-being that a stressor might entail

threat

stressor that could lead to harm/loss/negative consequences

challenge

stressor that carries the potential for gain/personal growth

secondary appraisal

judgement of the options available to cope with a stressor, and perceptions of how effective such an option will be

eustress

stress that can be positive and motivate us to do things in our best interest

distress

"bad" stress, causing people to feel burned out, and performance to decline

physiological response to stress

accelerated heart rate, headaches, or gastrointestinal problems

cognitive response to stress

difficulty concentrating or making decisions

behavioral response to stress

drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking actions directed at eliminated the cause of stress

walter cannon

first to identify the body's physiological reactions to stress, fight-or-flight response

fight-or-flight response

set of physiological reactions that occurs when an individual encounters a perceived threat; produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system.

hans selye

general adaption syndrome

general adaption syndrome

The body's nonspecific response to stress

the same pattern of physiological reactions occurred regardless of the stressor

3 stage of the general adaption syndrome

alarm reaction, stage of resistance, stage of exhaustion

alarm reaction

the body's immediate reaction upon facing a threatening situation of emergency

stage of resistance

the body has adapted to the stressor but remains alert and prepared to respond

stage of exhaustion

person can no longer adapt tot he stressor, physical wear takes its toll on the body's tissues and organs

sympathetic nervous system

triggers arousal in response to a stressor via the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands

Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

stress --> hypothalamus releases corticotrophin-releasing factor (hormone) --> pituitary gland releases ACTH --> ACTH activates adrenal glands --> adrenal glands release hormones including cortisol

cortisol

a stress hormone that helps provide a boost of energy when we first encounter a stressor, preparing us to fight or flee

acute stressors

brief events that sometimes continue to be experienced as overwhelming well after the event had ended

chronic stressors

events that persist over an extended period of time

post-traumatic stress disorder

a chronic stress reaction including intrusive and painful memories, jumpiness and persistent negative emotional states among other symptoms.

social readjustment rating scale (SRRS)

a scale consisting of 43 life events that require varying degrees of personal readjustment, death of spouse was ranked the highest, followed by divorce.

daily hassles

minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives, frequency of daily hassles is a better predictor of physical and psychological health than life change units

psychopsychological disorders

physical disorders/diseases whose symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors.

autoimmune disease

immune system mistakes the body's own healthy cells for invaders and repeatedly attacks them

rheumatoid arthritis

an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, results in joint pain, stiffness, and loss of function

systemic lupus erythematosus

an autoimmune disease, causes a person's body to attack its own tissues and can inflict permanent damage on multiple organs, including the heart, lungs, and kidneys

Hashimoto's Hypothyroiditis

an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid gland, can result in depression, fatigue, muscle cramps, and heart problems.

immunosuppression

the decreased effectiveness of the immune system

negative affectivity

tendency to experience distressed emotional states involving anger, contempt, disgust, guilt, fear, and nervousness, linked to heart disease and hypertension

Friedman and Rosenman

type A and B personalities

Type A

tend to be extremely competitive, intensely driven, impatient, rushed, and hostile toward others

Type B

tend to be relaxed and laid back

asthma

chronic disease in which the airways become inflamed and narrowed, leading to difficulty breathing

coping

mental and behavioral efforts to deal with stress

lazarus and folkman

coping styles

problem-focused coping

individual attempts to manage or alter the problem that is causing them to experience stress

emotion-focused coping

efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress

perceived control

our beliefs about our personal capacity to exert influence over and shape outcomes

learned helplessness

an acquired belief that one is powerless to do anything about a situation

Elements of happiness

pleasant life, good life, meaningful life

seligman

urged psychologists to focus more on understanding how to build human strength and psychological well-being

positive psychology

seeks to identify and promote those qualities that lead to greater fulfillment in our lives

flow

particular experience that is so engaging and engrossing it becomes worth doing for its own sake