1. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 How and Why Do We Experience Stress? The human stress response to perceived threat activates thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and physiological arousal that normally promote adaptation and survival

2. Stress and Stressors Stress A physical and mental response to a challenging or threatening situation Stressor A stressful stimulus …. a condition demanding adaptation

3. Primitive Stressors 1.Starvation 2.Exposure to the elements 3. Mortal attack 4. Humans who respond more quickly to danger survived

4. A Model of Stress

5. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Traumatic Stressors A situation that threatens one’s physical safety, arousing feelings of fear, horror, or helplessness

6. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Catastrophe

7. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Identified five stages that occur in the wake of natural disasters 1.Psychic numbness: Shock, confusion 2.Automatic action: Little awareness/recall of the experience 3.Communal effort: People pool resources and collaborate 4.Letdown: Depletion of energy, feel abandoned 5.Recovery: Survivors adapt to changes created by the catastrophe Cohen and Ahearn

8. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Delayed stress reaction in which an individual involuntarily re-experiences emotional, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of past trauma

9. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response The physical response to nearly any stressor follows the same sequence. 1.Initial arousal 2.Protective behavioral reaction, often fight-or- flight 3.Internal responses to the autonomic nervous system and endocrine system 4.Decrease in the effectiveness of the immune system

10. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response Arousal: Increased physiological state

11. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response Acute Stress A temporary pattern of arousal caused by a stressor with a clear onset and limited duration Example: flashing blue lights in your rearview mirror

12. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response Chronic Stress A continuous state of stressful arousal persisting over time Example: A bad marriage

13. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response Fight-or-Flight Response A sequence of internal processes that prepares the organism for struggle or escape

14. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response Withdrawal: If fight or flight is not possible, or stressor is too much to handle, the organism may ‘freeze’ Ex: Deer in the headlights

15. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response Passive Fear Response: An individual responds to a threat by becoming emotionally withdrawn and disengaged. Example: A rabbit, instead of running, eludes a predator by hiding or remaining still

16. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The Physical Stress Response Tend-and-Befriend Model A stress response model proposing that females are biologically predisposed to respond to stress by nurturing and protecting offspring (tend) and seeking out a social group for joint protection (befriend) Tending to offspring in times of stress is vital to ensuring the survival of the species. Tending activities also reduce biological stress responses in both parents and offspring, Befriending leads to substantial mental and physical health benefits in times of stress. Does not replace the “Fight or Flight” response

17. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) A pattern of responses to any serious chronic stressor Prolonged stressor response can contribute to heart disease, ulcers, arthritic, asthma, even death

18. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 General Adaptation Syndrome G. A. S. 3 Stages 1. Alarm 2. Resistance 3. Exhaustion Healthy Adaptation or Illness

19. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Stage One - Alarm Reaction 1. Body mobilizes its resources to cope with a stressor 2. Hypothalamus sets off a response through the endocrine system 3. Adrenal hormones are released 4. The sympathetic nervous system is activated IF STRESSOR IS NOT REMOVED IN TIME, THE ORGANISM MOVES TO NEXT STAGE Sympathetic --Mobilize energy from stores, inhibit further storage Inhibit digestion, growth, reproduction, immunity --Increase HR, BP, breathing --Fight or flight response --Analgesia --Aspects of senses and memory improve

20. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Stag Two - Stage of Resistance Arousal (Alarm reaction) subsides The parasympathetic system activates adrenal output slows If a second stressor is introduced, the organism may not be able to adapt IF STRESSOR IS NOT REMOVED IN TIME, THE ORGANISM MOVES TO NEXT STAGE Resistance Body tries to adapt to stressor Hormonal changes to cope with stress Conservation of resources. Effects on activity level, feeding etc.

21. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Stage Three - Stage of Exhaustion Organism tires fighting stressor Symptoms of Alarm Stage (Stage One) reappear Parasympathetic system overcompensates in an attempt to stop surging hormones IF STRESSOR DOES NOT DISAPPEAR IN TIME DEATH OCCURS

22. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Resistance Resistance – the body seems to adapt to the presence of the stressor Alarm Reaction Alarm reaction – the body mobilizes it’s resources to cope with a stressor The General Adaptation Syndrome Exhaustion Illness/death Exhaustion – the body depletes it’s resources Level of normal resistance Successful Resistance

23. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Stress and the Immune System The human immune system response, which evolved to respond to short-term stressors, may react to chronic stressors by breaking down and turning on itself

24. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Stress and the Immune System Psychoneuroimmunology Multidisciplinary field that studies the influence of mental states on the immune system Cytokines (site-toe-kines) Hormone-like chemicals facilitating communication between brain and immune system cytokines After they alert the brain to distress, the brain releases its own cytokines to reduce energy output, causing symptoms like fever or listlessness, responses that usually help fight disease Also may cause depression, prolonging stress and illness

25. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Personality Types and Stress Type A – behavior pattern characterized by intense, angry, competitive, or perfectionist responses to challenging situations Type B – behavior pattern characterized by a relaxed, unstressed approach to life

26. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Type A – Highly driven – Competitive – Impatient – Aggressive – Feel rushed and under pressure – Find it difficult to give up control or power

27. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Type B – Relaxed – More focused on the quality of life – Less ambitious and less impatient.

28. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Psychological Responses to Stress Learned Helplessness Passive resignation following reoccurring failure or punishment Learned Helplessness Passive resignation following reoccurring failure or punishment

29. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 Resilience Capacity to adapt, achieve well-being, and cope with stress, in spite of serious threats to development

30. Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 End of Chapter 8