Psychology Chapter on Stress Responses

Stress

• Stressor Definition: A perceived threat (real or imagined) affecting mental, physical, or emotional well-being, triggering a stress response.
• Selye's GAS: A model of the body's stress response with three phases: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
• Fight-or-Flight: The body's automatic response to threat, preparing for confrontation or escape.
• Allostatic Load: The cumulative wear and tear on the body from repeated exposure to stress.
• Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI): The study of how psychological factors, the nervous system, and the immune system interact to affect health and the stress response.
• Alarm Stage (GAS): Immediate reaction to a threat, activating the sympathetic nervous system, releasing stress hormones.
• Resistance Stage (GAS): Coping with stressors; using resources to maintain alertness.
• Exhaustion Stage (GAS): Prolonged stress depleting resources, leading to fatigue, burnout, and illness susceptibility.
• Eustress: Positive stress motivating action and enhancing performance.
• Distress: Negative stress impairing functioning and health.
• Neustress: Neutral stress with no immediate impact.
• Acute Stress: Short-term stress from specific events.
• Chronic Stress: Long-term stress from persistent challenges.
• Yerkes-Dodson Law: Moderate stress improves performance; excessive stress impairs it.
• Stress & Illness: Prolonged stress increases the risk of chronic illnesses (cardiovascular, autoimmune, gastrointestinal, anxiety/depression).
• Nomophobia: Fear of being without a mobile phone; related to technology addiction, social media dependence.
• Gender Differences: Men more likely to use problem-solving or avoidance; women more likely to "tend-and-befriend," seeking social support (higher oxytocin levels possibly mitigating stress more effectively).
• Diaphragmatic Breathing: Reduces acute stress and anxiety, lowering heart rate, blood pressure, and symptoms.
• Sleep & Adolescents/Young Adults: Adolescents (14-17) need 8+ hours; Young Adults (18-25) need 7-9 hours.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)

• Reportable STDs: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and HIV. Must be reported for tracking and prevention.

• HIV Distribution (US): Highest rates in Southern urban areas, impacting marginalized groups (MSM, people who inject drugs).

• Fomite: An object or material transmitting infection (e.g., contaminated sex toy).

• Curable STDs: Chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis (treated with antibiotics).

• Incurable STDs: HIV, herpes (HSV), hepatitis B, and HPV (managed with treatment, not cured).

• Vertical Transmission: Infection from mother to baby during pregnancy, birth, or breastfeeding (e.g., gonorrhea, HIV).

• Syphilis Stages:

• Primary: Painless sores (chancres).

• Secondary: Skin rashes, swollen lymph nodes, flu-like symptoms.

• Latent: No visible symptoms; infection remains.

• Tertiary: Severe complications affecting organs (brain, heart).

• HPV Types: Over 200 types; some cause genital warts, others are high-risk for cancer.

• Common STD Symptoms: Abnormal discharge, painful urination, genital sores/blisters, itching, pain during intercourse, swollen lymph nodes.

• STD with Classic Blisters: Genital herpes (HSV) causes blisters around the genitals/anal area.

• Most Effective Birth Control: Implants, IUDs, sterilization, hormonal birth control.

• Birth Control Types:

• Low-Maintenance: IUDs, implants (last 3-12 years).

• Scheduled: Pills (daily), Depo-Provera shot (every 3 months), rings (monthly/yearly).

• Use-Every-Time: Condoms, diaphragms, sponges.

• Permanent: Tubal ligation, vasectomy (surgical, irreversible).

• Condom Differences:

• Male Condoms: Worn on penis (latex, polyurethane, lambskin; lambskin doesn't protect against STIs).

• Internal Condoms: Inserted into vagina or anus (protection against STIs and pregnancy).

• Breastfeeding as Birth Control: Exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months postpartum can suppress ovulation.

Addiction

• Drug Misuse: Improper use of prescribed or OTC drugs.
• Drug Abuse: Use of drugs for non-medical purposes, potentially leading to addiction.
• Substance Use Disorder: A diagnosable mental disorder involving compulsive drug use despite harmful consequences.
• Neurotransmitter Effects: Drugs can mimic natural neurotransmitters, overstimulate release, or block reuptake, disrupting brain communication.
• Reward Circuit: Nucleus accumbens, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala, reinforcing pleasurable behaviors, motivating drug use.
• Most Affected Neurotransmitter: Dopamine (changes in neural connections reinforcing addictive behaviors).
• Protective Factors: Strong family support, academic success, positive coping skills.
• Risk Factors: Early drug use, genetic predisposition, mental health issues, poverty.
• Factors Affecting Drug Use: Individual (age of first use, sex, genetics), Family (history of substance abuse, parental attitudes), Community (peer influence, school environment, neighborhood crime), Structural (socioeconomic status, cultural norms, healthcare access).
• Personality Risk Factors: Sensation-seeking, impulsive, risk-taking personalities.

Eating Disorders

• Eating Disorder Types:
• Anorexia Nervosa: Extreme food restriction, fear of weight gain, distorted body image.
• Bulimia Nervosa: Binge eating followed by compensatory behaviors (vomiting, excessive exercise).
• Binge Eating Disorder (BED): Recurrent binge eating without purging.
• Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): Avoidance of specific foods.
• Other Specified Feeding or Eating Disorder (OSFED): Don't meet specific criteria, causing distress.
• Cardiovascular Consequences: Bradycardia, arrhythmias, possible heart failure (related to malnutrition, electrolyte imbalance).
• Lanugo: Fine, soft hair growth in response to severe weight loss (anorexia nervosa).
• Factors Affecting Eating Disorders:
• Biological: Family history, genetics, metabolic conditions.
• Psychological: Perfectionism, low self-esteem, body dissatisfaction, mental health issues.
• Societal: Weight stigma, bullying, unrealistic beauty standards, media influence.
• Impacted Populations: All genders, ages, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations & body sizes; estimated 9% of US population experiences an eating disorder.

Explore the intricate mechanisms of stress through this engaging quiz. Delve into concepts like Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), the fight-or-flight response, and the effects of allostatic load on health. Test your understanding of how stress impacts mental and physical well-being.