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Questions and Answers

What is a problem-focused approach to managing stress?

Actively trying to do things to address the problem.

What does emotion-focused coping entail?

Efforts to change or reduce negative emotions associated with stress.

Problem-focused coping is more likely to occur when stressors are perceived as uncontrollable.

False

What is perceived control?

Beliefs concerning one's capacity to influence and shape outcomes in life. Signup and view all the answers

What is positive psychology?

The scientific study seeking to identify and promote qualities that lead to happiness and fulfillment. Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes happiness according to the provided content?

An enduring state of mind consisting of joy, contentment, and positive emotions. Signup and view all the answers

According to Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi (2000), positive psychology is about valued subjective experiences such as well-being, contentment, and __________.

satisfaction Signup and view all the answers

What is the VIA in the context of positive psychology?

A tool for identifying character strengths and learning to capitalize on them. Signup and view all the answers

What outcomes are associated with higher levels of perceived control?

Better physical and mental health, and lower reactivity to stressors. Signup and view all the answers

Positive affect includes pleasurable engagement with the environment.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is optimism?

A tendency toward a positive outlook and positive expectations. Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of stress?

The process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or threatening to one's well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fight-or-flight response?

A set of physiological reactions that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat, including increases in blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration rate. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Hans Selye?

An important early contributor to the stress field and a foremost expert in the study of stress. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three stages of the general adaptation syndrome?

Alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the alarm reaction?

The body's immediate physiological reaction to a threatening situation, analogous to the fight-or-flight response. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during the stage of resistance?

The body adapts to a stressor for a period of time. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during the stage of exhaustion?

The body's ability to resist stress becomes depleted, leading to illness or even death. Signup and view all the answers

What are traumatic events in relation to stressors?

Situations involving exposure to actual or threatened death or serious injury. Signup and view all the answers

What are daily hassles?

Minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives capable of producing stress. Signup and view all the answers

What does job strain refer to?

A work situation involving excessive job demands and workload with little decision-making latitude. Signup and view all the answers

Define job burnout.

A general sense of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in relation to one's job. Signup and view all the answers

How can our relationships cause stress?

Negative aspects of close relationships, such as conflicts and lack of support, can be a potent source of stress. Signup and view all the answers

What is coping?

Mental or behavioral efforts used to manage problems relating to stress. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of coping according to Lazarus and Folkman?

Problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. Signup and view all the answers

Describe problem-focused coping.

Strategies that involve identifying the problem, considering solutions, and selecting an alternative. Signup and view all the answers

Which three important positive psychology topics are considered essential?

Forgiveness Signup and view all the answers

What is stress?

A process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that are overwhelming or threatening to their well-being. Signup and view all the answers

What does health psychology study?

Psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill. Signup and view all the answers

Who developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)?

Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe. Signup and view all the answers

How can stress be conceptualized?

As a process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that they appraise as overwhelming or threatening. Signup and view all the answers

What are stressors?

Environmental events that may be judged as threatening or demanding. Signup and view all the answers

What are the two kinds of appraisals of a stressor?

Primary and Secondary Signup and view all the answers

What is eustress?

A good form of stress that is low to moderate in intensity and associated with positive feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What is distress?

A bad form of stress that is usually high in intensity and can lead to exhaustion. Signup and view all the answers

What is the biopsychosocial model of health?

An approach that considers biological, psychological, and social factors in health and disease. Signup and view all the answers

What does psychoneuroimmunology study?

Connection between emotions and body functions Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Positive Psychology Topics

Three key aspects: gratitude, forgiveness, humility.

Definition of Stress

Stress is a process where individuals perceive and respond to events as threatening or overwhelming.
Difficulty in defining stress due to its vague nature.
Stimulus-based definition: Characterizes stress as an event or situation (e.g., high-stress jobs).
Response-based definition: Focuses on physiological responses such as increased arousal.
Types of stressors: Chronic (long-term) like caring for a parent with dementia, and acute (short-term) like breaking a leg.

