1
Q
what is stress
A
an emotional response to situations of threat
2
Q
what is the short term response for stress
A
SAM system (sympathomedullary pathway)
3
Q
how does the SAM system work
A
signal
ANS -> CNS -> endocrine glands -> adrenal mulla
adrenal mulla releases adrenaline and small amounts of nor adrenaline
circulates the bloodstream to go to the heart and muscles
then go back to parasympathetic state when the stressor is gone
4
Q
what is the second part of the stress response
A
the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis - responds to psychological stress
5
Q
explain the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis
A
- (H) the hypothalamus is stimulated when the brain notices a stressor
- (P) a signal is then sent to the pituitary gland in the brain which releases a hormone called ACTH
- (A) acth travels through the bloodstream down to the adrenal cortex which stimulates it to release corticosteroids - such as cortisol, into the bloodstream.
they release glucose from the liver to be used by muscles as energy and they suppress the immune system to redirect energies to other areas of the body.
6
Q
what is cortisol
A
a hormone released by the adrenal glands during stress and contributes to short term and long term stress
7
Q
how does cortisol help the body cope
A
increases blood sugar
reducing sensitivity to pain
suppressing the immune system
it helps the body stay alert and effcient during short term stress
it can lead to health problems when stress is prolonged
8
Q
what is the general adaption syndrome
A
it describes a universal biological pattern of how organisms respond to stress overtime
9
Q
what are the 3 stages in GAS
A
- alarm reaction stage
- resistance stage
- exhaustion stage
10
Q
alarm reaction stage
A
the immediate response to the stressor
the sympathetic nervous system is activated, triggering the fight or flight response
adrenaline is released - increased heart rate, energy release, rapid breathing ect
11
Q
resistance stage
A
if stress continues, the body adapts.
the HPA is activated, leading to the release of cortisol, which helps sustain energy and suppress non-essential functions like immune system.
12
Q
exhaustion stage
A
body’s resources are depleted, can no longer function normally. immune system is weakened so they are more likely to get sick. this stage shows harmful effects of chronic stress
13
Q
one strength of GAS model
A
detailed research using rats
they were exposed to heat, cold, evaluation and all showed the same physical reaction - enlarged adrenal glands and stomach ulcers.
concludes that the body responds to all stress in a general predictable way.
contributed in helping establish stress as a serious medical and psychological issue
14
Q
one weakness of GAS
A
based on animal studies which may not fully apply to humans
humans stress responses are influenced by how we think, our emotions and social support.
selye’s model doesn’t take this into account - oversimplifies stress
limits how well the model can explain individual differences in how people respond to stress
15
Q
one strength of GAS (2)
A
helps explain how long term stress can lead to illness
when the bodies resources have ran out in the exhaustion phase, it leads to a weakened immune system
research supports this idea that people under chronic stress are more likely to get sick
this model is useful in real life as it helps understanding why managing stress is important
16
Q
one weakness of GAS (2)
A
not all stressors produce the same response
mason (1971) studied monkeys and found different hormone changes depending the stress they were exposed to
e.g extreme cold increased cortisol whilst extreme heat decreased cortisol
this challenges selye’s idea of a general stress response and suggests that the reaction depends on the type of stress and how its perceived
17
Q
what is immunosuppression
A
refers to the reduction in the effectiveness of the immune system, making the body more vulnerable to infections and illness
18
Q
what does chronic stress lead to
A
immunosuppression - increasing the risk of illness. it leads to a reduction in the number of white blood cells esp lymphocytes which are responsible for killing infected cells and regulate immune responses
19
Q
how does stress make WBC less effective
A
t cells respond slower
b cells produce fewer antibodies
NK (natural killer) cells become less active
20
Q
procedure of kiecolt-glaser et al study on stress and immunosuppression
A
75 medical students
used natural experiment with a repeated measures design
blood samples were taken during:
one month before exams
during exams
researchers measured the activity of NK cells
students also completed a questionnaire about life events and loneliness to assess other sources of stress and social support
21
Q
aim of kiecolt-glaser et al study on stress and immunosuppression
A
investigate whether short term stress affects the functioning of the immune system, by measuring NK cell activity
22
Q
findings of kiecolt-glaser et al study on stress and immunosuppression
A
NK cell activity was significantly lower during exam period
students who had reported feeling lonelier or had experienced major life events showed greater reduction in immune function
suggests that both acute and chronic stress can weaken immune system
23
Q
strength of kiecolt-glaser et al study on stress and immunosuppression
A
used a real life stressor which is medical exams that enhanced ecological validity.
