Psych Chap 11 Textbook Flashcards
(24 cards)
Stress
Unpleasant state of anxiety or tension.
Stressor
External situation perceived as threatening or demanding.
Coping Response
Attempts to avoid, escape, or minimize stress
- Types of Stress
• Eustress: Positive stress (e.g., getting into a desired college).
• Distress: Negative stress (e.g., being late for a meeting).
Major Life Stressors
• Significant changes impacting central areas of life (e.g., having a child).
Chronic Stress
Ongoing challenges (e.g., illness, poverty).
Daily Hassles
• Minor irritations that can accumulate into chronic stress.
Biological Stress Response
• Sympathetic Nervous System (Fast Response):
• Hypothalamus activates adrenal glands → Release of epinephrine & norepinephrine.
• Increases heart rate, redirects blood, deepens respiration (Fight or Flight).
• HPA Axis (Slow Response):
• Hypothalamus signals pituitary gland → Releases hormone to adrenal glands → Secretes cortisol.
• Cortisol increases glucose for energy but prolonged exposure can damage brain regions (e.g., hippocampus).
• Negative Feedback Loop:
• Cortisol signals hypothalamus to reduce HPA activity.
• Stress can impair working memory and long-term recall.
General Adaptation Syndrome
• Alarm → Resistance → Exhaustion (prolonged stress damages organs).
Allostatic Load:
• Accumulated stress over time makes the stress response system inflexible.
Tend-and-Befriend Response:
• Protective, caregiving, and social alliance formation in response to stress.
Primary Appraisal
Assess if a stimulus is stressful.
Secondary Appraisal
Choose coping behavior if stress is perceived.
Emotion-Focused Coping
• Emotion-Focused Coping (Short-term relief, works for uncontrollable stressors):
• Avoidance, minimization, distraction (e.g., overeating, drinking).
Problem-Focused Coping
(Long-term solution, works for controllable stressors):
• Identifying solutions, weighing costs and benefits, taking direct action.
Positive Reappraisal:
• Seeing stress as an opportunity for growth.
High Hardiness
Views threats as challenges, feels in control.
Low Hardiness
Feels powerless, resists change, blames external factors.
Pros & Cons of Coping Strategies
- Emotion-Focused Coping: Helps with uncontrollable stress but can be maladaptive if avoidance is prolonged.
• Problem-Focused Coping: Effective for controllable stress but can increase frustration if stressor is beyond control.
ACTH produced by, CRH produced by
Pituitary
Hypothalamus
The Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis is the body’s slower, long-term stress response system. It regulates the release of … which affects
cortisol, a key stress hormone, which affects energy use, immune function, and memory.
Step-by-Step Activation of cortisol
- Stress Perception → Brain detects a stressor.
- Hypothalamus → Sends a chemical signal to the pituitary gland.
- Pituitary Gland → Releases ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) into the bloodstream.
- Adrenal Glands → Stimulated by ACTH, they release cortisol.
- Cortisol Effects:
• Increases glucose for energy.
• Suppresses non-essential functions (e.g., digestion, immune response).
• Helps the body prepare for prolonged stress.
Cortisol signals the hypothalamus and pituitary to reduce… which prevents … and what disrupts the negative feedback loop
HPA activity.
• Prevents excessive stress response.
• Chronic stress disrupts this loop, leading to memory issues, weakened immunity, and long-term health risks.
Impact of Chronic Stress:
• Brain Changes → Cortisol affects the hippocampus (memory) and amygdala (emotional processing).
• Allostatic Load → Long-term stress damages biological systems.
• General Adaptation Syndrome → If stress persists, the body moves from resistance to exhaustion, leading to immune suppression and organ failure.
