Defining, Measuring, and Managing Stress

The nervous system Neurons Synaptic Gap Neurotransmitters

How do they transmit information? 4 What are neurons?

 Nerve cells ◦ Basic building blocks of the body’s information processing system.  Made up of ◦ Dendrites ◦ Axons 5 Neurons

Receive information 6 Dendrites

Transmit information to other Neurons Muscles Glands 7 Axon fibers

How do neurons communicate to other cells to influence our behavior? 8

Chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) bridge the gap Rats in an enriched environment will increase their synapses. 9 Synapse (Synaptic gap)

Enable communication between neurons 10 Neurotransmitters

Two major divisions of nervous system Central nervous system Peripheral nervous system

What do these parts do? 12 What are the parts of your nervous system?

Central nervous system Brain and spinal column Peripheral nervous system Links central nervous system (spinal cord) to sense receptors, muscles and glands 13 Nervous system

Brain and spinal column Severed spinal cord E.g. E.g. -Sally - knee jerk reaction without sensation of a tap on the knee Bill - No genital sensations, but has an erection when stimulated. 14 Central Nervous system

 Sympathetic nervous system (Arousing) ◦ Increases heartbeat & blood pressure  Parasympatheti c nervous system (Calming) 15 Peripheral Nervous System

Peripheral nervous system Somatic nervous system Skeletal muscles Autonomic nervous system Sympathetic “Fight or flight” Mobilizes resources Heart speeds up Blood vessels in skin contract Breathing increases Parasympathetic Relaxation and normal functioning Increasing one, decreases the other

Theories of stress General Adaptation Syndrome Lazarus’s view

General adaptation syndrome (GAS) 1. Alarm Sympathetic nervous system starts Prepares for “Fight or flight” 2. Resistance Adapts to stressor Diseases of adaptation Ulcers Hypertension Cardiovascular disease Bronchial asthma 3. Exhaustion

Lazarus’s View Interpretation (cognitive mediation) of event is more important than the event itself Person’s perception of the situation is critical Potential harm Threats Person’s ability to cope with them

Lazarus’s View Stressor + Cognitive mediation = Stress Events do not produce stress - The person’s view of the situation produces the stress The “Definition of the situation”

Measurement of stress Physiological Blood pressure Heart rate Galvanic skin response Respiration rate Self-report Used by most health psychologists

Sources of stress Cataclysmic events PTSD - Posttraumatic stress disorder In 1/4 to 1/3 of individuals experiencing cataclysmic events Irrational events create more stress than natural disasters

Sources of stress Occupation High demands & low control = stress Executive rat

Strategies for coping with stress Social support Durkheim’s suicide study Personal control Internal locus of control Adopt best to stress External locus of control More personal control = better health

Strategies for coping with stress Problem-focused coping Reduce stressor (change the situation) Best for good health Proactive coping Anticipating a problem and taking steps to avoid it

Strategies for coping with stress Emotion-focused coping Manage emotions Meaning-focused coping Create personal and spiritual meaning

Managing stress Relaxation training Progressive muscle relaxation Explanation = tense muscles Breathe deeply & exhale slowly Deep muscle relaxation exercises E.g. Tense and relax Can be used with biofeedback and hypnotic therapies

Managing stress Cognitive behavior therapy Changing attitudes and behavior Beliefs Attitudes Thoughts Skills to change behavior

Cognitive behavior therapy 1. Conceptualization stage Identify problems Educational 2. Skills acquisition and rehearsal stage Educational and behavior Increase coping skills E.g. assertiveness Practice Monitor “self-talk” 3.Application and follow-through Put skills into practice

Emotional Disclosure James Pennebaker Writing or talking about traumatic events helps Emotional self-disclosure improves psychological and physical health E.g. writing letter Emotional disclosure vs. emotional expression Emotional disclosure Self- reflection Emotional expression Crying