Chapter 3 Stress

Question 1

stress

Answer 1

the state of psychological and physiological tension in response to a significant stimulus.

Question 2

distress

Answer 2

a form of negative psychological state

Question 3

eustress

Answer 3

a form of positive psychological state

Question 4

acute stress

Answer 4

characterised by intense physiological and psychological tension over a short amount of time.
-Beneficial as it helps you be more effective in a situation.
-F/F/F activated in acute stress

Question 5

chronic stress

Answer 5

characterised by intense physiological and psychological tension over a long duration of time.
-Can suppress the immune, digestive and reproductive systems.
-Increase risk of heart attack

Question 6

Yerkes-Dodson Law

Answer 6

there is a relationship between arousal and performance
-Poor performance= low arousal
-Good performance= moderate arousal
-Poor performance= high arousal

Question 7

stressor

Answer 7

is a stimulus that sparks the stress response

Question 8

internal stressor

Answer 8

a stimulus within the person that prompts the stress response
-Psychological: Feelings, mindset, expectations
-Biological: Pain, illness, sleep deprivation

Question 9

external stressor

Answer 9

a stimulus outside (Environmental) a person that prompts the stress response.
-Environmental: Loudness, extreme temperature.
-Sociocultural: Life events, loss.

Question 10

stress responses

Answer 10

symptoms after experiencing physiological and psychological tension.
-Physiological responses include heart rate increase, sweating, headaches etc.
-Psychological responses include Behavioural, Emotional and Cognitive changes
-Behavioural responses include the F/F/F response

Question 11

cortisol

Answer 11

a hormone released in times of stress, initiating and maintaining high levels of arousal.
-Prolonged use can cause immune suppression.
-Modifies glucose levels (alertness), acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, and regulates metabolism.
-Increases tissue repair, but also decreases.
-After the F/F/F response, cortisol is released to keep high energy levels.
-Adrenal Glands release Cortisol.
-It is slower acting, but its effects are longer lasting.

Question 12

psychosomatic illness

Answer 12

when a prolonged period increases the risk of physiological impacts harming health and wellbeing.

Question 13

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 13

a theory that states how stress resistance varies over time through stages

Question 14

alarm reaction (shock)

Answer 14

stress resistance is below normal, the body acts as if it’s injured, and blood pressure and body temp drop.

Question 15

alarm reaction (counter shock)

Answer 15

stress resistance is above normal, our SNS, F/F/F and adrenalin are enabled.

Question 16

Resistance

Answer 16

stress resistance is above normal, cortisol is released, unnecessary functions are shut down, and it appears as though all is normal.
-Glucose released to brain
-Heightened body arousal

Question 17

exhaustion

Answer 17

when our stress resistance is below normal, our resources are depleted, and our risk of becoming ill increases.
-Depletion of energy levels and resources.

Question 18

strengths of GAS model

Answer 18

-Relationship between stress and physical reponse strong.
-Predictable patterns that can be measured

Question 19

limitations of GAS model

Answer 19

-Hard to generalise (rats)
-Not account for psychological factors.

Question 20

Transactional model of stress and coping

Answer 20

states that stress is an encounter between someone and their external environment.
–Depends on their interpretation of the stressor, and ability to cope with it.

Question 21

primary appraisal

Answer 21

an individual’s assessment of the stressor
-They first determine if it is benign-positive, irrelevant or stressful, then what kind it is (Harm, Threat, challenge)

-Irrelevant has no effect on the individual
-Benign-positive results in positive outcomes.
-Stressful will result in one of three types:

Threat- any harm/loss in the future.
Harm/loss- Damage that has already happened.
Challenge- Has the potential for personal gain/growth

Question 22

secondary appraisal

Answer 22

like primary, but an assessment of the available resources to deal with demands.
-Internal/External Resources are assessed.
-Demands>Resources=Stress

Question 23

Reappraisal

Answer 23

links back to the Primary Appraisal when you have enough resources.
-Reclassify your original choices.

Question 24

Strengths of the Transactional model

Answer 24

-Focuses on the psychological side of the stress response, we have an active role.
-Accounts for individual differences in similar situations.
-Respond to individual response changes and explain why differences can occur.

Question 25

limitations of the transactional model

Answer 25

-Overlooks physiological responses
-Lack of empirical evidence, very subjective
-Overlap between Primary and Secondary appraisal stages, they naturally occur more simultaneously.

Question 26

enteric nervous system

Answer 26

processes food absorbs nutrients and excretes waste.
-Mouth to Bottom
-Subdivision of Autonomic NS

Question 26

microbiota

Answer 26

organisms that live in our gut and maintain gut health and functioning

Question 27

Gut-brain axis

Answer 27

a bi-directional relationship between the Gut and Brain, that may link to stress, mental health and other psychological effects.
-Through the Central and Enteric nervous system.
-The gut is the only organ to function without the brain fully controlling it.

Question 28

vagus nerve

Answer 28

connects systems in the brain to systems in our gut.
-80-90% of information is from the Gut to the Brain (Afferent).
-Largest storage space for mood stabilizer Serotonin.

Question 29

coping

Answer 29

process of dealing with stress

Question 30

approach strategies

Answer 30

finding solutions to the stressor head-on
-healthy response

Question 31

Avoidance strategies

Answer 31

evading the stressor, by reducing stress indirectly related to the stressor
-maladaptive response

Question 32

self-efficacy

Answer 32

belief that your own actions can influence outcome

Question 33

resilience

Answer 33

ability to bounce back from adversity

Question 34

context-specific effectiveness

Answer 34

involves how the strategy fits with specific demands of the stressor
-Situational factors, personal characteristics, demands of stressor

Question 35

coping flexibility

Answer 35

ability to adjust an ineffective strategy into a effective one.