Chapter 14 Stress and Stressors

1. Chapter 14 Stress and Stressors

2. The Concept of Stress • Stress • A physical and psychological response to events (stressors) that challenge a persons normal functioning (homeostasis) • Everyone has stress, it’s a normal part of life

3. The Concept of Stress • Stressors • Physical • Examples include injury, physical exertion, noise, overcrowding, excessive heat or cold • Psychological • Examples include interpersonal conflict, isolation, traumatic events, time pressured tasks, peer pressure, expectations of others

4. Types of Stressors • Psychological conflicts • Approach – approach • Two attractive choices • Avoidance – avoidance • Two unattractive choices • Approach – avoidance • One choice with both positive and negative aspects • Double approach – avoidance • Two choices – each with positive and negative features

5. Types of Stressors • Catastrophic Events • earthquakes, combat stress, floods • Life Changes • death of a loved one, divorce, loss of job, promotion • Daily Hassles • rush hour traffic, long lines, job stress, burnout

6. Perceived control • Stressors are seen as especially stressful when we appraise them as both negative and uncontrolled • “Executive Rat” experiment

7. “Executive” rat “Subordinate” rat Control rat To shock control To shock source No connection to shock source Perceived Control • Health consequences of a loss of control

8. Perceived Control • Equality and Longevity

9. The Stress Response • Physiological response • Cerebral cortex perceives and interprets a stressor (appraisal) • Sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline) • Adrenal glands release cortisol

10. Cerebral cortex (perceives stressor) Pituitary hormone in the bloodstream stimulates the outer part of the adrenal gland to release the stress hormone cortisol Thalamus Hypothalamus Pituitary gland Sympathetic nervous system releases the stress hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine from nerve endings in the inner part of the adrenal glands Adrenal glands

11. The Stress Response • Psychological response • Appraisal of stress • Primary appraisal – Is this a threat or challenge? • Secondary appraisal – What should I do?

12. Response Appraisal Threat (“Yikes! This is beyond me!”) Panic, freeze up Stressful event (tough math test) Challenge (“I’ve got to apply all I know”) Aroused, focused Stress Appraisal

13. The Stress Response • Psychological response • Appraisal of stress • Primary appraisal • Secondary appraisal • Walter Cannon – “fight or flight”

14. Increases heart rate and respiration • Diverts blood from digestion to skeletal muscles • Dulls pain • Releases sugar and fat from the body’s stores

15. The Stress Response • Psychological response • Appraisal of stress • Primary appraisal • Secondary appraisal • Walter Cannon – “fight or flight” • Hans Selye – General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

16. The body’s resistance to stress can last only so long before exhaustion sets in Stress resistance Stressor occurs Phase 1 Alarm reaction (mobilize resources) Phase 2 Resistance (cope with stressor) Phase 3 Exhaustion (reserves depleted) General Adaptation Syndrome – Hans Selye