Emotion and Stress

Stress

The body's non-specific physical and psychological response to any demand or threat.

Eustress

Positive stress that enhances functioning and performance; experienced as excitement and motivation.

Distress

Negative stress that overwhelms and impairs performance; often chronic and damaging.

Stressors

Physical or psychological challenges that threaten homeostasis and trigger stress responses.

Types of Stressors

Four main categories: psychological, environmental, social, and work-related.

Psychological Stressors

Stressors related to emotional or cognitive strain, e.g., pressure, frustration, conflict, and lack of control.

Pressure (Psychological Stressor)

Urgent demands or expectations from external sources, often with limited time or high stakes.

Uncontrollability

Feeling powerless or lacking control over stressful events, increasing emotional strain.

Frustration

Occurs when a goal is blocked or thwarted, leading to negative emotional arousal.

Conflict (Psychological Stressor)

Tension caused by competing or incompatible goals requiring resolution.

Environmental Stressors

Stressors arising from physical surroundings such as natural disasters, pollution, or overcrowding.

Catastrophes

Large-scale, unpredictable events that require major adaptations (e.g., natural disasters).

Major Life Events

Significant life changes that demand readjustment (e.g., divorce, death, unemployment).

Hassles

Daily irritants like traffic, chores, or time pressure that accumulate and cause chronic stress.

Social Stressors

Stress from relationships and social interactions (e.g., bullying, rejection, expectations).

Social Rejection

Exclusion or disapproval from family, peers, or romantic partners.

Social Isolation

Feeling disconnected or lacking social support; increases vulnerability to stress and illness.

Discrimination

Treatment based on race, gender, or orientation that leads to chronic stress and social strain.

Relationship Issues

Conflicts with family, partners, or friends that create emotional distress.

Bullying

Repeated harm or intimidation in-person or online; a potent social stressor.

Social Expectations

Pressure to conform to norms; can cause internal conflict and anxiety.

Work-Related Stressors

Job-specific stress from high workload, job insecurity, or toxic work environments.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

A three-stage model of the body’s response to stress: alarm, resistance, exhaustion.

Alarm Stage (GAS)

Initial fight-or-flight response; physiological arousal (e.g., heart rate increase, anxiety, tension).

Resistance Stage (GAS)

Body tries to restore balance; functioning may stabilize but stress hormones remain high.

Exhaustion Stage (GAS)

Body's resources are depleted from chronic stress; leads to fatigue, burnout, illness.

Hans Selye’s Theory

Stress is a general, non-specific bodily response to any demand; origin of GAS model.

Cortisol

A stress hormone released during prolonged stress; suppresses immune function and increases risk of illness.

Interleukin-6

A chemical linked to inflammation and diseases (e.g., diabetes, heart disease) that increases under stress.

Stress and Immune System

Chronic stress weakens immunity by reducing the ability of immune cells to respond to threats.

Stress and Health

Stress affects physical and mental health both directly and indirectly.

Direct Effects of Stress

Includes physical symptoms like headaches, muscle tension, high blood pressure, and insomnia.

Indirect Effects of Stress

Stress influences behavior negatively (e.g., poor diet, substance use, disrupted sleep).

Stress-Related Illnesses

Common illnesses include cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lowered immunity, and chronic pain.

Type A Personality

Personality marked by hostility, competitiveness, impatience — linked to higher heart disease risk.

Chronic Anger

Associated with increased hypertension and coronary heart disease due to prolonged emotional arousal.

Stress and Cancer

Chronic stress can disturb hormones, suppress immunity, and worsen cancer progression.

Emotion

A complex state involving physiological arousal, cognitive appraisal, expression, and subjective experience.

Relationship Between Emotion and Stress

Emotions like fear and anger amplify stress; stress also affects emotional stability.

Basic Emotions

Biologically based and universal emotions: fear, anger, sadness, joy, disgust, and contempt.

Complex Emotions

Emotions influenced by cognition and culture (e.g., guilt, pride, shame); vary across individuals.

Facial Feedback Hypothesis

Facial expressions influence emotional experience (e.g., smiling can make you feel happier).

James-Lange Theory of Emotion

Emotion arises from physiological responses to stimuli (e.g., “I feel afraid because I tremble”).

Critique of James-Lange Theory

Modern research suggests emotions, perceptions, and bodily responses influence each other.

Modern View of Emotion

Emotional response results from simultaneous interaction between perception, physiology, and feelings.

Emotional Intelligence

Ability to perceive, understand, and manage emotions and use emotional information in decision-making.

High Emotional Intelligence

Linked to empathy, social awareness, and better stress coping; helps recognize fake vs real emotions.

Coping

The thoughts and behaviors used to manage the demands of a stressful situation.

Dynamic Coping Process

Coping is not a one-time reaction but an evolving process shaped by personal and environmental factors.

Coping Strategies

Three types: problem-focused coping, emotion-focused coping, and avoidance (implicit).

Problem-Focused Coping

Taking action to eliminate or reduce the stressor itself (e.g., planning, problem-solving).

Examples of Problem-Focused Coping

Seeking support, setting boundaries, managing time, researching solutions.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing the emotional response to stress (e.g., crying, venting, mindfulness).

Examples of Emotion-Focused Coping

Talking to friends, journaling, practicing relaxation or denial.

Wishful Thinking

Fantasizing about a better outcome or imagining the situation didn’t happen — an emotion-focused strategy.

Denial

Refusing to acknowledge the reality of a stressor to reduce emotional impact temporarily.

Case Example of Problem-Focused Coping

Hiring a coach, practicing a presentation, or setting goals to face a stressful event directly.

Case Example of Emotion-Focused Coping

Using breathing techniques, positive self-talk, or distraction to manage public speaking anxiety.

Negative Affectivity

A tendency toward negative mood states (e.g., anxiety, hostility, depression); heightens vulnerability to illness.

Effects of Negative Affectivity

Increases physical symptoms, stress reactivity, and risk for chronic diseases.

Positivity and Stress

Positive emotional states reduce stress impact and improve immune and mental function.

Optimism

A general expectation that good outcomes will occur; promotes resilience and health.

Benefits of Optimism

Better stress coping, fewer illnesses, improved recovery and psychological well-being.

Psychological Resources

Internal traits like self-efficacy, resilience, and mindfulness that aid in stress coping.

Resilience

The ability to bounce back from adversity, stress, or hardship.

Self-Efficacy

Belief in one’s own ability to complete tasks and achieve goals successfully.

Mindfulness

Being fully present and aware of one’s thoughts, emotions, and environment in a nonjudgmental way.

Coping Resources

External resources (e.g., social support) and internal beliefs (e.g., mastery) used to manage stress.

Social Support

Assistance (emotional, informational, instrumental) from others that reduces perceived stress.

Mastery

Belief that one can control life events and handle stress effectively; directly protects health.

Brief COPE Scale

A 28-item assessment that measures how people use different coping strategies when under stress.