Health Psychology Vocab & Concepts

Key Vocab and Concepts to define in ERQ

HPA Axis (fight or flight response)

When you encounter an environmental stressor, the hypothalamus stimulates the pituitary gland to release a hormone that travels to the adrenal glands that are located on top of your kidneys. The adrenal glands release stress hormones. Two of those hormones are cortisol and adrenaline. 

General Adaptation Syndrome (explain 3 stages)

1. The alarm stage: Hypothalamus activates stress response

2. Resistance stage: Adrenal cortex continues to resist glucose corticoids to help the body react to the stressor until the stress is resolved or the body can no longer resist

3. The exhaustion stage: The body’s ability to cope with the stressor is depleted and the body is not able to maintain normal function. The immune system is depleted and major health effects may be seen.

Studies for physiological aspects of stress

Marmot et al (1997)

Newcomer et al (1999)

Stress

The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events or stressors, tht we view as challenging or threatening.

Stressor

Any adverse or challenging event - humans are able to imagine stressors and they act the same way physiologically. They can be catastrophes, significant life changes, everyday inconveniences

Cognitive Aspects of Stress Studies

Jobin (2014)

Jamieson (2011)

Transactional Model of Stress

The researchers define stress as neither a result of the disposition of an individual nor the nature of the environmental stressor, but the transaction between the two. The theory argues that it is the appraisal of the environmental stressor that leads to an emotional response.

Social Self Preservation Theory

Suggests that threats to one’s social self (status and self esteem) are associated with specific negative cognitive and affective responses such as shame and humiliation. It seems that such threats can influence physical health (e.g via the immune system or increased levels of cortisol). 

Social self-preservation theory predicts that biological responses to stress are mediated by self-conscious emotions such as shame or rejection.

Social Aspects of Stress studies

Tung et al (2012)

Marmot et al (1997)

What are the social risk factors and protective factors of stress

Risk: Poverty and social hierachy

Protective Factors: Social support