Motivation, Emotion & Stress: Stress & Health AP PSYCHOLOGY: Unit V

Stress & Health: The Basics Part one

Stress & Health: The Basics The process by which we perceive & respond to certain events (known as stressors) that we appraise as threatening and/or challenging Stress is not… A simple stimulus or response Necessarily a negative thing

Stress & Health: The Basics Two major classifications of stress… Acute Stressors Relatively short in duration with a clear endpoint An encounter with a belligerent customer A major exam An impending natural disaster Chronic Stressors Relatively long in duration with no apparent endpoint Persistent financial strains A sick family member A hostile boss

Stress & Health: Types of Stress Part two

Stress & Health: Types of Stress Frustration (Daily Hassles) Occurs in any situation in which a hassle or annoyance is present Insignificant (in terms of stress) Traffic Broken air conditioner Aggravating people Significant (in terms of stress) Failure and/or loss

Stress & Health: Types of Stress Conflict Occurs when two (or more) incompatible motivations or behavioral impulses compete for expression Approach-Approach Conflict A choice must be made between two attractive goals Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict A choice must be made between two unattractive goals 100 Multiple Choice Questions OR 5 Short Answer Essays Approach-Avoidance Conflict A choice must be made about whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive & unattractive aspects

Stress & Health: Types of Stress Significant Life Changes Any significant alteration to one’s circumstances that require readjustment Going off to college Marriage or divorce Death of loved one Loss of job

Stress & Health: Types of Stress Catastrophes Events causing great and often sudden damage or suffering War/Conflicts Natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, fires) Rates of Acute Stress Disorder Typhoon 7% Industrial accident 6% Mass shooting 33% Violent assault 19% Prevalence of PTSD following disasters Bombing 34% Plane crash into hotel 29% Mass shooting 28%

Stress & Health: Stress Responses Part three

Stress & Health: Response to Stress “Fight or flight” – How the body responds Sympathetic nervous system Heart rate and respiration increases Digestion slows Release of sugars Adrenal glands Excrete epinephrine and norepinephrine Outer part of adrenal glands Secrete glucocorticoids – stress hormones

Physiological Response to Stress Heart disease Specifically coronary heart disease (90% of heart related deaths) Increase heart rate Higher levels of stress hormones Higher blood pressure Increased respiration can cause asthma attacks or hyperventilation Muscle tension can lead to tension-type headaches or migraines Reproduction Testosterone production, sperm production and maturation Absent or irregular menstrual cycles (or changes in length) Premenstrual symptoms become worsened – cramping, bloating, etc.

Stress & Health: Response to Stress Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome Body’s adaptive response to stress is as general as an alarm sounding Consists of three separate stages: Alarm reaction – activation of sympathetic nervous system Resistance – coping with stressor; resistance can only last so long Exhaustion – reserves depleted; vulnerable to collapse or illness

Stress & Health: Coping with Stress Emotional Responses Dependent on the stimulus (and one’s personality) Common responses to stress typically occur along three dimensions of emotion (1) Annoyance, frustration, anger, rage (2) Apprehension, embarrassment, anxiety, fear (3) Dejection, depression, sadness, grief Emotion-focused coping Trying to reduce negative emotional responses Praying, eating, drugs/alcohol, disclosure Used when we cannot change situation …or when we believe we cannot change situation

Stress & Health: Coping with Stress Problem-focused coping Addressing stressors directly Used when we feel a sense of control over a situation We believe we can change the circumstances or change ourselves to alleviate the stress Example: You have a disagreement with a friend and confront the individual directly to discuss the issue How would emotion-focused be different in this case?

Stress and Health: Coping Strategies Problem-focused OR Emotion-focused Coping Strategies (Does this help me solve the problem?) Planning, information seeking Seeking social support Turning to religion “Venting” of emotions Distraction Humor Adjusting expectations Staying busy to take your mind off an issue Time-management Journaling Taking control Evaluating pros and cons Relaxation, meditation

Stress & Health: Coping with Stress Constructive Coping Healthy efforts to deal with stressful events How? Realistic appraisal of the stress & coping resources Learning to recognize, and in some cases regulate, potentially disruptive emotional reactions to stress Direct confrontation of the problem

Stress & Health: Effects of Stress Part four

Stress & Health: Effects of Stress Psychological Effects Burnout Physical & emotional exhaustion, as well as cynicism and a lowered sense of self-efficacy Generally brought on by work-related stress Psychological problems & disorders Poor academic performance, sleep disturbances, sexual difficulties, alcohol & drug abuse, etc. Positive effects? Resilience Successful adaptation to significant stress & trauma

Stress & Health: Personality Factors Part Five

Stress & Health: Behavior Pattern (Friedman and Rosenman) Type A General Characteristics Competitive, self-critical, supermotivated Time-conscious & impatient Anger & hostility Easily annoyed; tend to overreact In life… Tend to be workaholics Often successful, but frequently unsatisfied Find it very difficult to relax/to do nothing More prone to..? High blood pressure and heart disease

Stress & Health: Personality Factors Type B General Characteristics Easygoing & slow to anger Relaxed & flexible Less competitive In life… Don’t stress over deadlines Less time-bound