Stress, Coping, and Resilience Overview

Stress

Physical, cognitive, and emotional responses to demands.

Stressor

Environmental demands causing stress responses.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Body's response to stress in three stages.

Alarm Reaction

Initial response to stress, preparing for action.

Resistance

Body's adaptation to ongoing stress, increased fatigue.

Exhaustion

Depleted resources after prolonged stress exposure.

Life Changes

Events requiring adaptation, impacting stress levels.

Holmes-Rahe Scale

Measures stress based on life events' impact.

Short-term Stressors

Immediate stress from life events.

Chronic Stressors

Ongoing strains causing continuous stress.

Job-related Stressors

Stress from work demands and environment.

Work Strain

Consequences of job-related stress on individuals.

Major Life Events

Significant changes impacting stress levels.

Daily Stressors

Routine challenges causing minor stress.

Interactionist Approaches

Focus on perception of stress events.

Teflon Personalities

Individuals unaffected by stressors.

Response-oriented Theories

Emphasis on physical responses to stress.

Stimulus-oriented Theories

Focus on environmental demands causing stress.

Perception of Stress

Individual interpretation influences stress experience.

Coping Mechanisms

Strategies to manage stress and its effects.

Daily Stressors

Common challenges affecting mental well-being.

Work Deadlines

Pressure from time-sensitive job tasks.

Divorce

Legal dissolution of marriage impacting emotional health.

Death of a Loved One

Loss causing grief and emotional distress.

Malfunctioning Computers

Technical issues leading to frustration and delays.

Physical Disease

Health conditions exacerbated by stress.

Heart Disease

Increased risk linked to high stress levels.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Mental health condition from traumatic experiences.

Fight or Flight Response

Physiological reaction to perceived threats.

Stress and Gender

Differences in stress responses between genders.

Stress and Age

Older individuals generally experience less stress.

Subjective Appraisals

Personal evaluations of environmental stressors.

Environmental-Gene Interactions

Influence of environment on genetic expression.

Stress-Related Growth

Positive personal development following stressful experiences.

Coping Behaviors

Strategies to manage and reduce stress.

Problem-Focused Coping

Directly addressing stressors to find solutions.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Managing emotional responses to stressors.

Meaning-Focused Coping

Finding personal significance in stressful situations.

Social-Focused Coping

Seeking support from others during stress.

Buffering Effect of Social Support

Quality of support matters more than quantity.

Resilience

Ability to recover from trauma and stress.

Meaning

Significance we assign to experiences in life.

World View

Internal model shaping our understanding of experiences.

Quality of Life

Determined by meaning attached to life events.

Religious Belief Systems

Frameworks influencing our worldview and interpretations.

Life Metaphors

Conceptual tools shaping our understanding of existence.

Quest for Meaning

Basic human characteristic driving search for significance.

Spirituality and Wisdom

Tradition suggests increase with age across cultures.

Religious Involvement

Higher among Black and Mexican Americans than whites.

Gender Differences in Religion

Women tend to be more religious than men.

Age and Religion

Older individuals generally more religious than younger.

Church Attendance Trends

Increases through adulthood, drops after age 75.

Search for Meaning Consequences

Leads to better health and life satisfaction.

Coping with Stress

Enhanced abilities through meaningful life experiences.

Fear of Death

Lessened through the search for meaning.

Risky Behavior

Reduced participation linked to meaningful living.

Prayer Frequency

Regular prayer acts as a support system.

Research Scarcity

Limited studies on meaning and spirituality exist.

Methodological Problems

Challenges in studying religiosity and spirituality.

Cohort Effect

Earlier cohorts may exhibit different religiosity levels.

Operationalizing Religiosity

Difficulties in measuring religious participation accurately.

Stages of Mystical Experience

Theories addressing highest levels of spirituality.

Personal Meaning

Individual significance derived from life experiences.

Kohlberg's Theory

Framework for understanding moral reasoning stages.

Preconventional Morality

Focus on external rewards and punishments.

Conventional Morality

Morality based on societal and familial rules.

Postconventional Morality

Principled reasoning beyond societal laws.

Decentering Process

Shifting perspective from self to others.

Stages of Moral Development

Sequential levels of moral reasoning progression.

Fowler's Theory

Framework for understanding faith development stages.

Synthetic-Conventional Faith

Adolescents adopt beliefs from family and society.

Individuative-Reflective Faith

Adults reexamine and take ownership of beliefs.

Conjunctive Faith

Midlife stage emphasizing tolerance and inclusivity.

Universalizing Faith

Rare stage transcending individuality, focusing on universal principles.

Stages of Faith

Sequential levels reflecting personal faith evolution.

Extrinsic Religiosity

Faith based on external influences, not personal ownership.

Intrinsic Religiosity

Personal, reflective ownership of one's beliefs.

Authority in Faith

Source of belief validation, shifts through stages.

Transition Process

Shifts between different meaning systems in life.

Ending Phase

Closure of previous belief systems during transitions.

Middle Phase

Exploration and uncertainty in transitional periods.

Beginning Phase

Emergence of new beliefs and understandings.

Kegan's Synthesizing Idea

Balancing independence and connection in personal growth.

Gender Bias in Development

Discussion on gender differences in moral reasoning.

Stages as Hierarchical

Each stage builds upon and replaces the previous.