VCE Unit 3 Psychology - Stress

fight-or-flight-or-freeze response

an involuntary, bodily response to a sudden and immediate threat (or stressor) in readiness for fight (confront), flight (escape) or freeze (be silent and unseen)

adrenaline

a hormone secreted during stress; also called epinephrine

alarm reaction

the first stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome in which the body goes into a temporary state of shock, then rebounds (counter shock), following initial awareness of a stressor

approach coping strategy

an effort to cope with stress by confronting the stressor and dealing directly with it and its effects; compare with avoidance coping strategy

context-specific effectiveness (for coping)

in relation to coping, when there is a match or 'good fit' between the coping strategy that is used and the stressful situation

external stressor

a stressor which originates outside the individual from situations and events in the environment

gut-brain axis (GBA)

a bidirectional, multi-faceted communication link between the central and enteric nervous systems

noradrenaline

a hormone that is released by the adrenal medulla and by the sympathetic nerves and functions as a neurotransmitter

shock (in alarm reaction)

in the General Adaptation Syndrome, the temporary state immediately following exposure to a stressor during the initial alarm reaction stage

stress response

the emergency reaction system of the body

acute stress

stress that lasts for a relatively short time

avoidance coping strategy

an effort to cope with stress by evading the stressor and dealing indirectly with it and its effects; compare with approach coping strategy

chronic stress

stress that continues for a prolonged period of time

coping

in relation to stress management, attempting to manage the demands of a stressor in some effective way

coping flexibility

the ability to effectively modify or adjust one's coping strategies according to the demands of different stressors

coping strategy

a specific method used to manage or reduce the stress produced by a stressor; see also approach coping strategy and avoidance coping strategy

cortisol

a hormone secreted from the adrenal glands in response to a stressor

counter shock

in the General Adaptation Syndrome, rebound from the temporary state of shock during the initial alarm reaction stage

exhaustion stage

the third stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome when the body can no longer sustain resistance

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

a three-stage physiological response to stress involving alarm reaction (shock/countershock), resistance and exhaustion

gut microbiota

the microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, viruses and fungi) present in each individual's digestive tract ('gut')

internal stressor

a stressor that originates within the individual

primary appraisal

in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, an individual's evaluation of the significance of a potential stressor and whether anything is at stake in the encounter, resulting in a decision that it is either irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful; compare with secondary appraisal

resistance stage

the second stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, when the body's resistance to the particular stressor rises above normal

secondary appraisal

in the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, an individual's evaluation of their ability to control or overcome a stressful situation; compare with primary appraisal

stress

a psychobiological response produced by internal or external stressors; see also acute stress and chronic stress

stress hormone

a hormone thought to be involved in the body's response to stress, especially cortisol, adrenaline (epinephrine), and noradrenaline (norepinephrine)

stressor

a stimulus that produces stress

Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their environment, and that a stress response depends upon both an individual's appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope with it