WJEC A2 Psychology STRESS

What is stress?

A psychological and physical strain or tension generated by difficult circumstances, events, or experiences.

What is eustress?

Positive stress that can be beneficial and provide motivation.

Who coined the term 'stress' in a psychological context?

Hans Selye

What are the two main elements of stress?

Physical response and psychological response.

What hormones are released during a physical stress response?

Cortisol and adrenaline.

What does adrenaline do in response to stress?

Prepares the body to face the stressor by providing resources for fight or flight.

What is the transactional model of stress proposed by Lazarus and Folkman?

Stress is an interaction between the person and the environment, involving primary and secondary appraisal.

What is acute stress?

The most common form of stress experienced in response to immediate threats.

What is episodic acute stress?

Repeated instances of short-term stress, often becoming part of an individual's lifestyle.

What is chronic stress?

Stress that persists over long periods, often due to ongoing issues like poverty or relationship problems.

What are some physical effects of stress?

Increased blood pressure, tension headaches, and stomach problems.

How can stress affect mental health?

It can lead to feelings of isolation, low self-esteem, anxiety, and depression.

What lifestyle changes may occur due to stress?

Increased smoking or drinking, nervous habits, and sleep problems.

What is Kelly McGonigal's view on stress?

Believing that stress is harmful can worsen its effects; we should learn to take advantage of stress.

What did the research by Abiola Keller et al. (2012) suggest about stress perception?

High stress is associated with increased risk of death only in those who believe stress is bad for their health.

What is the autonomic nervous system (ANS)?

A part of the nervous system that functions without conscious control, managing vital body functions.

What are the two states of the autonomic nervous system?

Sympathetic (on, fight-or-flight) and parasympathetic (off, rest and digest).

What happens to the body during the sympathetic state?

The body prepares for fight or flight in response to a threat.

What is a potential harm of frequent adrenaline release?

It can cause damage to the body, particularly the heart.

What is the primary appraisal in the transactional model of stress?

Judging whether the threat is significant and harmful or challenging.

What is the secondary appraisal in the transactional model of stress?

Evaluating the resources available to cope with the stressor.

How does chronic stress affect an individual's perception of their situation?

They may feel trapped with no escape, making it difficult to manage.

What are some common coping mechanisms for stress?

Smoking, drinking alcohol, and developing nervous habits.

What is the relationship between stress and the immune system?

Stress can damage the immune system, making individuals more vulnerable to illness.

What is the effect of acute stress on performance?

It can enhance performance up to a certain level, beyond which it may hinder performance.

What is a common psychological effect of stress?

It can lead to mental health problems like anxiety and depression.

What is the significance of understanding different types of stress?

It helps in managing stress effectively and recognizing its impact on health.

What is the sympathomedullary pathway (SAM)?

A response involving the sympathetic nervous system and adrenal medulla that coordinates the body's reaction to acute stress.

What triggers the sympathomedullary pathway?

Perception of a threat, which alerts the hypothalamus in the brain.

What hormones are released by the adrenal medulla during stress?

Adrenaline and noradrenaline.

What is the fight-or-flight response?

A physiological reaction that prepares the body to either confront or flee from a threat.

How does the body prepare for action during the fight-or-flight response?

Blood is diverted to essential areas, oxygen is supplied to muscles, energy stores are released, and senses are sharpened.

What happens to non-essential processes during the fight-or-flight response?

Blood flow is reduced to non-essential processes.

What is the evolutionary significance of the fight-or-flight response?

It evolved as an adaptive strategy to deal with threats faced by our ancestors.

What can cause cardiovascular disorders related to stress?

High levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure.

What is stress cardiomyopathy?

A condition caused by severe emotional stress that mimics a heart attack due to adrenaline release.

What did Jonathan Lear et al. (1996) find regarding stress and cardiovascular problems?

An increase in deaths from cardiovascular issues on the day of the Northridge earthquake.

What caution did Joel Dimsdale (2008) advise regarding stress and heart disease?

Stress may not be a direct causal factor for heart disease; other factors like cholesterol and smoking are also involved.

