1. CHAPTER 15: STRESS AND HEALTH

2. SOURCES OF STRESS

3. stress
Def: a person’s perception of their inability to cope w/ a certain tense event or situation

4. COMPONENTS OF STRESS Stressor: a stress producing event or situation
Stress Reaction: the body’s response to a stressor
Hans Selye’s 2 types of stress:
1) Distress: stress that stems from acute anxiety or pressure (negative)
2) Eustress: stress that results from motivating strivings and challenges (positive)

5. COGNITIVE MODEL OF STRESS
Richard Lazarus
Idea that how a person perceives and evaluates an event makes a difference

6. CONFLICT SITUATIONS
Def: when a person must choose btwn 2 or more options that tend to result from opposing motives
A major source of stress
Fall into 4 broad categories…

7. CONFLICT SITUATIONS
1) Approach-approach: choice btwn 2 attractive options
2) Avoidance-avoidance: 2 unattractive options
3) Approach-avoidance: situation has both agreeable and disagreeable consequences
4) Double approach avoidance: choice btwn 2 or more options, each with negative and positive aspects

8. APPRAISING A SITUATION
Primary appraisal: our immediate evaluation of the situation
Secondary appraisal: deciding how to deal w/a potentially stressful situation

9. ENVIRONMENTAL STRESSORS
Noise: most common complaint; can increase blood pressure and cortisol (stress hormone)
Crowding: Jonathan Freedman---effects of crowding depend on the situation

10. LIFE CHANGES AND STRESS
“Catastrophes”: Marriage, illness, new job, moving, death, etc…
All involve the separation of an individual from familiarity
Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe
Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS): rated stress of 43 common events

11. HASSLES Common stressors Gradually weaken the body’s defenses
Uplifts: small, positive events; make a person feel good

12. Section 2: Reactions to stress

13. FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE
Adrenal glands are stimulated to produce
1) hormones that increase amt of blood sugar for energy
2) adrenaline that increases heartbeat and breathing
Prepare a person for self defense

14. GENERAL ADAPTATION SYNDROME
Hans Selye identified 3 stages in the stress reaction:
1) Alarm: body mobilizes fight or flight defenses
2) Resistance: find a means to cope
3) Exhaustion: if prolonged exposure to a stressor, body will shut down

15. EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO STRESS
Anxiety: a vague, generalized apprehension or feeling of danger (most common reaction)
Anger: the irate reaction likely to result from frustration
Fear: the usual reaction when a stressor involve real or imagined danger

16. COGNITIVE RESPONSES TO STRESS
Difficulty concentrating or thinking
Recurring thoughts
Poor decision making
Continued exposure to a stressor can lead to burn out---could develop into a disorder

17. BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS
Person may develop nervous habits (pacing, trembling)
Change in voice, posture, increased aggression
Can be positive: risking your life to save another

18. PHYSICAL REACTIONS
May develop psychosomatic symptoms as a result of stress
Prolonged stress can lead to ulcers, hypertension, arthritis, asthma, and heart disease
Stress can hinder the immune system

19. FACTORS INFLUENCING REACTIONS TO STRESS

20. Personality differences
Type A: high-strung; easy to anger
Type B: relaxed, patient
Emotional expressiveness: people who do not express strong emotions are more susceptible to cancer

21. PERCEIVED CONTROL OVER STRESSORS
J.M. Weiss animal experiments
Findings: people prefer predictable stress
Our physical and psychological well-being is heavily influenced by the degree to which we feel in control of our lives

22. SOCIAL SUPPORT
Def: info that leads someone to believe that they are cared for, loved, respected, and part of a network of communication and mutual obligation

23. SOCIAL SUPPORT Social groups offer: 1) Emotional support
2) Appraisal support
3) Informational support
4) Instrumental support