1. Unit 9: Emotion, Stress and Health

2. Stress: any circumstance (real or perceived) that threatens a person’s well-being. Stressor: any physical or psychological challenge that threatens homeostasis Phys: injury, exertion, noise, overcrowding, excessive heat or cold Psych: interpersonal conflict, peer pressure, time- pressure tasks, expectations, achievement

3. Figure 12.22 Stress appraisal Myers: Psychology, Ninth Edition Copyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

4. The Stress Response System Cannon - stress response (fast) was a fight-or-flight response – outpouring of epinephrine and norepinephrine –inner adrenal glands, increasing heart and respiration rates, mobilizing sugar and fat, and dulling pain.

5. General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Hans Selye: a stress response to any kind of stimulation is similar. The stressed individual goes through three phases

6. Appraisal of Stress: Stage 1: Alarm

7. Phase 2: Resistance and Stress Response Behavioral: actual fight or flight Physiological: alteration to physiology to prep to fight or flight Negative emotional states: frustration, fear, anxiety, pressure Eustress: positive stress

8. Types of Conflict (stressors) 1.Approach-approach: choose between one of two attractive goals Hanging out with a friend you haven’t seen in forever or going to a baseball game you really want to see

9. 2. Avoidance-avoidance Choose between two unattractive options Lesser of two evils Cleaning your room or studying for your psych test on Tuesday

10. 3. Approach-avoidance Choose a goal that has both attractive and unattractive features You want to purchase the new iPhone 87s with super cool features (it does your taxes and stuff) but you have to work 4 straight days overtime in order to afford the $800/month charge

11. 4. Double approach-avoidance Must choose between two alternatives, both which have positive and negative features You need to choose between two colleges you like, but both have negative features as well

12. Phase 3: Exhaustion

13. Stress and the Heart Stress that leads to elevated blood pressure may result in coronary heart disease, a clogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle. Plaque in coronary artery Artery clogged

14. Personality Types Type A is a term used for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people. Type B refers to easygoing, relaxed people (Friedman and Rosenman, 1974). Type A personalities are more likely to develop coronary heart disease.

15. Figure 12.24 Where life satisfaction is high, hypertension rates are low Myers: Psychology, Ninth Edition Copyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

16. Stress & Susceptibility to Disease Psychophysiological illness: stress-related physical illness such as hypertension and some headaches. Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI): field that studies health effects of psychological, neural, and endocrine processes on the immune system

17. Psychoneuroimmunology Studies the following: B lymphocytes fight bacterial infections, T lymphocytes attack cancer cells and viruses, Microphages ingest foreign substances. During stress, energy is mobilized away from the immune system making it vulnerable.

19. Stress and AIDS Stress and negative emotions may accelerate the progression from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). UNAIDS/ G. Pirozzi

20. Stress and Cancer Stress does not create cancer cells. Researchers disagree on whether stress influences the progression of cancer. However, they do agree that avoiding stress and having a hopeful attitude cannot reverse advanced cancer.

21. Figure 12.29 Stress can have a variety of health-related consequences Myers: Psychology, Ninth Edition Copyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

22. Inability to control life causes stress

23. Practice Question #1 Which of the following is LEAST likely to affect the immune system’s ability to ward off illness? A.Exposure to stress associated with final examination week B.Having a serious argument with a close friend C.Experiencing the death of a loved one D.Being around someone who has a serious case of the flu E.Suffering sleep deprivation due to staying up for several nights writing a research paper

24. Practice Question #2 Individuals exhibiting a hostile type A personality pattern are at an increased risk for A.Alzheimer’s disease B.Cardiovascular disease C.Schizophrenia D.Substance abuse E.Anorexia nervosa

25. Practice Question #3 The stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine are released from the A.Parasympathetic nervous system B.Hippocampus C.Tend and befriend response D.Adrenal glands E.Hypothalamus

26. Mediators of Stress 1.Adequacy of coping skills 2.Available support system 3.Intensity and duration of the stressor/history of stress 4.Individual beliefs Locus of control Internal: a belief that a person has control over rewards and punishments in life External: a belief that luck, chance, and powerful people determine events

27. Explanatory Style People with an optimistic (instead of pessimistic) explanatory style tend to have more control over stressors, cope better with stressful events, have better moods, and have a stronger immune system.

28. Social Support Supportive family members, marriage partners, and close friends help people cope with stress. Their immune functioning calms the cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure.

29. Aerobic Exercise aerobic exercise can elevate mood and well- being raises energy, increases self- confidence, and lowers tension, depression, and anxiety.

30. Biofeedback, Relaxation, and Meditation Biofeedback systems use electronic devices to inform people about their physiological responses What can you then do from what you know about behavior feedback? Relaxation and meditation have similar effects in reducing tension and anxiety.

31. Intervening Factors Investigators suggest there are three factors that connect religious involvement and better health.

32. Table 12.2 Myers: Psychology, Ninth Edition Copyright © 2010 by Worth Publishers

33. Behavioral strategies Time management Behavior modification Relaxation training Biofeedback Meditation Avoiding stressors

34. Realizing and creating well being Well-being: life is good Awareness: support Encouraging others to develop deeper meanings: peace and love, bro Self-efficacy: having control in your life