Stress and intimate relationships. Flashcards
(39 cards)
What does it mean when we say context matters?
Couples do not live in a bubble, the outside world influences couples
What are proximal conditions?
Things that are closer to home, time of day, friends, house, family.
What are Distal conditions?
Conditions that are more global in scale such as: culture, economic climate, nationality, historical period, and global conditions
do distal issues effect proximal issues?
Yes they do
What is easier to identify? Distal or promixal issues?
Proximal
What kind of stressor is one that comes and goes, such as having your car breaking down.
These are acute stressors
What are the charateritics of acute stressors?
They tend to have a more dramatic and sudden impact.
What kind of stressor is one that goes on for long period of time
These are chronic stressors
What are the charateristics of chronic stressors?
They are constant and subtle in their impact, but will always be there as long as you are in the environment.
Can Chronic stressors have acute periods?
Yes they can, if something happens that increases your stress it would cause an acute episode.
What is a uncontrollable stressor?
Uncontrollable and unpredictable stressor that tends to have a more dramatic and detrimental impact on relationships
What is a controllable stressor?
A stressor that is known before it happens. Mush like graduating university, or having a child, or preparing for a move.
In a interdependent relationship how will stress effect your partner?
We know that it will effect the partner, although we are unaware to what degree the stress affect the partner.
The effects of stress may not be equal.
What is the most common source of stress?
- debt being brought into marriage.
- Balancing job and marriage
- Frequency of sexual relations
What are the concrete effects stress has on us?
- it takes our time away
- it often takes our money
- preoccupies thoughts.
How does stress take our time?
Time spent dealing with the stress takes time away from doing anything else.
How does stress take our money
Often keeps us from work, or cost money
What is the physiological impact of stress?
- Your body enters the fight or flight response \
- increases physical performance but weakens the immune system.
Is the bodily stress response voluntary?
Nope, it is involuntary and can be damaging time as you maintain the stress response.
What is the psychological impact of stress?
Stress tends to improve our attention, memory, and performance in relation to the stressful situation and simple tasks.
What is the negative psychological impact of stress?
Stress decreases performance on complex and deliberative tasks (such as communicating and empathy)
What is the Yerkes-Dodson law?
it is the tunnel vision response.
The ability to think logically is reduced and you will have more `conflict.
Can stress damage relationships if not handled properly?
absolutely
How does stress hurt intimate relationships?
- lower sexual relationship satisfaction
- poorer communication and problem solving
- divorce