Psychology Ch.12: Stress and Health

What is the HPA axis?

- A chain reaction in which the Hypothalamus is activated, which stimulates the Pituitary Gland, which in turn secretes the hormone ACTH (andrenocorticotropic). - These hormones boost the activity of the Sympathetic Nervous System, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and respiration rate. - The Adrenal Glands also release Cortisol, a hormone that increases metabolism and the concentration of glucose in the blood to make fuel available to the muscles. - Prolonged Fight-Flight response causes physiological wear and tear on the body, as it constantly uses its resources to deal with it.

Define: Distress

- A negative psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of positive psychological states, such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability or tension.

Define: Eustress

- A positive physiological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of positive psychological states, such as feeling enthusiastic, excited, active and alert.

Define: Stress Response

- A reaction that involves physiological and psychological changes that people experience when they are confronted by a stressor.

Define: Stress

- A state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope. - Subjective experience, as it depends on one's interpretation of a situation or event

Define: External Stressor

- A stress-producing stimulus that originates outside the individual from situations and events in the environment.

Define: Internal Stressor

- A stress-producing stimulus that originates within the individual

Define: Biofeedback

- A technique that enables an individual to receive information about the state of a bodily process and, with appropriate training, learn to control a related physiological response using thought processes. -eg. Breathing / Heart Rate

Define: Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

- A theory that proposes that stress involves an encounter between an individual and their external environment, and that a stress response depends upon the individual's appraisal of the stressor and their ability to cope with it.

Define: Problem-Focused Coping

- An effort to manage or change the cause or source of the problem, the stressor.

Define: Secondary Appraisal

- An evaluation of internal and external coping options and resources for dealing with a stressor

Define: Primary Appraisal

- An evaluation of the significance of a potential stressor resulting in a decision that it is either irrelevant, benign-positive or stressful.

Define: Meditation

- An intentional attempt to being about a deeply relaxed state in order to reduce the effects of stress-related symptoms

Define: The Fight-Flight Response

- An involuntary reaction resulting in a state of physiological readiness to deal with a sudden and immediate threat by either confronting it, or running away to safety.

Define: Psychological Determinants of the Stress Response

- Any mental factor that influences the nature or severity of an individual's response to a stressor

Define: Stressor

- Any person, situation or event that produces stress.

What are the 4 elements of the Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping

- Appraisal (Primary and Secondary) - Coping (Problem-focused and Emotion-focused)

What are the 3 Categories of Psychological responses to Stressors.

- Behavioural Changes - Emotional Changes - Cognitive Changes

What are the 4 Techniques for coping with Stress?

- Biofeedback - Meditation and Relaxation - Physical Exercise - Social Support

How is an Allostatic response achieved?

- Brain regulates allostatic systems, including HPA axis, autonomic, immune and cardiovascular systems - When stressor is detected by the brain, Allostatic response is 'turned on', then 'turned off' when the stressor passes

Define: Allostatic Load

- Cumulative exposure to increased secretion of stress hormones leading to 'wear and tear' on the brain and body.

Define: Reappraisal

- Determining the extent to which additional resources are needed to cope with the situation - First, we reappraise the situation while taking account of coping resources are available - Second, we reappraise the coping resources while taking into account the reappraised threat. * If coping resources are far outweighed by the situation at hand, we are likely to experience a stress response

What are the 2 Limitations of Lazarus and Folkman's Transactional Model of Stress and Coping?

- Difficult to test through experimental research, because of the subjectivity and variability of an individual's response to stress. - Some psychologists doubt that appraisals are necessary in order for an individual to have a stress response, as we can be stressed without having though about the stress-producing stimulus

What are 4 Cognitive changes that can occur as a result of stress?

- Difficulty concentrating - Difficulty making decisions - Are more Forgetful - Perceptions are distorted / exaggerated

Define: Social Support

- Help or assistance from other people when needed.

List the Changes that occur during The Fight-Flight Response:

- Increased Heart Rate - Blood flow to the muscles - Increased Respiration - Increased glucose secretion by the liver - Dilation of the Pupils - Suppression of Digestion - Suppression of Sexual Drive These Changes occur within Seconds

What are the 2 strengths of Lazarus and Folkman's Transaction Model of Stress and Coping?

- It focuses on psychological determinants of the stress response over which he have control, (unlike fight-flight) - Emphasises the personal nature and subjectivity of a stress response.

What are the 3 classifications of Stress Responses?

- Mild (challenging / motivating / sometimes desirable) - Acute (Sudden high level of arousal) - Chronic (High level of arousal that persists for a long period of time)

What are the 4 types of Stressor?

- Physical - Psychological - Internal - External

Define: Physical Exercise

- Physical activity that is usually planned and performed to improve or maintain one's physical condition. - Outlet for the Fight-Flight response - Reduces risk of disease, which can act as stressors themselves

Give 2 Examples of Psychological Determinants of the stress response

- Prior experience with stressors - Attitude / outlook on life

What are the Three other types of factors that can influence the stress Response?

- Social - Cultural - Environmental

What are 5 examples of Behavioural Changes due to Stress?

- Strained facial expressions - A shaky voice - hand tremors - Muscle Spasms - sleeping / eating pattern changes

Define: Emotion-Focused Coping

- Strategies to attend to our emotional responses to the stressor.

Name a Physiological Response to Stress:

- The Fight-Flight Response

What two Systems does it involve

- The Sympathetic Nervous System - The Endocrine (Hormone) System

Define: Allostasis

- The body's ability to maintain a stable physiological environment by adjusting and changing to meet internal and external demands. - Provides a model that integrates biological, psychological and social factors to explain an individual's response to stress.

Define: Coping

- The process of constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific internal / external stressors that are appraised as taxing or exceeding the resources of the person.

How are Psychological Responses to stress different than Physiological ones?

- They are not Observable - They are relatively controllable

When will allostatic load occur?

- When allostatic response occurs over a long period of time - When allostatic responses are continually turned on and off over a long period of time - All these hormones lead to wear and tear on the body

Define: Catastrophising

- When an individual dwells on or over-emphasises the potential consequences of a negative event.

What are the three types of social support?

- appraisal Support (understanding stressors - Tangible Assistance ( material support) - Information Support (advice etc.)

What are 5 Emotional changes that can occur as a result of stress?

- feeling: - Anxious - Tense - Depressed - Angry - Helpless

If we decide a situation IS stressful, what sort of additional appraisals do we engage in?

1. Harm/loss: assessment of how much damage has already occurred 2. Threat: assessment of how much damage could occur in the future 3. Challenge: assessment of potential for personal gain or growth from the situation.

Define: Relaxation

Any activity that brings about a state of reduced psychological / physiological tension.

How can Cultural Factors influence a Stress Response?

Exacerbate it: - Adopting to a new Culture - Racism Alleviate it: - Cultural Participation - Ethnic Enclaves

How can Social Factors influence a Stress Response?

Exacerbate it: - Social Readjustment / Major life events - Social Isolation Alleviate it: - Social Readjustment / Major Life Events - Social Support

How can Environmental Factors influence a Stress Response?

Exacerbate it: - poverty - Crowding - Natural / Technological Alleviate it: - Employment; access to basic necessities - Avoidance; minimisation of crowding