1. Continuing and Distance Education Introductory Psychology 1023 Lecture 8: Stress and Health
Reading: Chapter 16

2. Stress
Stressors are situations or events that threaten or challenge us
Driving across town is easy; doing it in half the normal time is not
Stressors can be negative (distress) or positive (eustress)
Positive stress can be a problem

3. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Stressor
Homeostasis
Resources, Resistance
Base line
Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion
Time

4. Stages Alarm: Fight or flight response Resistance
Adrenaline rush, energy, corticosteroids (clotting)
Resistance
Energy used but not as rapidly, immune response
Exhaustion: Body cannot fight
Infections, illness, sores

5. Cognitive Appraisal Threats have a cognitive component
“challenge” vs. a “crisis”
Primary appraisal: How threatening is something
e.g., sharp pain in head
Secondary appraisal: Coping
Problem, emotion, and avoidance-oriented coping

6. Type A Type B Need for achievement Time urgency
Elevated feelings of anger and hostility
Little pleasure, “racing the clock”
Low levels of competitiveness
No time urgency
Little anger and hostility
More easy-going and relaxed about life

7. Assessment Jenkins Activity Survey Physiological indices
Self-report questionnaire
“When you listen to other people talking, do you wish they would hurry up and say what they have to say”
Physiological indices
Elevated arousal doing math questions when told it is a race

8. Stress Response
Stress is seen as a threat
Elevated arousal, tissue damage, heart disease
Type A Person
Evidence supporting this relation focuses on anger and hostility
Why? Type A person’s seek competitive environments and then react badly to the competition.

9. Stress Management Relaxation skills for stress Biofeedback
Social support
Reappraisal: What is a “challenge”
Health crisis can cause dramatic change in behavior
Healthy lifestyle

10. Pain Management Relaxation, meditation Massage and contact comfort
Exercise
Analgesics
Acupuncture, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Example: Child birth classes teach pain management

11. Health Psychology Maintenance of wellness Prevention of illness
Lifestyle, keeping people active
Prevention of illness
AIDS-risk
Alcohol and other drug problems
Dealing with health problems
Pain, medical regimen compliance
Detox, transplants