Week 12 | Day 1 | PSYA02

Amygdala

Brain region perceiving fear and threat first

Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)

Includes PNS and SNS, involved in stress response

Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) Axis

System releasing catecholamines and cortisol during stress

Immune System Response to Stressors

Enhances survival by activating inflammatory response

Chronic Stress

Weakens immune system over time

Primary Appraisal

Assessing if a stimulus is a threat

Secondary Appraisal

Assessing ability to cope with a stressor

Challenge and Threat Theory

Distinguishes stress as exceeding resources (threat) or resources exceeding demands (challenge)

Glass & Singer Study

Demonstrated how perceived control affects stress response

Psychological Stressors

Major risk factors for disorders like PTSD and depression

Social Rejection Stressors

Likely to trigger depression

Childhood Stressors

Have long-lasting harmful effects

Acute Illnesses

Stress impacts risk for developing illnesses like colds

Asthma Attacks

Can worsen in severity due to stress

Latent Viruses

Reactivated under stressful conditions

Chronic Illnesses

More severe when individual is stressed

Cardiovascular Diseases

Influenced by stress levels

Autoimmune Disorders

E.g. Multiple sclerosis, lupus, and Crohn's disease, worsened by stress