Week 6- Flashcards
(41 cards)
Define stress
A cognitive perception of uncontrollability and/or unpredictability that is expressed in a physiological and behavioural response
Define a stressor
An unpredictable and/or uncontrollable stimulus.
Define a stress response
The array of physiological responses activated to help the body return to its normal state.
Define acute-stress
The body’s immediate response to a stressor, this is experienced short-term.
Define chronic-stress
the body’s response to an ongoing stressor, this is experienced
long-term.
Give examples of acute-stressors
-Stuck in traffic
-Argument with partner
-Receiving a passive-aggressive email
-Noisy environment
Give examples of chronic-stressors
-Chronic health condition
-Living in relative poverty
-Family responsibilities
-Unsatisfied career
What did Lazarus (1966) say about stress?
Stress is the relationship between the person and the environment
that is appraised as personally significant and as taxing or exceeding resources for coping.
What are the main 3 categories of stress?
1.Catasrophe
2.Significant life events
3.Daily hassles
Define catastrophe
Unexpected. Unlike any earlier experience. Dangerous
or threatening to yourself or others. Emotionally impactful.
Define Acute physical crises
Demand immediate physiological
adaptations if you are going to live.
What’s hierarchal rank and what psychological stressors can other animals experience?
-For a subordinate animal, life is filled with a disproportionate share not only of physical stressors but of psychological stressors as well
-lack of control, of predictability, of outlets for frustration.
-It’s not just your rank – it’s what your rank means in your society.
How can a hierarchy be seen in baboons biologically? (Robert Sapolsky)
Basal cortisol concentrations of the 6 highest-ranking and 6 lowest-ranking males during 6 years of study.
Glucocorticoid response is smaller and slower than in dominant individuals. When
it’s passed, their recovery is more delayed. INEFFICIENT STRESS-RESPONSE.
Elevated resting BP; sluggish CV response and recovery to real stressors; suppressed
HDL cholesterol (good) levels; suppressed testosterone levels fewer circulating white blood cells.
What is involved in human hierarchies?
Humans belong to multiple hierarchies.
We value the one in which we rank highest (e.g., low prestige employee who most values his role as captain of sports team).
HOWEVER, the social gradient of health (Western society) a strong example of social inequalities predict disease
What kind of stress raises cortisol levels? (Dickerson, et al., 2004)
Tasks with both social-evaluative threat and uncontrollability.
What are the negative social effects of wide income inequality?
- More physical and mental illness among those at the lower ranks [& social gradient].
- Heightened levels of social distrust, social evaluation.
- Consequences of rank dependent on society. Small differences in material resources – hunter gatherer.
- 1950/60s - CEO 25-30 X the wages of worker.
- 2005 - WalMart CEO – 900 X the wages of worker.
- Worries about self worth and presentation - self doubt, social/status anxiety, stress.
True or False: We are all compelled by social comparisons.
We can’t help but judge our position relative to others.
This is nothing new……
Class system – identity based on material possessions - consumer society catalyst.
What’s homeostasis?
■ Staying in balance.
■ Maintaining optimum conditions
for function [enzyme and cell], in
response to internal and external
changes.
■ Body temperature, blood glucose concentration, water levels
What’s the impact of stressors and a stress response on homeostasis?
■ Stressor – knocks you out of
homeostatic balance.
■ Stress-response – body’s
response to re-establish homeostasis.
■ Humans to expand the concept -
Stressor can be the anticipation of event happening.
What’s the simplified process of stress?
1.Sees thing coming=turn on stress response
2.Nothing physically damaging has occurred (yet)
Either you don’t get stressed about future events OR ypur stress-response is activated by expectation
What is fight or flight according to Walter Cannon?
■ Unified mind-body system.
■ Extreme cold, lack of oxygen and
emotion-arousing incidents trigger outpouring of epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline).
■ Enter blood stream from adrenal glands.
■ Sympathetic nervous system > HR, diverts blood to muscles, releases stored fat.
■ Fight or flight.
■ However, Second system – cerebral cortex – hypothalamus and pituitary gland – stress hormone “cortisol”.
How did Hans Selye (1907-82, Hungarian endocrinologist) offer an early scientific explanation for biological stress?
–Work on injecting rats, searching for new hormone
–Discovered common denominator in the organism’s reaction to various stimuli (injections) of pain in joints, rashes, changes in gastrointestinal function etc.
What’s the bridge analogy? (Hans Seyle)
Strain/stress - you as individuals can tolerate but each person has a tipping point.
What’s general adaption syndrome? (Hans Seyle)
1.Body reacts with a fight or flight response
2.Body resists and compensates –
tries to return to normal state
3.Resources exhausted - body
susceptible to disease/death