Psychology of Stress and Coping Mechanisms

The body's initial reaction to a stressor, involving the release of adrenaline from the adrenal glands. This response is quick and helps prepare the body to fight or flee.

The body's attempt to adapt and cope with a continued stressor. It involves the release of cortisol and other hormones, leading to changes in energy levels, immune function, and other bodily processes to manage the stressor.

A stage of prolonged stress resulting in the depletion of the body's resources, leading to various health issues. It occurs when stress is overwhelming and prolonged, making the body struggle to cope.

A bias that occurs when research on stress primarily focuses on males and generalizes findings to both sexes.

A criticism of physiological explanations of stress, arguing that they oversimplify the stress response by neglecting the role of psychological factors such as personality and individual appraisal of a situation.

A questionnaire that measures the amount of life change units (LCUs) experienced in a person's life. The higher the score, the more likely the person is to experience stress-related illness.

Units used to measure the amount of stress associated with life events. Higher LCUs indicate more stress.

A research method in which participants are asked to recall past events, often used to measure stress experienced in the past.

A correlation where both variables increase or decrease together.

A correlation where one variable increases as the other decreases, or vice versa.

A statistical measure that describes how strong the relationship is between two variables. A score closer to +1 or -1 indicates a strong relationship.

The extent to which a research finding can be applied to other situations, times, and individuals.

A measurement of how relevant a study is to the real world.

The initial response to a stressor, preparing the body to fight or flee. It involves the release of adrenaline, increasing heart rate, and diverting energy to muscles.

A model describing the body's response to stress, consisting of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. It explains how prolonged stress can lead to harmful consequences.

The weakening and suppression of the immune system. It can be caused by various factors, including stress.

The system of structures and mechanisms that protects the body from infections and diseases. It includes natural and specific immunity.

A type of white blood cell that attacks pathogens within cells, like viruses. They play a crucial role in specific immunity.

A type of white blood cell that attacks pathogens outside cells, like bacteria. They play a crucial role in specific immunity.

A neurotransmitter that inhibits the activity of neurons, making it less likely that the postsynaptic neuron will fire.

Drugs that enhance the efficacy of GABA neurotransmitters, making neurons more responsive to GABA and less responsive to other neurotransmitters, effectively inhibiting neural activity.

These drugs bind to GABA receptors and enhance the effectiveness of GABA, effectively calming down the nervous system.

These drugs block sites that are normally activated by adrenaline and noradrenaline, reducing the overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. This leads to a decrease in heart rate and blood pressure.

Commonly used beta-blockers that work by blocking the sites where adrenaline and noradrenaline bind, primarily within the body and not in the brain.

A type of social support that provides tangible and practical assistance, like helping with tasks or providing resources.

A type of social support that offers empathy, emotional understanding, and reassurance.

A type of social support that boosts a person's self-confidence and belief in their abilities.

A criticism of physiological explanations of stress that suggests they oversimplify the stress response by neglecting the role of psychological factors.

A criticism of physiological explanations of stress that suggests they assume stress is solely caused by biological factors, ignoring the role of individual experiences and choices.

A technique in which individuals learn to control physiological responses to stress, typically using biofeedback devices.

The first step in biofeedback involves making the client aware of their physiological response to stress by using machines to monitor their body.

In this step, the client learns various techniques such as muscle relaxation and breathing exercises to control their physiological responses to stress. The biofeedback machine helps the client visualize the effects of these techniques.

The final stage involves the client practicing the learned techniques in their daily life, including during stressful situations, to manage stress effectively.

A research study where participants were divided into three groups: one receiving biofeedback training (Group A), another watching a video about biofeedback (Group B), and a control group (Group C) that did not receive any biofeedback training. The study found that Group A showed a significant reduction in tension headaches, highlighting the effectiveness of biofeedback as a stress management tool.