The biopsychosocial model
Suggests that physical illness is caused by complex interaction of biological, psychological and sociocultural factors
Stress
As any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and test one’s coping abilities
Primary appraisal
Is an initial evaluation of wether an event is
1) irrelevant to you
2) relevant but not threatening
3) stressful
Secondary appraisal
An evaluation of your coping resources and options for dealing with the stress
4 main types of stress
1) frustration
2) internal conflict
3) change
4) pressure
Frustration
Is experiences whenever you are prevented from reaching a goal
conflict
Occurs when two or more incompatible motivations or behavioural impulses compete for expression
3 types of conflict
1) approach-approach
2) avoidance-avoidance
3) approach-avoidance
Approach-approach conflict
A choice must be made between 2 attractive goals
Avoidance-avoidance conflict
A choice must be made between two unattractive goals
Approach-avoidance conflict
A choice must be made about whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive and unattractive aspects
Life changes
Are any substantial alteration in one’s living circumstances that require readjustment
Pressure
Involves expectations or demands that one behave in a certain way
A persons reaction to stress at 3 levels
1) emotional responses
2) physiological responses
3) behavioural responses
The inverted U-hypothesis
Predicts that task performance should improve with increased emotional arousal - up to a point
(In the graph) the level of arousal at which performance peaks is characterised as the
Optimal level of arousal for a task (appears to depend on the complexity of the task at hand)
The general adaptation syndrome
Is a model of the body’s stress response consisting of three stages
1) alarm
2) resistance
3) exhaustion
1) alarm reaction
Occurs when an organism first recognises the existence of a threat.
Physiological arousal occurs as the body gathers its resources to combat the challenge
2) stage of resistance
Physiological changes stabilise as coping efforts get under way
If the stress continues over a substantial period of time the organism may enter
The stage of exhaustion
3) stage of exhaustion
Pretty self explanatory, hormonal resources are depleted etc
Neurogenesis
The formation of new neurons (primarily in key areas such as the hippocampus)
Coping
Refers to efforts to master, reduce, or tolerate the demands created by stress
Learned helplessness
Is passive behaviour produced by exposure to unavoidable aversive events
