1. Physical, Emotional and Cognitive Effects of Stress

2. Emotion Embodied Emotion We know that emotions involve bodily response. Some of these response are easy to notice (butterflies in stomach when fear arises) but others are more difficult discern (neurons activated in the brain).

3. Stress and Emotions While positive emotions such as love and desire fill our days with purpose, negative emotions can fill us with dread and make each day a chore to navigate. Stress can lead to anxiety, anger and depression.

4. The Body’s Response to Stress General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): Selye’s term for a hypothesized three- stage response to stress. Stage 1: Alarm Reaction Stage 2: Resistance Stage 3: Exhaustion

5. The Nervous System Note: During stress, the sympathetic nervous system is activated.

6. Stage 1: Alarm Reaction The first stage of the GAS, which is triggered by the impact of a stressor and characterized by activity in the sympathetic division of the nervous system. Sympathetic division: The division of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) that is most active during activities and emotional responses—such as anxiety and fear– that spend the body’s reserves of energy.

7. Question Can you describe a time when you experienced the alarm reaction?

8. Stage 2: Resistance Stage The second stage of the GAS, characterized by prolonged sympathetic nervous system activity in an effort to restore lost energy and repair damage. Also called the adaptation stage.

9. Stage 3: Exhaustion Stage If the stressor is not dealt with properly, we may enter the exhaustion stage. While individual abilities to deal with stressor vary, if the stressor continues, everyone will enter the exhaustion stage. The exhaustion stage is characterized by weakened resistance and possible deterioration. Continued stress during the exhaustion stage can lead to “diseases of adaptation” (hives, allergies and coronary heart disease).

10. Question What are some things that can be impacted if the body experiences the exhaustion phase?

11. Stress and Cognition Under stress, people may have difficulty thinking clearly or remaining focused on the task at hand. High levels of bodily arousal that characterize the alarm reaction stage can impair memory functioning and problem solving ability (example: test anxiety).

12. Question Describe a time when you made a critical decision based on emotion rather than fact. What were the consequences of that decision

13. Cognition and Emotion The brain’s shortcut for emotions Thalamus Visual cortex To pounding heart Amygdala Instant fear response Slightly slower interpretation: “This is a snake! Get away.”

14. Emotion- Lie Detectors Control question Relevant question Control question Relevant question (a)(b) Respiration Perspiration Heart rate

15. Question Cognition and Emotion What is the connection between how we think (cognition) and how we feel (emotion)? Can we change our emotions by changing our thinking?

16. Discussion Cognition Can Define Emotion Arousal response to one event spills over into our response to the next event. Example: Arousal from a soccer match can fuel anger Can you think of an example of an emotional response clouding over the ability to think clearly?

17. Any last questions? Are there any questions that I missed?

18. Copyright Copyright 2004 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc., New York, NY. All rights reserved. No part of the material protected by this copyright may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission of the copyright owner.