Rathus_PSYCH_7e_PPT_CH11
Chapter 11: Stress, Health, and Coping
Overview
Textbook Reference: Spencer A. Rathus, Psych, 7th Edition, 2022 Cengage.
Focus: Understanding stress, its impacts, coping strategies, and resilience.
Icebreaker: Discussion Points
Identify personal stressors and discuss their implications.
Explore stress related to college life and stress-relief strategies.
Chapter Objectives
11.01 Define stress and identify various sources.
11.02 Factors fostering resilience.
11.03 Effects of stress on the body (focusing on the endocrine, autonomic nervous systems, and immune system).
11.04 Role of cognitive appraisal in coping.
11.05 Methods of emotion-focused coping.
11.06 Methods of problem-focused coping.
Understanding Stress: Definitions and Types
What is Stress?
Definition: Demand on an organism to adapt, cope or adjust.
Types of Stress:
Eustress: Positive stress (e.g., new jobs, first dates).
Distress: Negative stress resulting from intense/long-term stressors.
Effects of Prolonged Stress
Overwhelming adjustments can lead to:
Mood disturbances.
Impaired pleasure.
Physical harm.
Health Psychology
Focus: Relationship between psychological factors and health.
Investigates how stress and behavior patterns affect health.
Examines interactions between stress and pathogens impacting the immune response.
Daily Hassles vs. Life Events
Daily Hassles: Regular events threatening well-being (finances, health).
Life Changes: Positive events occurring irregularly (marriage, new jobs).
Stress Ratings for major life events (e.g., rape, finals).
Stress in America
Surveys by the American Psychological Association reveal stress sources:
National future concerns, social divisiveness, healthcare.
Additional stressors for Generation Z include mass shootings and climate change.
Warning Signs of Stress
Symptoms include:
Memory issues, headaches, fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, loss of appetite, short temper.
Conflict and Stress
Conflict Types:
Approach-approach: Least stressful, both goals are desirable.
Avoidance-avoidance: Stressful, motivated to avoid negative outcomes.
Approach-avoidance: Choice involves both pros and cons.
Multiple approach-avoidance: Complex choices with several pros and cons.
Irrational Beliefs
Albert Ellis Model (A → B → C):
Activating events lead to beliefs, resulting in consequences.
Catastrophic beliefs can increase anxiety and hinder coping.
Personality and Stress
Type A vs. Type B Behavior Patterns
Type A: Competitive, high-strain, restlessness, coronary-prone.
Type B: Relaxed, focused on life quality, less impatient.
Resilience and Self-Efficacy
Resilience: Ability to withstand stress influenced by self-efficacy.
High self-efficacy reduces negative stress responses.
Positive cognitive shifts enhance emotional resilience.
Psychological Hardiness
Resilient individuals show:
Commitment, challenge perception, and control.
Use humor to mitigate stress impacts.
Social Support
Types of Support:
Emotional concern, instrumental aid, information, appraisal, social recreation.
Emotional support buffers against stress effects, lowering stress hormones.
Understanding Stress Responses
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Developed by Hans Selye, outlining three stages:
Alarm Reaction: Initial arousal and physiological responses.
Resistance Stage: Body attempts to adapt to stressor.
Exhaustion Stage: Prolonged stress leading to negative health outcomes.
Immune System Response
Immunity: Produces leukocytes and antibodies to combat pathogens.
Chronic stress can suppress immune function due to steroid production.
Cognitive Appraisal and Coping
Optimism and Self-Efficacy
Beliefs in one's capabilities enhance health outcomes and stress management.
Appraisal Processes
Primary Appraisal: Evaluating if events are stressful.
Secondary Appraisal: Assessing coping resources and strategies.
Coping Strategies
Emotion-Focused Coping: Regulating emotional responses (exercise, mindfulness).
Problem-Focused Coping: Confronting and managing stressors directly (defining problems, setting goals, and evaluating solutions).
Summary of Key Learnings
Sources of stress encompass daily hassles, life changes, and conflict.
Self-efficacy and social support play crucial roles in managing stress and maintaining health.
Understanding the physiological response to stress aids in developing effective coping strategies.