PSYC 100 Chapter 12 Stress

What is stress?

Tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms from a situation that strains our ability to cope effectively

What are stressors?

Situations (positive or negative) that cause stress, such as major life events or daily hassles

Stress as a stimulus

Approach that views stress as an external event that demands adaptation; uses tools like the Social Readjustment Rating Scale

Stress as a response

Approach focusing on psychological/physical reactions to stress; includes concepts like posttraumatic growth and General Adaptation Syndrome

General Adaptation Syndrome

Body's response to stress in 3 stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion (Hans Selye)

Alarm stage

Activates autonomic nervous system, releases adrenaline, triggers anxiety (amygdala, hypothalamus, hippocampus)

Resistance stage

Cerebral cortex helps cope and adapt through problem-solving

Exhaustion stage

Prolonged stress breaks down resistance, may lead to illness or burnout

Eustress

Positive stress that can enhance performance or focus

Stress as a transaction

Approach emphasizing how we interpret and cope with stressors (Lazarus & Folkman, 1987)

Primary appraisal

Assess if a situation is harmful or not

Secondary appraisal

Evaluate how well we can cope with a stressor

Problem-focused coping

Tackling the problem head-on; used when we believe we can control the stressor

Emotion-focused coping

Changing our perspective to lower stress; used when the stressor feels uncontrollable

Coping

Mental and behavioral efforts to manage stress

Conceptualization

Our way of thinking about stress influences how we cope

Internal locus of control

Belief that outcomes are due to one's own efforts and decisions

External locus of control

Belief that outcomes are due to luck, fate, or external forces

Perceived self-efficacy

Belief in one's own ability to accomplish goals and tasks

Stress-related growth

Viewing adversity as an opportunity for growth or improvement

Social support

Support from others that provides emotional comfort, resources, and advice; linked to lower mortality

Behavioral control

Taking action to prevent or reduce stress; involves problem-solving

Cognitive control

Reframing thoughts to reduce distress; linked to emotion-focused coping

Decision control

Being able to choose between different options; enhances agency and reduces stress

Information control

Ability to gather info about a stressor; linked to proactive coping

Proactive coping

Anticipating stress and acting in advance to minimize it

Emotional control

Expressing or suppressing emotions effectively; e.g., "opening up" about trauma

Tips for reducing daily stress

Focus on positive events, savor good moments, express gratitude, practice mindfulness, reappraise stressors, exercise