Unit 11: Stress, Coping, & Health

How and Why Do We Experience Stress? The human stress response to perceived threat activates thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physiological arousal that normally promote adaptation and survival

What is Stress? Stress – – A physical and mental response to a challenging or threatening situation – Pattern of specific and nonspecific responses that disturb equilibrium

What is Stress? Stressor – – a stressful stimulus, a condition demanding adaptation

A Model of Stress

Stress: An Everyday Event Major Stressors vs. Routine Hassles – Cumulative nature of stress – Cognitive appraisals

Types of Stress - General Acute Stress – Clear onset and offset patterns Chronic Stress – Continuous state of arousal – Demands are greater than available resources

Major Types of Stress Frustration: blocked goal Conflict: incompatible motivations – Approach-Approach – Approach-Avoidance – Avoidance-Avoidance

Motives in Conflict Approach-approach Conflict – A conflict in which one must choose between two equally attractive options Approach-avoidance Conflict – A conflict in which there are both appealing and negative aspects to the decision to be made

Motives in Conflict Avoidance-avoidance Conflict – A conflict in which one must choose between two equally unattractive options

Figure 13.2 Types of conflict

Major Types of Stress Change: having to adapt – Social Readjustment Rating Scale – Life Change Units Pressure – Perform/conform

Traumatic Stressors Traumatic Stressor – a situation that threatens one’s physical safety, arousing feelings of fear, horror, or helplessness

Catastrophe Cohen and Ahearn identified five stages that occur in the wake of natural disasters Psychic Numbness Automatic Action Communal Effort Letdown Recovery

Posttraumatic Stress Posttraumatic Stress Disorder – delayed stress reaction in which an individual involuntarily re-experiences emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of past trauma

Figure 13.4 Overview of the stress process