What did the UK Million Women study (Liu et al., 2015) suggest about stress and health?

Illness may lead to higher reported stress levels rather than stress causing illness.

What is the 'tend and befriend' response?

A female stress response characterized by nurturing and creating social networks, proposed by Shelley Taylor et al. (2000).

How does oxytocin affect stress responses in females?

Oxytocin promotes relaxation and reduces fear responses, and is released more in females than males during stress.

What is the difference in cardiovascular response to stress based on challenge vs. threat?

Challenge leads to relaxed blood vessels and improved performance, while threat causes rapid heart rate.

What did Jeremy Jamieson et al. (2012) find about reappraising stress?

Participants who viewed their physiological arousal as functional showed a more adaptive cardiovascular response.

What physiological changes occur when adrenaline is released?

Increased heart rate, raised blood pressure, and potential blockage of arteries.

What role do white blood cells play in stress-related cardiovascular issues?

Increased white blood cells due to stress can cause inflammation and lesions, raising the risk of clots.

What happens to blood vessels in the salivary glands during stress?

Blood vessels constrict, leading to a dry mouth.

What is the effect of adrenaline on energy stores during stress?

Energy stores are released to prepare the body for action.

What is the role of testosterone in male stress responses?

Testosterone increases during stress and dampens the effects of oxytocin.

How does the body react to a perceived threat?

The sympathetic nervous system is activated, leading to the release of stress hormones.

What is the impact of chronic stress on the body?

It can lead to a permanent state of arousal, causing various health problems.

What is the significance of the hypothalamus in stress response?

It coordinates the body's response by activating the autonomic nervous system.

What physiological changes occur after the threat has passed?

The parasympathetic branch of the ANS dampens the stress response.

What is the relationship between stress and heart attack risk?

Stress-induced adrenaline release can exacerbate existing heart problems and increase heart attack risk.

What is the adaptive significance of the fight-or-flight response in modern society?

While it evolved for physical threats, it is often triggered by psychological stressors today.

What is biofeedback?

A technique that provides individuals with information about their biological state to help them gain control over physiological responses to stress.

What physiological responses can be monitored through biofeedback?

Heart rate, blood pressure, muscle tension, breathing patterns, and sweat gland activity.

How can clients use biofeedback to manage stress?

By learning and practicing strategies such as meditation or relaxation training while receiving real-time feedback on their physiological state.

What is the role of cortisol in the body's response to stress?

Cortisol is released by the adrenal cortex in response to stress and helps prepare the body to face stressors but can cause health issues if levels remain too high.

What is the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system?

A slower bodily response to chronic stressors that involves the release of cortisol.

What triggers the HPA system?

Chronic stressors such as exams or relationship problems.

What are the effects of cortisol on memory?

Cortisol can impair memory, particularly the recall of negative words, which may explain why individuals feel their mind goes blank during stressful situations.

What is immunosuppression in the context of stress?

The immune system's reduced response to pathogens during stress, which can lead to increased susceptibility to illness.

What did Janice Kiecolt-Glaser's study reveal about stress and immune function?

It showed that medical students had significantly reduced natural killer (NK) cell activity during exam periods, indicating stress's negative impact on immune function.

What is the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

A model proposed by Hans Selye that describes the body's universal response to stress, consisting of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

What happens during the exhaustion phase of GAS?

The body appears to cope with stress, but physiological deterioration occurs due to increased hormone activity rather than resource depletion.

How can low levels of cortisol affect health?

Low cortisol levels can lead to health issues such as chronic fatigue syndrome and PTSD, particularly after the removal of a stressor.

What challenges exist in establishing a cause-and-effect relationship between stress and illness?

It is difficult to determine how cortisol release due to stress directly leads to illness due to the complexity of biological responses.

What are some criticisms of biofeedback?

Critics argue that the expensive equipment is unnecessary and that learning relaxation methods alone could be effective.

What is the role of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in stress responses?

The ANS regulates involuntary physiological responses to stress, such as heart rate and blood pressure.

What is the significance of cortisol in glucose metabolism?

Cortisol helps release glucose for energy during stress, aiding the body in dealing with ongoing stressors.

