Stress (3A)

Question 1

What is stress?

Answer 1

A psychological and physiological experience that occurs when an individual encounters something of significance that demands their attention and efforts to cope.

Question 2

What is a stressor?

Answer 2

A stimulus that can be internal or external that prompts the stress response.

Question 3

Give an example of an internal stressor.

Answer 3

Attitude - negative
Rumination - repeatedly thinking about negative components of an event.
Low self esteem
Nervous system dysfunction

Question 4

Give an example of an external stressor.

Answer 4

A test or exam
Meeting new people
Arguments
Working long hours
Financial difficulties

Question 5

What is an internal stressor?

Answer 5

A stimulus from within a person’s body that prompts the stress response.

Question 6

What is an external stressor?

Answer 6

A stimulus from outside of a person’s body that prompts the stress response.

Question 7

What do psychological processes relate to?

Answer 7

Mental processes.

Question 8

What do physiological processes relate to?

Answer 8

Bodily processes.

Question 9

What word is the same as physiological and can be used interchangeably?

Answer 9

Biological

Question 10

Where do internal stressors originate at?

Answer 10

From within the individual

Question 11

Where do external stressors originate at?

Answer 11

From outside the individual

Question 12

Eustress and distress are examples of _____________ responses.

Answer 12

Psychological

Question 13

What is distress?

Answer 13

A form of stress characterised by a negative psychological state.

Question 14

What is eustress?

Answer 14

A form of stress characterised by a positive psychological state.

Question 15

What are two examples of physiological stress responses?

Answer 15

Flight-fight-freeze response
Cortisol release

Question 16

What is acute stress?

Answer 16

A form of stress characterised by intense psychological and physiological symptoms that are brief in duration.

Question 17

What is the fight-flight-freeze response?

Answer 17

An involuntary and automatic response to a threat that takes the form of either escaping it, confronting it or freezing in the face of it. It is a physiological response.

Question 18

What division of the nervous system is responsible for the fight-flight-freeze response?

Answer 18

The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.

Question 19

List the physiological characteristics of the flight response.

Answer 19

An organism flees from the stressor.
This is usually perceived as the safest option.
Depends on the activation of the sympathetic nervous system which prompts a quick release of adrenaline.

Question 20

List the physiological characteristics of the fight response.

Answer 20

An organism confronts the stressor.
The sympathetic division of the nervous system activates to energise the body and make it better able to deal with danger.

Question 21

List the physiological characteristics of the freeze response.

Answer 21

The body immobilizes in the face of stress.
Involves a brief activation of the parasympathetic nervous system as some bodily reactions drop below a normal level.
It can also involve the sympathetic nervous system simultaneously.

Question 22

What is chronic stress?

Answer 22

A form of stress that endures for several months or longer.

Question 23

What is cortisol?

Answer 23

A hormone that is released in times of stress to aid the body in initiating and maintaining heighted arousal.

Question 24

When stress is long term and high cortisol levels continue, what can be the result of this?

Answer 24

Suppressing the immune system.

Question 25

What are some responses to acute stress?

Answer 25

Cortisol helps to energise the body
Confrontation of the threat
Fleeing from the source of danger
Immobility and shock

Question 26

What are some responses to chronic stress?

Answer 26

Enduring release of cortisol
Increased blood sugar levels
Improved metabolism
Energises the body
Reduced inflammation
Immuno-suppression (lowered capability of the immune system)

Question 27

Stress is a
a) psychological response
b) biological process
c) psychological and biological process

Answer 27

C
Stress is a response with both psychological and biological components.