Stress Unit 2: Biopsychology

Components of Stress There are many definitions of stress used in the field of psychology. Stress may be an event that causes tension or a response to such an event. Some researchers refer to stress as the person’s perception of the event. Stress: A person’s reaction to his or her inability to cope with a certain tense event or situation.

Components of Stress People will experience stress differently. A stressor for one person may not be for another and two people may show different reactions to stressful situations. Stressor: A stress-producing event or situation. Stress Reaction: The body’s observable response to a stressor. It is important to note that stress is not always a negative thing. Stress is a normal, even essential part of life that goes hand-in-hand with working towards a goal. Distress: Stress that stems from acute anxiety or pressure. Eustress: Positive stress which results from motivating pursuits & challenges.

Conflict Situations One source of stress in our lives is the need to make difficult decisions between two or more options. These alternatives result from conflicting motivations. Types of conflict situations: Approach-Approach Avoidance-Avoidance Approach-Avoidance Double Approach-Avoidance

Types of Conflict Situations Approach-Approach Avoidance-Avoidance Approach-Avoidance Double Approach-Avoidance Choosing between two attractive options. ex) Do I want cake or pie for dessert? Choosing between two disagreeable options. ex) Should I stay up all night studying for my test tomorrow or risk failing? A situation that has both positive and negative consequences. ex) Should I ask my boss for a raise? Choosing between multiple options, each of which has positive and negative aspects ex) Should I vacation in Paris or visit my parents in California?

Environmental Stressors Major life changes such as marriage, illness, a new job, moving, or a death in the family are other important sources of stress. Many researchers have studied these life stages to determine how much stress they are likely to cause. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale lists 43 items that require individuals to make drastic changes in their lives and rates them based on their expected stress impact. What sort of changes might be on an SRRS for teenagers???

Reactions to Stress A person who encounters a stressor that is intense or prolonged will react to it. There is a wide array of stress reactions and their effects range from beneficial to harmful. Fight or Flight Response: The body’s arousal reaction triggers physical changes that prepare the body for survival by either facing or fleeing potential danger. General Adaptation Syndrome: Three stages in the body’s stress reaction proposed by Hans Selye; alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.

General Adaptation Syndrome During the alarm stage the body activates its fight or flight defenses (heart rate, muscle tension, pupils dilate, etc.). In the resistance stage the person often finds ways to cope with the stressor and ward off adverse reactions. The exhaustion stage occurs if the stressor continues for too long and the individual reaches a breaking point.

Other Reactions to Stress Emotional - Examples include anxiety, anger and fear. Emotional responses to stress are usually short-term but may lead to feeling burned out or emotionally exhausted. Cognitive - Reactions that affect our ability to think and/or concentrate and may also include unjustified suspicion or distrust of others. Behavioural - Short-term changes in behaviour that result from stress. May be positive, such as risking one’s life to save another’s or negative, such as nervous or unhealthy habits. Physical - Prolonged stress may lead to adverse physical reactions such as illness or a weakened immune system.

Factors Influencing Reactions to Stress People’s reactions to stress vary considerably. These reactions help people meet the challenges of life but may also determine the amount of stress one feels. Personality differences Type A vs. Type B Emotional expressiveness Perceived control over stressors Predictable vs. unpredictable stress Highly influences our physical and psychological well-being Social support The belief that one is cared for, loved, respected and part of a network of communication Support may be emotional, appraisal, informational, or instrumental

Coping with Stress The amount of stress you feel depends on the ability to evaluate stressful situations and manage daily stress with the various tools at our disposal. Cognitive Appraisal: Our interpretation of an event that helps determine its stress impact. Defensive Coping Strategies: Involve preventing physical reactions to stress. When these strategies fail, stress reactions are more likely to occur. Active Coping Strategies: Involve changing our environment or modifying a situation to remove stressors or reduce the level of stress.

Defensive Coping Strategies Denial - deciding that the event is not really a stressor (ignoring the stress). Intellectualization - analyzes a situation from an emotionally detached viewpoint.

Active Coping Strategies Hardiness - personality traits of control, commitment, and challenge that helps us reduce the stress we feel. Problem Solving - confronting the matter head- on. Explanatory Style - viewing the stress from an optimistic or pessimistic point of view. Biofeedback - bringing specific body processes under conscious control. Relaxation - learning to reduce the amount of tension felt through stress. Humour - laughing releases tension and pent-up feelings during tense situations. Exercise - stimulates and provides an outlet for physical arousal and may burn off stress hormones. Training - increased ability to deal with new situations can ease stress. Support Groups or Professional Help - provides social support and can address the specific stress-related problems.

Nixon (1979) How does stress affect performance? When stress management is effective stress has a positive impact. ex) Working on a deadline, sport When stress is perceived as unpredictable or unmanageable there will be a gradual decrease in performance. ex) A very tight deadline with 3 kids at home and a mother sick in the hospital.