Psychology Chapter on Stress

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of stress?

Stress is a nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it. The arousal, both physical, emotional, cognitive, and behavioral responses, to situations or events that we perceive as threatening or challenging.

What is a stressor?

A stressor is a trigger or stimulus that prompts a stressful reaction.

What is acute stress?

Acute stress is a short-term state of arousal to a perceived threat or challenge that has a definite endpoint.

What is chronic stress?

Chronic stress is a continuous state of arousal in which demands are perceived as greater than the inner and outer resources available for dealing with them. Signup and view all the answers

What are the five sources of stress?

The five sources of stress are cataclysmic events, life changes, acute/chronic stressors, job stressors, and conflict. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measure?

The SRRS measures the amount of stress resulting from major life events in a person's life over a one-year period. Signup and view all the answers

What does the College Undergraduate Stress Scale (CUSS) measure?

The CUSS measures the amount of stress resulting from major life events in a college student's life over a one-year period. Signup and view all the answers

What is a major cause of heart disease?

A major cause of heart disease is the blockage of arteries that supply blood to the heart. Signup and view all the answers

What are some ways to prevent the buildup of fatty deposits in the arteries?

Reducing stress, exercising, and eating a low-fat diet Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of psychoneuroimmunology?

Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the effects of psychological factors on the immune system. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

Alarm, Resistance/Adaptation, Exhaustion Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of long-term stress on the immune system?

Long-term stress can have a negative impact on your health and lower your resistance to disease and healing. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of cortisol in the short term?

Cortisol can prevent the retrieval of existing memories as well as the laying down of new memories. Signup and view all the answers

Optimism can be learned.

True Signup and view all the answers

What are three examples of eustress?

Examples of eustress include starting college, a new job, and having a baby. Signup and view all the answers

What are two components of the autonomic nervous system?

The two components of the autonomic nervous system are the sympathetic system and the parasympathetic system. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the sympathetic nervous system in response to stress?

The sympathetic nervous system responds to stressful events. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of technnostress?

Technostress is a feeling of anxiety or mental pressure from overexposure or involvement with technology; stress caused by an inability to cope with modern technology. Signup and view all the answers

The average work hours per week in the United States are among the highest in the developed world.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of problem-focused coping?

Problem-focused coping involves trying to eliminate the source of a stress or reduce its impact through direct actions. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of emotion-focused coping?

Emotion-focused coping involves changing the impact of a stressor by changing the emotional reaction to the stressor. Signup and view all the answers

What are the three steps in Lazarus’s Cognitive Appraisal Approach?

The three steps are primary appraisal, secondary appraisal, and choosing a coping method. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between internal and external locus of control?

Internal locus of control is the belief that we control our own fate. External locus of control is the belief that chance or outside forces beyond our control determine our fate. Signup and view all the answers

Which of these is NOT a characteristic of a Type A Personality?

Relaxed and laid-back Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a hardy personality?

A hardy personality is someone who seems to thrive on stress, yet lacks the anger and hostility associated with the Type A personality. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of positive affect?

Positive affect is a sense of pleasure in the environment, including feelings of happiness, joy, enthusiasm, and contentment. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of optimism?

A tendency to expect the best and see the best in all things Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR)?

MBSR is a stress-reduction strategy based on developing a state of consciousness that attends to ongoing events in a receptive and non-judgmental way. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of a social-support system?

A social-support system is a network of family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, and others who can offer support, comfort, or aid to a person in need. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples of external stress resources?

Examples of external stress resources include exercise, social skills, behavior change, stressor control, material resources, and relaxation. Signup and view all the answers

What does a health psychologist study?

A health psychologist studies how biological, psychological, and social factors interact in health and fitness. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Defining Stress

Stress: A nonspecific response of the body to any demand made upon it. Arousal in physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral responses to situations perceived as threatening or challenging.
Stressors: Triggers or stimuli that prompt a stressful reaction.
Eustress: Pleasant, desirable stress. The optimal amount of stress to promote well-being.
Distress: Unpleasant, undesirable stress. Caused by aversive/undesirable stressors.
Acute Stress: Short-term arousal response to a perceived threat with a definite endpoint.
Chronic Stress: Continuous arousal where demands are perceived as greater than available resources. Constant state of threat with no relaxation time.

Sources of Stress

Cataclysmic events: Unpredictable, large-scale events that cause overwhelming feelings of need to adapt and adjust.
Frustration: Psychological experience from blocking a desired goal or unmet need. Increased frustration when motivation is high and goals are blocked.
Hassles: Daily annoyances that accumulate into major stress sources. May be more critical than major life events.
Conflict: Psychological experience of being pulled in different directions (two or more desires or goals); only one can be achieved. Approach-Approach Conflict: Choosing between 2 desirable goals. Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict: Choosing between 2 undesirable goals. Approach-Avoidance Conflict: Choosing or not choosing a goal with both positive and negative aspects.
Life Changes: Adjusting to life changes causes stress. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measures the amount of stress from major life events over a one-year period, correlating with illness and scores. The College Undergraduate Stress Scale (CUSS) has similar measures for college students.
Job Stressors: Work-related stress, including unemployment, role conflict, and burnout. Role Conflict: Forced choice between two or more incompatible demands. Role Ambiguity: Uncertainty about the expectations and demands of a role. Burnout: Psychological and physical exhaustion due to chronic stress with little personal control.

Acute/Chronic Stressors

Acute Stress: A short-term state of arousal in response to a perceived threat or challenge that has a definitive endpoint.
Chronic Stress: Continuous ongoing arousal where the parasympathetic system cannot activate the relaxation response. Constant state of perceived threat without relaxation time. This wears down our bodies physically and psychologically.

