stress Flashcards
(28 cards)
stress
a response elicited when a situation overwhelms a person’s perceived ability to meet the demands of a situation.
stressors
events that trigger a stress response.
primary appraisal
quick assessment of the meaning of a given environmental event for the individual.
secondary appraisal
self-assessment of the resources available to cope with stress.
neuroendocrine system
the hormonal systems involved in emotions and stress.
catecholamines
chemicals released from the adrenal glands that function as hormones and as neurotransmitters to control ANS activation.
glucocorticoids
hormones responsible for maintaining the activation of physiological systems during emergencies.
adrenal-medullary system
a major neuroendocrine pathway stimulated during stress, in which the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system.
norepinephrine
a neurotransmitter that activates the sympathetic response to stress, increasing heart rate, rate of respiration, and blood pressure in support of rapid action.
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis
a major neuroendocrine pathway relevant to the stress response involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and the adrenal cortex.
cortisol
stress hormone produced by the body to ensure that the body gets enough fuel during emotional arousal and stress.
general adaptation syndrome (GAS)
as defined by Hans Selye, a generalized, nonspecific set of changes in the body that occur during extreme stress.
resistance stage
n the general adaptation syndrome, extended effort by the body to deal with a threat.
exhaustion stage
the phase of the general adaptation syndrome when all resources for fighting the threat have been depleted and illness is more likely.
allostasis
process by which the body achieves stability through physiological change.
problem-focused coping
way of dealing with stress that aims to change the situation that is creating stress.
emotion-focused coping
way of dealing with stress that aims to regulate the experience of distress.
psychosomatic theory
the idea that emotional factors can lead to the occurrence or worsening of illness.
antigen
any foreign substance that triggers an immune response.
health behavior approach
explanation for illness or health that focuses on the role of behaviors such as diet, exercise, or substance abuse.
health psychology
the study of the role psychological factors play in regard to health and illness.
physiological reactivity model
explanation for the causal role of stress-related bodily changes in illness.
psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)
the science of how psychological factors relate to changes in the immune system.
natural immunity
form of immunity that is the first response to antigens.