Health Psychology

Subfield studying psychological influences on health and illness responses.
Examines the impact of stress and emotional factors on overall health.

Developed by Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe to measure stress through life changes.
Assigns life change units (LCUs) to various events, correlating high LCU accumulation with increased risk of illness.
Major life events include both negative (divorce) and positive (marriage) experiences.

Conceptualizing Stress

Stress is perceived based on individual appraisals of events.
Two appraisal types are crucial:
- Primary appraisal: Evaluates potential harm or threat.
- Secondary appraisal: Assesses coping options and their effectiveness.

Types of Stressors

Environmental events that trigger stress, categorized as chronic or acute.
Stressors can include traumatic events, life changes, and daily hassles.

Good Stress vs. Bad Stress

Eustress: Positive stress that motivates and enhances performance; associated with optimal health.
Distress: Negative stress that is high in intensity, leading to burnout and health erosion.

Stress Responses

Physiological responses: Accelerated heart rate, headaches, gastrointestinal issues.
Cognitive responses: Difficulty in concentration and decision-making.
Behavioral reactions: Increased alcohol consumption or smoking to cope with stress.

Biopsychosocial Model of Health

Integrates biological, psychological, and social factors in understanding health and disease.
Emphasizes the importance of psychological factors and lifestyle choices in health outcomes.

Psychoneuroimmunology

Studies the interplay between psychological factors, stress, and immune system functioning.

Health Psychologists' Focus

Investigate lifestyle choices and design interventions to change unhealthy behaviors.
Analyze the stress levels in different demographic groups over time to identify high-risk populations.

Walter Cannon and Stress

Early pioneer who identified the body's physiological stress responses.
Introduced the fight-or-flight response, which arouses the body's systems in response to threats.

Hans Selye and General Adaptation Syndrome

Significant contributor to stress research; researched hormonal responses in rats.
Developed the understanding of how stress affects health across different stages of adaptation.### General Adaptation Syndrome
Established by Hans Selye; describes body's nonspecific physiological responses to stress.
Comprises three stages: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion.
Identified physiological changes in rats under prolonged stress: adrenal enlargement, shrinkage of thymus and lymph nodes, stomach ulceration.

Alarm Reaction

First stage of general adaptation syndrome; immediate physiological response to threat.
Similar to fight-or-flight response; prepares body for action.
Example: Waking during a fire presents an alarm reaction, prompting urgent responses.

Stage of Resistance

Second stage where the body adapts to a prolonged stressor after the initial shock.
Physiological responses persist, but intensity diminishes as adaptation occurs.
Example: Parents of a missing child experience less intense stress after several days, although emotional turmoil continues.

Stage of Exhaustion

Final stage resulting from prolonged exposure to stress; body's resistance depletes.
Can lead to serious health issues, illness, or even death.
Example: A parent dealing with the prolonged stress of a missing child might ultimately face severe exhaustion or chronic health problems.

Traumatic Events

Include exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual assault.
Men, non-Whites, and lower socioeconomic groups report more trauma.
Traumatic stressors can lead to PTSD, encompassing symptoms like intrusive memories, detachment, and negative emotional states.

Life Changes

Stressors often involve significant life events requiring adjustment, such as death, marriage, or divorce.
These changes necessitate time and adaptation to alter life situations.

Developed by Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe to measure stress through 43 life events.
Each event assigned a numerical value reflecting the level of readjustment required, facilitating stress assessment in research.

Daily Hassles

Minor, everyday irritations, such as traffic or interpersonal conflicts, significantly contribute to stress.
Research shows daily hassles can be better predictors of health issues than major life changes.
Recent studies indicate social media-related stress can add to physical health problems.

Other Stressors

Include demanding and unpleasant work conditions.
High-stress occupations, like firefighting or nursing, face greater challenges than others.
Specific workplace stressors can lead to significant physical and mental health consequences.

