LEC 13.2: Stress & Coping

Stress

Universal phenomenon; experienced by all individuals (parents, workers, students, etc)

Change in normal balance

Stressor

Event/stimulus causing stress

Coping Mechanisms

Responses to stressors

1. Internal

2. External

3. Developmental

4. Situational

Sources of Stress

Internal Stressors

Source of stress that originates within an individual (like infection or depression)

External Stressors

Source of stress that originates outside (like moving out, death of a loved one, peer pressure)

Developmental Stressors

Source of stress that involves predictable events across life stages

Situational Stressors

Source of stress that are unpredictable and may occur anytime (like death, marriage, divorce, birth, new job, illness)

Impact of events depends on developmental stage (ex: death of a parent affects child more than an adult)

1. Physical

2. Emotional

3. Mental

4. Social

5. Spiritual

Effects of Stress

1. Stimulus-Based Models

2. Selye’s Response-Based Models

   1. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

   2. Local Adaptation Syndrome (LAS)

3. Lazarus’ Transactional Stress Theory

Models of Stress

Stimulus-Based Model

Model of Stress

Defines stress as a ___, life event or set of circumstances that arouses physiological and psychological reactions that may increase the individual’s vulnerability to illness

Selye’s Response-Based Model

Model of Stress

Stress is the nonspecific ___ of the body to any kind of demand made upon it

1. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

2. Local Adaptation Syndrome (LAS)

Selye’s Response-Based Models

General Adaptation Syndrome

Response-Based Model

Stress response is a series of physiological events triggered by stress involving the release of adaptive hormones and changes in body structure and chemical composition

1. Alarm

2. Resistance

3. Exhaustion

Stages of Gas

Alarm

Stage of GAS

Initial response to stress, the body begins to mobilize defenses

Includes Shock & Countershock phases

Shock

Phase in Alarm

Body perceives stress and Sympathetic Nervous System —> Hypothalamus —> Corticotropin-releasing hormone → Pituitary Gland → Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) → Adrenal Medulla → Catecholamines (epinephrine & norepinephrine)

Countershock Phase

Phase in Alarm

Body reverses the changes form the shock phase as it begins to adapt

Resistance

Stage of GAS

Body attempts to cope with the stressor and limits the impact to the smallest possible area of the body

Exhaustion

Stage of GAS

Body’s ability to adapt is overwhelmed. Prolonged stress can lead to death

Local Adaptation Syndrome

Response-Based Model

Body can also react locally, one organ or a part of the body reacts alone to the stress

Lazarus’ Transactional Stress Theory

Model for Stress

Criticizes Stimulus- and response- based models don’t consider ind differences, arguing that neither explains why some and some don’t adapt effectively

Inds and grps vary in their vulnerability, rxn, ints to events

Anxiety

State of mental uneasiness, apprehension, dread, or foreboding or a feeling of helplessness related to an impending or anticipated unidentified threat to self or significant relationships.

1. Mild

2. Moderate

3. Severe

4. Panic

Levels of Anxiety

Mild Anxiety

Level of Anxiety

Slight arousal that enhances perception, learning, and productive abilities

Moderate Anxiety

Level of Anxiety

Increases the arousal to a point where the individual expresses feelings of tension, nervousness or concern. (perception is narrowed; attention is focused)

Severe Anxiety

Level of Anxiety

Consumes most of the individual's energies and requires intervention (perception is further decreased; unable to focus on what is happening.)

Panic

Level of Anxiety

An overpowering, frightening, level of anxiety causing the individual to lose control (distorted perception)

Fear

An emotion or feeling of apprehension aroused by impending or seeming danger, pain, or another perceived threat

Anger

Emotional state consisting of a subjective feeling of animosity or strong displeasure

Constructive

Clearly expressed verbal communication of anger, when the angry individual tells the other individual about the anger and carefully identifies the source, is ____.

Depression

Common reaction to events that seem overwhelming or negative.

Ego Defense Mechanism

Unconscious psychological adaptive mechanisms that develop as the personality attempts to defend itself, establish compromises among conflicting impulses, and calm inner tensions.

Altruism

Emotional conflicts and stressors dealt with by performing helpful service to others that results in satisfaction and pleasure

Compensation

Making up for a perceived or real inability by focusing on another area and becoming proficient (may be conscious or unconscious)

Conversion

Transfer of a mental conflict into a physical symptom

Denial

Avoiding, ignoring, or rejecting a real situation and the feelings associated with it

Displacement

Transfer of emotions from one person or object onto another less threatening and more neutral person or object (sometimes called “scapegoat” defense mechanism)

Humor

Emphasizing ironic or amusing aspects of a conflict or stressor

Identification

Process whereby an individual takes on thoughts, mannerisms, or tastes of another individual whom the individual admires

Intellectualization

Excessive reasoning or logic to transfer disturbing feelings into the intellectual sphere

Introjection

Attributing to oneself the qualities of another - intense identification in which the qualities are incorporated into the individual’s own ego structure

Isolation

Separating ideas, thoughts, and actions from feelings associated with them

Projection

Unconsciously attributing one's thoughts or impulses to another person

Rationalization

Justifying illogical Ideas, actions, or feelings by using acceptable explanations (most common defense mechanism a form of self-deception)

Reaction Formation

Developing the opposite behavior or emotion to unacceptable feelings or behaviors

Repression

The unconscious exclusion of unwanted experiences, ideas, emotions; first line of psychologic defense against anxiety

Sublimation

The unconscious substituting of acceptable behaviors for unacceptable behaviors

Most mature and healthy ego defense

Supression

The conscious denial of a disturbing situation or feeling (Think of the individual as consciously "sitting on" the feelings as compared to repression, in which the individual is not aware.)