Unit5.1Understanding Stress and Positive Psychology Concepts

Stress

Causes a person to feel challenged or endangered.

Stressor

Events that cause stress.

Transient stress

Temporary challenges.

Chronic stress

Stress that might affect health.

General Adaptation Syndrome

A three-stage response to stress: Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

Alarm

Arousal of the sympathetic nervous system, which releases various stimulatory hormones.

Resistance

Parasympathetic rebound. Reduces the state of being aroused.

Exhaustion

The body is tired, and tissue cannot be repaired. Susceptible to sickness during this time.

Richard Lazarus

Developed the cognitive theory of how we respond to stress.

Type-A pattern

Competitiveness, time urgency, and elevated feelings of hostility and anger.

Type-B pattern

Low level competitiveness, low preoccupation with time issue, easy-going attitude.

Tend and befriend theory

When given stress, humans will tend to their children and rely on others for support.

Problem-focusing coping

Working with the problem itself to find a solution and reduce stress.

Emotion-focused coping

Working with feelings around the problem rather than the issue itself.

Positive Psychology

Strengths a person or community possesses that allow them to thrive.

Gratitude

Feeling of appreciation.

Signature strengths

Wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence.

Post-traumatic growth

People who experience trauma find ways to grow and develop despite their suffering.