Chapter 13 ~ Stress, Coping & Health

Biopsychosocial model = physical illness caused by complex interaction of biological, psychological, & sociocultural factors.

The Nature of Stress stress = any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being & tax one’s coping abilities

Appraisal: Stress Lies in the Eye of the Beholder Primary appraisals of events determine what they find stressful Secondary appraisals influence degree of stress experienced.

Primary & Secondary Appraisal of Stress Primary appraisal is an initial evaluation of whether an event is (1) irrelevant to you, (2) relevant, but not threatening, or (3) stressful. When you view an event as stressful, you are likely to make a secondary appraisal, which is an evaluation of your coping resources and options for dealing with the stress. (Based on Lazarus & Folkman, 1994)

4 Major Types of Stress frustration = experienced whenever pursuit of some goal is thwarted Life changes are any noticeable alterations in one’s living circumstances that require readjustment.

4 Major Types of Stress Pressure involves expectations or demands that one behave in a certain way Conflict occurs when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses compete for expression

Responding to Stress

Overview of the Stress Process A potentially stressful event, such as a major exam, elicits a subjective appraisal of how threatening the event is. If the event is viewed with alarm, the stress may trigger emotional, physiological, and behavioral reactions, as people’s response to stress is multidimensional.

Emotional Responses to Stress Common Emotions Elicited (a)annoyance, anger, and rage, (b)apprehension, anxiety, and fear, and (c)dejection, sadness, and grief Positive emotions are common as well

Fredrickson’s broaden-and-build theory = positive emotions broaden thinking & build coping resources. people who experience high levels of positive emotions live longer than others.

Effects of Emotional Arousal Emotional arousal may interfere with coping. inverted-U hypothesis, task performance improves w/ increased arousal up to point then declines. optimal level of arousal on task depends on complexity of task.

Arousal and Performance Graphs of the relationship between emotional arousal and task performance tend to resemble an inverted U, as increased arousal is associated with improved performance up to a point, after which higher arousal leads to poorer performance. The optimal level of arousal for a task depends on the complexity of the task. On complex tasks, a relatively low level of arousal tends to be optimal. On simple tasks, however, performance may peak at a much higher level of arousal.

Physiological Responses Selye’s general adaptation syndrome = body’s stress response, consisting of three stages: alarm, resistance, & exhaustion Diseases of adaptation may appear during exhaustion stage

Brain-Body Pathways 2 major pathways along which brain sends signals to endocrine system in response to stress, leading to release of catecholamines & corticosteroids. Stress may suppress neurogenesis in the brain.

Behavioral Responses Coping refers to efforts to master, reduce, or tolerate the demands created by stress

Giving Up &Blaming Oneself Learned helplessness is passive behavior produced by exposure to unavoidable aversive events People who are able to disengage from unattainable goals exhibit better health.

Striking Out at Others Aggression is any behavior that is intended to hurt someone, either physically or verbally tends to fuel more anger & increase rather than decrease stress

Defensive Coping Defense mechanisms = unconscious reactions that protect person from unpleasant emotions like anxiety & shame, through self-deception

Defensive Coping small positive illusions about one’s life may be healthful, but serious distortions are maladaptive.

Behavioral Responses Relatively healthful coping tactics are termed constructive coping. Constructive coping is action-oriented & based on realistic appraisals of stress.

Stress & Physical Health

Impact of Stress Murgia (TED Talk) Stress can be handy for burst of extra energy & focus, But when it’s continuous, it can affect brain size, its structure, & how it functions, right down to the level of your genes

Factors Moderating the Impact of Stress Social support = various types of aid & emotional sustenance provided by members of one’s social networks Optimism is as a general tendency to expect good outcomes