Psych AOS 1

Stress

A psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something that demands their attention

Stressor

A stimulus, internal or external, that prompts a stress response

Internal stressor

A stimulus from within the person that prompts a stress response

External

A stimulus from outside the person that prompts a stress respons

Distress

The negative form of stress that reduces performance

Eustress

The positive form of stress that improves performance

Acute stress

A short term stress response, leading to activation of fight flight freeze

Fight flight freeze

An involuntary and automatic response to a threat that takes the form of escaping, confronting or freezing

Chronic stress

A long term stress response, leading to prolonged release of cortisol

Cortisol

A hormone that is released in times of stress to aid the body in maintaining a heightened arousal

GAS model

Physiological model to response to stress

AR shock

RTS falls below normal

Parasympathetic NS becomes dominant

Blood pressure drops, body acts as if injured

AR counter shock

RTS rises above normal

Sympathetic NS becomes dominant

Adrenaline released, heart rate increases

Resistance

RTS is sustained above normal

Cortisol is released

heightened state of arousal, suppressed immune system

Exhaustion

RTS drops below normal

Cortisol is depleted

Physically and mentally drained, highly susceptible to illness

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths:

• The GAS recognises a predictable pattern

of physiological responses associated with

distinct stages and substages, which can be

measured in individuals.

• The GAS recognises the relationship

between chronic stress and illness.

• The GAS provides objective, empirical

information about the biological processes

involved in the stress response.

Weaknesses:

The GAS is based on research that

was conducted on rats, reducing the

generalisability of the model to the

human population.

• The GAS only focuses on the biological

aspects of stress. It ignores the importance

of psychological factors, including emotion

and cognition, in the stress response.

• The GAS prescribes a uniform model

that is the same for every individual in

response to all stressors. Therefore, it fails

to recognise the subjective nature of the

stress response, meaning that different

people respond to different stressors in

unique ways.

Lazarus and Folkman

psychological model to response to stress

Primary appraisal

Benign positive - Appraisal of a stimulus as good and does not cause harm

Irrelevant - Appraisal of a stimulus as a non issue

Stressful - Appraisal of a stimulus as a source of worry

3 forms of stressful aprraisals

Harm loss - Appraisal of a stressor as having caused some damage

Threat - Appraisal of a stressor as potentially causing damage in the future

Challenge - Appraisal of a stressor as potentially proving a positive opportunity for growth

Secondary appraisal

Evaluating if person has the resources the cope

Strengths and weaknesses

Strengths:

• Allows one to track the subjective stress

response of an individual.

• Allows for consideration of cognitive

processes within the stress response,

which the biological models do not take

into account.

• Human subjects were used as a source of

data during the creation of the model.

• Helps to explain why the same

stressor may have different effects on

different people.

• Coping stage (emotion and problem-

focused strategies) provides suggestions

for dealing with a stressor.

Weaknesses:

• Allows one to track the subjective stress

response of an individual.

• Allows for consideration of cognitive

processes within the stress response,

which the biological models do not take

into account.

• Human subjects were used as a source of

data during the creation of the model.

• Helps to explain why the same

stressor may have different effects on

different people.

• Coping stage (emotion and problem-

focused strategies) provides suggestions

for dealing with a stressor.

Coping

The process of dealing with s stressor

Approached coping

Strategies that directly deals with the stressor

Avoidance

Strategies that avoid the stressor

Coping flexibility

The ability to change coping strategies depending on the situation

Context specific effectiveness

When the coping strategy used is appropriate for the demands of the stressor

2 main divisions of the NS

CNS and PNS

What makes the CNS

Brain and spinal cord

Responsible for processing info and coordinating responses

Role of the PNS

Carries sensory info TO the CNS and motor commands FROM the CNS to muscles

Subdivisions of PNS

Somatic and autonomous NS

Role of somatic NS

Transmits neural messages related to voluntary motor movement

Role of autonomous NS

Regulates visceral muscles, organs, and glands, and transmits neural messages to the central nervous system about their activity

Subdivisions of the autonomous NS

Parasympathetic NS and Sympathetic NS

Role of sympathetic NS

Activates visceral muscles, organs and glands and prepares the body to respond to a stressor (FFF)

Role of parasympathetic NS

Maintains optimal functioning of visceral muscles, organs and glands

What’s a neurotransmitter

A chemical molecule that has an effect on one post-sympathetic neuron

Glutamate

Excitatory neurotransmitter that increases the likelihood of a neuron firing

GABA

Inhibitory neurotransmitter that decreases the likelihood of a neuron firing

What’s a neuromodulator

A chemical molecule that has an effect on multiple postsynaptic neurons

Dopamine

Responsible for reward based learning

Seratonin

Responsible for regulating mood and sleep

Synaptic plasticity

The ability for synaptic connections to change overtime

LTP

The long lasting, experience dependant strengthening of the synaptic connection due to co-activation, leading to sprouting

LTD

The long lasting, experience dependant weakening of the synaptic connection due to co-activation, leading to pruning

Why is synaptic plasticity important

IT’s the biological basis of learning and memory function

Gut brain axis

The bi-directional communication between the enteric NS and the CNS via the vagus nerve

Gut microbiota

All living microorganisms in the gut

Gut microbiome

All the genes from the microorganisms in the gut

What does the gut–brain axis suggest about stress

Gut health and microorganisms can influence stress, mood and behaviour

Case study and pros and cons

AN in depth investigation of a single person using multiple sources of info

Pros - Provides detailed qualitative data

Cons- Time consuming

Correlational study

A statistical relationship between 2 or more variables without manipulating them

Pros - Allows to study relationships between variables

Cons - Cannot establish causation

Controlled experiment

Type of study where on variable is changed while keeping all other conditions the same

Pros - Allows to establish cause and effect

Cons - Non naturalistic

Lit study

Involves findings, reading, and analysing existing studies to summarise what is already known

Pros - Gives a broad overview of existing knowledge

Cons - Time consuming