Job Strain

Defined as a combination of excessive job demands and low decision-making control.
Linked to various health issues, such as hypertension and heart disease.
Evidence shows workers with high job strain are at increased risk for heart-related problems.

Job Burnout

Characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and diminished personal accomplishment.
Common in high-stress professions such as education, social work, and healthcare.
Factors leading to burnout include heavy workloads and lack of support, often co-occurring with depression.

Relationships and Stress

Negative dynamics in close relationships can considerably increase stress.
High levels of conflict or lack of emotional support correlate with elevated health risks, such as heart problems.

Coping Strategies

Essential for managing stress; involve mental and behavioral efforts to handle stressors.
Two primary types: problem-focused coping (addressing the cause of stress) and emotion-focused coping (managing emotional responses).

Problem-Focused Coping

Involves active strategies to manage or eliminate the source of stress.
Examples include seeking information, making plans, or tackling stressors directly.

Emotion-Focused Coping

Attempts to alleviate the emotional distress associated with stress without directly addressing the source.
May include avoidance, seeking positive comparisons, or reframing situations.

Perceived Control

Beliefs about one’s ability to influence life outcomes significantly affect stress.
High perceived control correlates with better health, psychological well-being, and resilience against stress.
Greater feelings of control are linked to healthier behaviors and lower risk of physical health issues.### Impact of Job Status on Health
Longitudinal studies show individuals in low-status jobs with minimal job control have higher heart disease rates compared to those in high-status roles.
Perceived control over one’s job is linked to overall health and explains the correlation between social class and health outcomes.
More affluent individuals often believe they can manage life's stressors, leading to better health outcomes.

Individuals in higher social classes may overestimate their influence on outcomes, like voting efficacy, contributing to higher engagement in electoral processes.
A sense of control can mitigate health issues, depression, and lower life satisfaction among less affluent people.

Research on Stress Management

Higher perceived control correlates with reduced emotional and physical stress responses.
Daily diary studies indicate older widows felt less stress and anxiety on days they perceived higher control over their circumstances.

Positive Psychology

Founded by Seligman, this field focuses on human strengths and well-being rather than pathological issues.
The science of happiness identifies qualities leading to fulfilled lives, moving away from the emphasis on dysfunction and distress.

Definition of Happiness

Happiness is characterized as a lasting state of joy, contentment, and positive emotions, alongside a sense of life meaning and value.

Positive Psychology Perspective

Emphasizes well-being and optimal functioning at subjective and individual levels.
Each person's strengths are as important to study as mental disorders, with the Values in Action (VIA) classification mapping positive traits across cultures.

Core Virtues in Positive Psychology

VIA identifies six core virtues: courage, justice, humanity, temperance, transcendence, and wisdom.
This system contrasts the DSM used in traditional psychology, focusing on what individuals do well instead of just correcting deficits.

VIA Assessment Tool

A 240-question tool helps individuals identify and capitalize on their character strengths.
Items measure strengths like hope and gratitude, fostering self-awareness and personal growth.

Topics in Positive Psychology

Studies focus on altruism, creativity, forgiveness, positive emotions, and their link to authentic happiness.
Recent developments extend positive psychology principles to global peace and well-being efforts.

Positive Affect

Refers to pleasurable engagement leading to happiness, joy, and enthusiasm, which is linked to social connections, support, adaptive coping, and lower depression rates.

Optimism

Defined as a tendency towards a positive outlook and expectations; crucial for promoting health.
Optimism correlates with better health outcomes, including longevity, healthier behavior, and fewer complications after surgery.

Distinction Between Positive Affect and Optimism

While both are related, positive affect focuses on emotional states, whereas optimism encompasses the expectation of positive outcomes.
Optimism is associated with multiple health benefits, including lower pain, better physical functioning, and fewer hospital readmissions post-surgery.

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