Stress p. 475 PTSD p476 Selye and GAS P479-480 Learned helplessness p482 Type a p487

Stress (p. 475)

Stress is a psychological and physiological response to challenging events that exceed an individual's ability to cope.

• Psychological Component: Involves the subjective appraisal of a situation as threatening or exceeding one's resources. This appraisal can be influenced by factors such as past experiences, personality traits, and cognitive biases.
• Physiological Component: Involves the activation of the body's stress response systems, primarily the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This activation leads to the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare the body for fight or flight.

PTSD (p. 476)

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health condition that can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. These events often involve actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence.

• Symptoms:
  • Intrusion Symptoms: Recurrent, involuntary, and distressing memories of the event; nightmares; flashbacks.
  • Avoidance Symptoms: Efforts to avoid thoughts, feelings, people, places, conversations, or other reminders associated with the trauma.
  • Negative Alterations in Cognitions and Mood: Persistent negative beliefs about oneself, others, or the world; distorted cognitions about the cause or consequences of the event; negative emotional state.
  • Alterations in Arousal and Reactivity: Irritable behavior; reckless or self-destructive behavior; hypervigilance; exaggerated startle response; problems with concentration; sleep disturbance.

Selye and GAS (p. 479-480)

Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a model that describes the body's physiological response to stress. It consists of three stages:

1. Alarm Reaction: The initial response to a stressor, characterized by activation of the SNS and the release of stress hormones (e.g., cortisol, adrenaline). The body prepares for fight or flight.
2. Resistance: If the stressor persists, the body enters the resistance stage, where it attempts to cope with the stressor. The SNS activity declines, but cortisol levels remain elevated, allowing the body to maintain a heightened state of readiness. The body draws on its reserves to combat stress.
3. Exhaustion: If the stressor continues for an extended period, the body enters the exhaustion stage. Resources are depleted, and the body can no longer sustain its heightened state of readiness. This stage is characterized by fatigue, burnout, and increased susceptibility to illness.

Learned Helplessness (p. 482)

Learned helplessness is a phenomenon in which an individual believes that they have no control over their environment or the outcomes of their actions. This belief can lead to passivity, depression, and a reduced ability to cope with stress.

• Experiment Example: Martin Seligman's experiments with dogs demonstrated learned helplessness. Dogs were subjected to inescapable electric shocks. Later, when placed in a situation where they could escape the shocks, they did not attempt to do so. They had learned that