Week 5

Question 1

What is stress?

Answer 1

Any circumstance that threatens (or is perceived to threaten) one’s wellbeing and that thereby taxes coping ability

Stress is individual > depends on cognitive processes

Question 2

Folkman & Lazarus (1984) discovered what about stress?

Answer 2

That it has a cumulative nature > minor stressors like moving house, changing jobs, can add up to be as stressful as a major traumatic event

Question 3

What three parts define stress?

Answer 3

Stress as a stimulus
Stress as a result of cognitive appraisal
Stress as a response (physiological, emotional, behavioural)

Question 4

When stress is described as a stimulus, what does this mean?

Answer 4

Eustress (positive stress) can improve performance

In a catastrophic situation such as an earthquake, flood or crash, it can make us more productive

In major life events such as getting married or giving birth it can help us prepare

Question 5

When stress is described as a transaction, what does this mean?

Answer 5

It refers to the subjective state of stress, which is an internal state

Appraisal is an interaction between internal and external environment/states that relies on cognitive variables

Question 6

Describe Lazarus’ Transactional Model of Stress

Answer 6

Primary appraisal: consideration of the quality and nature of the stimulus/event
> threaten harm/loss
> set a challenge
> considered benign

Secondary appraisal:
assessment of resources/abilities required to cope with the stressor
> internal resources (resilience)
> external resources (social, financial)

Example: coping for upcoming exams as a threat/loss

Question 7

What factors influence appraisal?

Answer 7

Imminence
Expectation
Unpredictability
Ambiguity
Risk
Undesirability
Low perceived control
High amounts of life change