used repeated measures to control for individual differences and improves internal validity
23
Q
conclusion of kiecolt-glaser et al study on stress and immunosuppression
A
psychological stress can suppress immune system and supports that stress makes people more vunerable to illness
24
weakness of kiecolt-glaser et al study on stress and immunosuppression
medical students may have unique stress responses due to their academic training and familiarity with medical procedures, which influences both their psychological and physiological reactions to stress.
this limits how well you can apply this research to other groups
25
weakness of kiecolt-glaser et al study on stress and immunosuppression (2)
it is correlational meaning it shows a link but not the cause and effect. we cant be sure that stress alone caused the illness since other factors may be included.
this means we should be careful when saying that stress caused illness since the relationship might be more complicated
26
what is the cardiovascular disease
refers to a group of disorders that affect the heart and blood vessels such as
CHD
stroke
hypertensionh
27
how can chronic stress increase the risk of developing CVD
stress activates the sympathetic nervous system and the HPA axis
28
aim of Williams et al study on stress and cardiovascular disease
to investigate if anger is linked to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease
29
procedure of Williams et al study on stress and cardiovascular disease
longitudinal study involving 13000 participants in the US and none diagnosed w heart disease
each participant completed a 10 question anger scale and then were monitored for the next 6 years to track whether they had any cardiovascular problems.
30
findings of Williams et al study on stress and cardiovascular disease
participants who scored highest on the anger scale were 2.5 times likely to have a heart attack than those with lower anger scores
31
strength of Williams et al study on stress and cardiovascular disease
found that people who feel angry are more likely to develop heart disease, showing a clear link between emotional stress and physical illness
supported by friedman and rosenman who saw that type a people are more likely to develop CHD.
these findings support william's results.
impacts how we respond to stress emotionally since it can impact our physical well being
32
weakness of Williams et al study on stress and cardiovascular disease
this research (and others) relies on correlational research which implies there is association but does not confirm it is the direct cause. cannot establish a clear causse and effect relationship
additionally, research shows that stress indirectly causes heart diseases since it encourages smoking, diet changes ect.
33
what are life changes
major events in a persons life that require significant adjustment
they disrupt a persons normal routine and demand psychological adaption
34
development of SRRS
1. identifying life events - reviewed 5000 medical records of life events shortly before becoming ill
2. creating a list of events - created a list of 43 life events that often occured before illness.
3. assigning stress scores - made people rank how stressful a life event was
4. finalising the SRRS - the average scores of all participants were used to create the social readjustment rating scale
35
strength of holmes and rahe study of linking life changes to illness
supporting evidence to link life changes to illness.
2500 sailors completed the SRRS to report life events from the past 6 months and found a positive correlation
suggests that as the stress from life changes increases, so did the chance of becoming ill
36
weakness to holmes and rahe study of linking life changes to illness
the life changes may not account for individual differences since not everyone finds the same events equally stressful.
the SRRS assumes all people react similarity to the same events
reduces validity and oversimplifies stress
37
what is the aim of kanner et al's study on daily hassles and psychological health
to explore whether daily hassles were more predictive of psychological symptoms than major life events
38
procedure of kanner et al's study on daily hassles and psychological health
involved 100 adults, conduced over a 9 month period and made them complete a self report questionnaire monthly
39
what scales did they use in kanner et al's study on daily hassles and psychological health
hassle scale - common daily irratations
uplifts scale - small positive experiences
psychological health measures - checked for anxiety and depression
40
key findings to kanner et al's study on daily hassles and psychological health
daily hassles were strongly correlated with psychological symptoms than major life events
suggests that daily hassles are better predictors of mental health than significant life changes
41
strength of kanner et al's study on daily hassles and psychological health
research supported this idea of daily hassles are a good predictor to long term stress.
it depends how you react to it. it showed that emotional responses to daily hassles were closely linked to stress related illness.
42
weakness of kanner et al's study on daily hassles and psychological health
we shouldnt ignore major life events
holmes and rahe found that big changes can still lead to illness. this was using the SRRS scale.
Life changes still play a key role in understanding stress
also not everyone reacts to stress in the same way so the impact of daily hassles isn't the same for everyone depending on personal factors
43
what is workplace stress
physical and emotional responses that occur when job demands do not match the workers capabilities
44
what is the job demands control model
stress happens at work when there is an imbalance between job control and job demand
the most stressful job is those with high demand and low control
workers can feel overwhelmed and it can lead to stress related problems such as anxiety or burnout
the model shows that its not about how busy the job is its if the person has enough control to handle the pressure
45
aim of marmot et al's study into control and workplace stress
to investigate the relationship between job control and stress related illness in the workplace
46
participants of marmot et al's study into control and workplace stress
10,000 civil servants working in london. both genders.
