Stress and Coping Mechanisms

A set of flashcards covering key concepts related to stress, coping mechanisms, and psychological responses to challenges.

Stress

The physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses to events that are appraised as threatening or challenging.

Stressor

An event that can cause a stress reaction.

Eustress

The effect of positive events, or the optimal amount of stress that people need to promote health and well-being.

Distress

The effect of unpleasant and undesirable stressors.

Primary appraisal

The first step in assessing a stress, estimating the severity of a stressor and classifying it as either a threat or a challenge.

Secondary appraisal

The second step in assessing a threat, estimating the resources available to cope with the stressor.

Catastrophe

An unpredictable, large-scale event that creates a tremendous need to adapt and adjust as well as overwhelming feelings of threat.

Hassle

An annoyance in everyday life.

Pressure

The psychological experience produced by external urgent demands or expectations for a person’s behavior.

Frustration

The psychological experience produced by the blocking of a desired goal or fulfillment of a perceived need.

Conflict

The psychological experience of being pulled toward or drawn to two or more desires or goals, only one of which may be attained.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

The psychological experience of being pulled toward or drawn to two or more desires or goals, only one of which may be attained.

Immune system

The system of cells, organs, and chemicals that responds to attacks from diseases, infections, and injuries.

Psychoneuroimmunology

The study of the effects of psychological factors such as stress, emotions, thoughts, and behavior on the immune system.

Type A personality

A person who is ambitious, time-conscious, hardworking, and tends to have high levels of hostility and anger.

Type B personality

A person who is relaxed, laid back, less driven and competitive than Type A, and slow to anger.

Type C personality

A pleasant person who tends to internalize anger and anxiety and finds it difficult to express emotions.

Hardy personality

A person who seems to thrive on stress but lacks the anger and hostility of the Type A personality.

Optimist

A person who always expects positive outcomes.

Pessimist

A person who always expects negative outcomes.

Burnout

Negative changes in thoughts, emotions, and behavior resulting from prolonged stress or frustration.

Acculturative stress

The stress resulting from the need to change and adapt to the majority culture.

Coping strategies

Actions that people take to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize the effects of stressors.

Problem-focused coping strategies

Strategies that try to eliminate the source of a stress or reduce its impact through direct actions.

Emotion-focused coping strategies

Strategies that change the impact of a stressor by changing the emotional reaction to the stressor.

Meditation

A mental series of exercises meant to refocus attention and achieve an altered state of consciousness.