Physical Effects of Stress

Compare and contrast defensive coping with constructive coping.

Both are types of coping that occur in response to life stressors and both can have positive effects on well-being to a degree. However, defensive coping often involves the use of defense mechanisms that serve to ward off unpleasant emotions. Self-deception or distorting reality often accompanies defensive coping. Defensive coping may be slightly positive in that research supports the claim that minor illusions often positively correlate with good mental health. Otherwise, the effects of defensive coping are often negative. Constructive coping involves healthy ways that individuals can handle stress, including confronting issues directly and becoming aware of maladaptive emotional reactions to stress.

Which of the following statements concerning stress and emotions is not correct? A. Individuals experiencing positive emotions during times of stress are more likely to show resilience in response to life challenges. B. Research indicates that individuals experience positive emotions just as often as negative emotions during times of stress. C. Research indicates that emotional arousal can be both beneficial and destructive. D. The optimal level of arousal for peak performance often increases as a task becomes more complex.

D

What happens during the three stages of the general adaptation syndrome?

During the alarm reaction stage, the body is mobilized for defensive action. If the stressor is not removed, the body enters the resistance stage in which the body tries to restore energy and repair damage. If the stress continues, the body enters the exhaustion stage in which the body's processes begin to break down.

Coping

Efforts to reduce or tolerate the demands created by stress

Which of the following strategies is not a healthy way of coping with stress?

Ignoring stress signals

Describe the inverted-U hypothesis and how it relates to the optimal level of arousal.

The inverted-U hypothesis claims that performance should improve up to a specific point as emotional arousal increases, and then it will decrease if emotional arousal continues to increase. The optimal level of arousal indicates the peak performance that an individual can maintain in response to emotional arousal before performance begins to decrease.

Constructive coping

a healthy effort to deal with stressful events

General Adaptation Syndrome

body's reaction to stress in 3 stages The three stage physiological response to stress, consisting of an alarm reaction, a resistance stage, and an exhaustion stage.

Resistance Stage

finding a way to cope with the stressor to avoid being overwhelmed by negative reactions to stressor. Body tries to regain its lost energy, repair damage, and restore balance. Second physiological response stage to stress in which people attempt to cope with the stressor.

Stress and the Immune System

stress causes exhaustion by production of steroids, which suppresses the functioning of the immune system. Ex. Epstein- Barr virus

Exhaustion Stage

stressor is not removed and exhaustion takes place. Inability to deal with stressors can cause health problems (allergies, ulcers, heart disease). Third physiological response stage to stress in which bodily resources are depleted and a decrease in physiological arousal occurs.

Alarm Reaction

stressor is perceived and body is mobilized for defensive action. Sympathetic nervous system is activated, which produces stress hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline). Initial physiological response stage to stress that mobilizes the body for defensive action.

Cathersis

the act of releasing emotional tension after a stressful experience

Immune System

the immune system prevents disease by producing white blood cells that destroy disease-causing bacteria or viruses. White blood cells produce antibodies.

Fight or Flight Response

Air passages widen to allow more air intake, hair stands on end, level of blood sugar increases, heart rate increases, muscles tighten up, blood pressure rises, senses sharpen and become more alert and steroids and adrenaline are secreted. A physiological reaction to a threat in which the autonomic nervous system prepares the body to fight or flee.

This is the stage in which the sympathetic nervous system is activated

Alarm reaction stage

Defense mechanisms

Mostly unconscious reactions that protect or guard against unpleasant emotions.

Describe two ways that positive emotions are connected to stress.

Positive emotions can occur as a result of stress just as much as negative emotions. For example, after a tragedy or during a difficult time, individuals may experience a sense of gratitude that the situation was not worse or feel an increase of appreciation for people close to them in their life. Positive emotions appear to help individuals overcome difficulties created by stress as well.

What are the features of general adaptation syndrome?

The three steps in the general adaptation syndrome are alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Alarm is the fight-or-flight response. Your hormones surge, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, glucose is released, your heart rate increases, and your pupils dilate. The second part is resistance, which includes either fighting, where a stressor is taken head on, or flight, where a stressor is avoided. It includes how your body uses stored energy, hormones, minerals, and glucose to react. The final stage is exhaustion, also known as burn out. After prolonged stress, exhaustion kicks in and the ability to manage stress becomes low. At this point, the system of the body can become compromised due to prolonged exposure to the hormones involved with stress.