CO3.2 –General Adaptation Syndrome Models, Effects of Stress, Coping with Stress, and Effective Coping Strategies​ - Tagged

General Adaptation Syndrome Model

A model proposed by Hans Selye that describes the physiological stress response as following a consistent pattern regardless of the stressor.

Alarm and Mobilization

The initial phase of stress response where an individual becomes aware of the stressor's presence.

Resistance

The phase where individuals cope with the stressor, which may involve successful attempts but can compromise physical or psychological well-being.

Exhaustion

The final phase of stress response characterized by a decline in the person's ability to address stressors.

Physiological Factors

Immediate stress reactions that include increased hormone secretion, heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance due to stress exposure.

Psychological Factors

Stress that arises from an individual's mental and emotional reactions to environmental factors, affecting both body and mind.

Cognitive Symptoms

Problems related to memory, concentration, judgment, and negative thinking patterns that arise from stress.

Emotional Symptoms

Feelings such as anxiety, moodiness, irritability, and feelings of being overwhelmed that are associated with stress.

Behavioral Symptoms

Actions influenced by stress, including procrastination, neglecting obligations, and changes in eating or sleeping patterns.

Coping

Efforts to control, reduce, or tolerate the threats that lead to stress.

Appraisal Theory

A concept by Richard Lazarus that defines coping as a cognitive or behavioral response to stress, involving primary and secondary appraisals.

Primary Appraisal

The evaluation of the meaning of a situation and its potential impact on an individual.

Secondary Appraisal

The assessment of how one feels about a situation after recognizing a threat and deciding how to resolve it.

Emotion-focused Coping

Managing emotions in response to stress by changing how one feels about a problem.

Problem-focused Coping

Modifying the stressful problem or source of stress, often leading to behavioral changes or action plans.

Avoidant Coping

Strategies such as wishful thinking or substance use to escape from stress rather than confronting it.

Defense Mechanism

Unconscious strategies used to reduce anxiety by avoiding the source of stress.

Effective Coping Strategies

• Turn a threat into a challenge

• Make a threatening situation less threatening

• Change your goals

• Alter your physiological reactions to stress

• Change the situation that are likely to cause stress.

Displacement

A person redirects an emotional reaction from the rightful recipient onto another person or object

Repression

Is a defense mechanism in which people push difficult or unacceptable thoughts out of conscious awareness.

Regression

is a defense mechanism in which people seem to return to an earlier developmental stage.

Sublimation

is a defense mechanism that involves channeling unwanted or unacceptable urges into something productive or positive.