Effects of Stress

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): The body's three stages of physiological adaptation to stress. Alarm: Sympathetic nervous system activation. Resistance/Adaptation: Body adapts to stressors, with resistance to stress. Continued stress may lead to reduced immune response. Exhaustion: Long-term stress leads to decreased health and resilience to diseases.
Bodily Reactions to Stress (Sympathetic/Parasympathetic Nervous System):
Sympathetic system responds to stressful events. Parasympathetic system restores the body to normal function after stress has ended.

Poverty
Workplace stress
Entering a majority culture that differs from one's origin

Stress & Our Immune System

Psychoneuroimmunology: The study of effects of psychological factors on the immune system.
Immune System: Cells/organs/chemicals that respond to diseases/infections/injuries.
Stress and Reactions: Immune cells are negatively affected by stress, leading to immune deficiency, infection, and hypertension.

Stress and Our Cognitive Functioning

Cortisol effects on the brain: Short Term: Cortisol can prevent the retrieval of memories and the laying down of new. Helpful for immediate stress. Long Term: Prolonged stress can damage the hippocampus, a key part of the brain for the ability to form memories. This can cause a vicious cycle of damage and cortisol secretion.
Prefrontal Cortex under stress: Chronic stress can reduce cognitive ability in the prefrontal cortex.

The Benefits of Stress

Eustress: Pleasant and desirable stress promoting pursuit of challenging goals. Examples of eustress: Starting College, New Job, Having a Baby, Exercising.
Distress: Unpleasant and undesirable stress caused by aversive conditions.

Stress and Illness

Biological Response to Stress: Stress changes the immune system activity which increases risk of illness.
Linked Illnesses: Ulcers, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, periodontal disease, common cold, and colitis.

Gastric Ulcers

Studies show high stress correlates with higher ulcer incidence, although bacteria plays a role.
Long-term stress reduces immune function, making one less resistant to ulcers caused by bacteria.

Stress and Cancer

Stress suppresses the immune system,
Stress causes natural killer cell malfunction (NK cell responsible for suppressing viruses and tumor cells).
Cancer arises from interactions of environmental factors and genetic predispositions. Myths: Stress causes cancer, Positive attitudes fight cancer.

Stress and Cardiovascular Disorders

Stress contributes to coronary heart disease (CHD), and puts people at higher risk.
Stress causes the release of fat for energy. If not used for fight-or-flight response, it adheres to artery walls, causing blockages.
Reducing stress, exercising, and low-fat diet can prevent artery buildup

Personality and Coping

Type A personality: Ambitious, time-conscious, highly hardworking, hostile/angry, easily annoyed.
Type B personality: Relaxed, less driven, patient/calm, slow to anger.
Type C personality: Pleasant but repressed, tends to internalize anger/anxiety, finds expressing emotions difficult.
Hardy Personality: Thrives on stress but without the hostility of a Type A. Deep sense of commitment, sense of control, and views problems as challenges.
Locus of Control: Internal Locus of Control: Belief that one controls their own fate. External Locus of Control: Belief that chance or outside forces control fate.

Positive Affect

Positive affect: Demonstrates a sense of pleasure like happiness, joy, enthusiasm, contentment.
Optimism: Expecting the best and seeing best in all things.
Pessimists: Expecting the worst.
Learned helplessness: Inability to cope with stress/events that can be learned.
Stress and Optimism: Optimism helps in coping and stress management; optimists are less likely to develop learned helplessness and depression.

Become More Optimistic

Strategies for better stress management to be more optimistic:
- Stop and think about what went through your head when you have a bad mood.
- Treat negative statements like they came from someone else and reflect on your response.
- Argue with those thoughts and address underlying issues.

Resources for Healthy Living

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): A strategy to develop nonjudgmental consciousness of daily events.
Social support system: Family, friends, neighbors and colleagues who provide support and aid to a person in need - reduces the effects of chronic illness

External Stress Resources

Exercise
Social Skills
Behavior Change
Stressor Control
Material Resources
Relaxation

Health Psychologist

Study biological, psychological, and social factors in health/fitness. Education on surgery/treatments. Public education about stress, substance abuse, and exercise. Help cope with chronic diseases, change unhealthy behaviors.

Culture and Job Stress

Karoshi: Work-related deaths in Japan due to prolonged stress over work hours. Japan's over-work culture results in 10,000 yearly cardiovascular deaths related to work.
Warning: United States average work hours are among the highest in the developed world, presenting a significant job stress factor.

Coping with Technostress

Technostress: Anxiety/mental pressure from overexposure to/involvement with technology.
Feeling overwhelmed by technology to cope with modern technology.

Lazarus's Cognitive Appraisal Approach

Stressor/how people think about it determines how stressful the event is:
- Primary Appraisal (Severity of stressor): Is this a threat or a challenge?
- Secondary Appraisal (Resources to cope): Do I have the resources/ability to cope with the stressor?
- Coping Method: Choosing how to cope with the stressor based on the above.

Coping With Stress

Coping Strategies: Actions to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize the effects of stressors;

Problem-Focused Coping: Aims to eliminate stress source by taking direct action. Choose this when you have control over stressful situations. Emotion-Focused Coping: Changing the impact of stressors by changing the emotional response to the event. Doesn't solve the problem but can provide temporary emotion relief. Defense Mechanisms: the strategies the ego uses to protect itself against anxiety distorting reality and increasing self deception.

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Description

Explore the intricate definitions and sources of stress in this quiz. Understand the differences between eustress and distress, and learn about acute and chronic stress responses. Perfect for psychology students seeking to deepen their comprehension of stress concepts.