What are some strategies clients might learn through biofeedback?

Meditation, relaxation training, and other techniques to control physiological responses to stress.

What evidence supports the activation of the HPA axis in response to stress?

Studies, such as those by Katrina Lacey et al., have shown elevated cortisol levels in students before exams.

What is the relationship between stress and inflammation?

Cortisol reduces inflammation as part of the immune response, but prolonged stress can lead to immunosuppression and increased illness risk.

How does biofeedback technology evolve?

Advancements allow for home use through computer games and wearable technology that provide feedback on biological processes.

What is the adaptive function of the body's stress response?

The stress response is adaptive as it prepares the body to cope with immediate threats, but prolonged stress can lead to health issues.

What are glucocorticoids?

A family of hormones, including cortisol, that play roles in the central nervous system and regulate various bodily functions.

What implications does cortisol release have for students during exams?

Cortisol may impair memory recall, contributing to the experience of a 'blank mind' during high-stress situations like exams.

What did Selye's research with rats demonstrate about stress responses?

It showed that rats produced similar physiological responses regardless of the type of stressor they faced.

What is the significance of the SRRS in Kiecolt-Glaser's study?

The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) was used to assess life stressors, correlating higher scores with lower NK cell activity.

What are common changes in behavior when people are stressed?

Changes may include altered eating habits, poor sleep, and increased consumption of alcohol and caffeine.

What is the role of cortisol in stress?

Cortisol levels can increase due to stress, potentially confounding research findings.

How does age and gender affect cortisol release in response to stress?

Research by Nestor Lopez-Duran et al. (2009) found variations in cortisol release in children, with boys showing greater activation.

What did Phil Evans et al. (1994) discover about stress and the immune system?

They found that immediate stress can enhance the activity of the immune system, as shown by increased levels of the antibody slgA.

What are the two proposed effects of stress on the immune system?

Up-regulation (increased efficiency) for short-term stress and down-regulation (decreased efficiency) for long-term stress.

What variation did Richard Lewis et al. (2007) find in cortisol levels during examination stress?

They found a variation ranging from a 58% decline to a 95% increase in cortisol levels.

What factors may influence variations in cortisol response to stress?

Factors include the duration of the stressor, the nature of the threat, and individual emotional associations.

How does social support affect cortisol levels during stress?

Leslie Seltzer et al. (2010) found that comfort from a mother reduced cortisol levels in girls under stress.

What impact does prenatal stress have on children?

Prenatal stress can lead to higher cortisol levels in children and may affect their cognitive and behavioral development.

What is the hardy personality?

A personality type characterized by control, commitment, and challenge, which helps individuals cope with stress.

What are the three main elements of a hardy personality?

1. Control: Belief in personal power; 2. Commitment: Sense of purpose; 3. Challenge: Viewing stress as an opportunity for growth.

How does having a hardy personality buffer against stress?

It leads to better coping strategies, self-care, and social support, resulting in less physiological response to stress.

What did Suzanne Kobasa's research find about hardy individuals?

Kobasa found that hardy individuals were better able to cope with stress without falling ill.

What was the focus of Salvatore Maddi's research on hardiness?

Maddi studied employees during a stressful period and found that those with hardy personalities suffered fewer stress-related illnesses.

What did Paul Bartone (1999) discover about soldiers with high hardiness levels?

He found that they were better able to cope with stress from life events and combat situations.

What is the significance of longitudinal studies in stress research?

They are needed to demonstrate the fluctuation of cortisol levels over time and establish its exact role.

How can social relationships mediate the effects of cortisol?

Positive social interactions can reduce cortisol levels and mitigate the negative impacts of stress.

What is the relationship between maternal stress and children's cortisol levels?

Higher maternal stress during pregnancy is associated with higher cortisol levels in children.

What does the term 'down-regulation' refer to in the context of stress?

It refers to decreased efficiency of the immune system during long-term chronic stress.

What is 'up-regulation' in relation to stress?

It refers to increased efficiency of the immune system during short-term acute stress.

What role does oxytocin play in stress response?

Oxytocin is associated with reduced cortisol levels and improved stress management when social support is present.