47
procedure of marmot et al's study into control and workplace stress
longitudinal study conducted over several years
they completed questionnaires and underwent health screening
the study measured
job control, job demand, social support and health outcomes
48
findings of marmot et al's study into control and workplace stress
worker in lower grade jobs were more likely to suffer from stress related illnesses and higher job control was linked to better outcomesst
49
strength of the job demands model
it can be used to improve workplaces
companies will reduce stress by giving employees more control and adjusting workplace
these changes have been shown to reduce burnout and improve job satisfaction
shows the model is useful in practice
50
limitation of job demands model
doesn't consider individual differences
not everyone reacts to stress in the same way
model might is too simple
to fully understand workplace stress it should be used alongside other models
51
strength of marmots study on control
used a large sample makes the findings more reliable
used thousands of british servants
lower job who had less control were more likely to suffer from heart disease
supports the job demands model
52
weakness marmots study on control
only looked at civil servants
limits generalizability
different jobs might involve different type of stress or levels of control
may not fully explain stress in all workplaces
53
what is SCR used for
measure stress by detecting changes in how well the skin conducts electricity
54
what happens to the moisture/sweat on skin when someone is stressed
it increases due to their sympathetic nervous system becoming more active
55
how does SCR work
it measures the amount of sweat/moisture produced by using 2 electrodes placed on the skin. the device measures how easily the current passes through the skin.
56
57
what is the SCR
used to measure stress by detecting changes in how well skin conducts electricity
58
why is there increased sweat when you are stressed
because the sympathetic nervous system becomes more active.
59
how does the scr work
2 electrodes are placed on the skin and a very small voltage is applied between them. the device measures how easily the current passes through the skin
60
how do they do the scr experiment
1. baseline is recorded - to understand the persons normal skin conductance level
2. stressor is introduced - e.g public speaking, solving a difficult problem
3. changes in conductance levels are tracked
4. data is analysed
61
strength of SCR research
has good objectivity and ability to measure stress in real time
this method avoids subjectivity of self reports and is useful in lab experiments
62
weakness of SCR
doesn't measure stress directly
measures general arousal
high scr readings could be excitment, fear or physical activity.
they could not acc be stressed
63
hormone analysis urine samples
measuring adrenaline and non adrenaline in urine samples
64
johansson et al hormone analysis urine samples method
compared high stress workers with low stress workers.
urine samples were collected at different times during the day and analysed for levels of stress related hormones.
65
johansson et al hormone analysis urine samples findings
found the high stress workers had significantly higher levels of non adrenaline and adrenaline.
this method is useful because it provides biochemical evidence of stress over time
66
johansson et al hormone analysis urine samples strength
provide objective, biological to track hormone levels
it avoids subjectivity of self report and gives a direct measure of physiological stress.
67
johansson et al hormone analysis urine samples weakness
variables such as physical activity, sleep quality or hydration could still influence hormone levels.
uncertain that changes in hormone levels are caused by stress alone
sample may not give an accurate picture of someones stress in real world settings
68
hormone analysis via blood samples mason. what he measured
measured cortisol levels in blood samples from participants exposed to various stress inducing conditions.
his work showed that cortisol levels increased in response to psychological stress.
supports that stress has a biological basis that can be measured through hormone levels in the blood
69
strength of hormone analysis via blood samples mason.
precise and objective measure of cortisol.
offers reliable data on how the body physiologically reacts to stress overtime
allows researchers to observe real time hormonal changes making it a valuable tool is stress research
70
weakness hormone analysis via blood samples mason.
blood sampling is invasive and itself can act as a stressor
drawing blood can elevate cortisol levels and reduces the validity of the results.
71
what is type A personality
highly competitive
ambitious
easily angered or hostile
under pressure
72
type b personality
more relaxed and laid back
patient and tolerant
less driven by competition
73
friedman and rosenman study on type a and type b personality aim
if type a behaviour is associated with the increased risk of developing coronary heart disease
74
friedman and rosenman study on type a and type b personality procedure
involved 3000 healthy middle aged men
went through structured interviews designed to provoke type a behaviour
then participants were categorised as type a or type b
then were monitored for 8 years to see if they had signs of CHD
75
friedman and rosenman study on type a and type b personality findings
70% partcipants who developed CHD was type A
supported the idea some personality traits can affect health
76
strength of friedman and rosenman study on type a and type b personality
led to practical application in health psychology and workplace stress management
type a were more likely to develop CHD
this has been used to develop stress management programmes aimed at helping individuals recognize and reduce harmful behaviors
e.g CBT
follow up of these interventions - type a behaviors lower their risk of heart disease
77
weakness friedman and rosenman study on type a and type b personality
only conducted on middle aged American men
reduces generalisabilty
cultural and gender differences can influence how stress is experienced and express
78
what is type c personality
calm cooperative
perfectionist
introverted
emotionally repressed
79
why are type c people more likely to get cancer
since they often experience internal stress
80
aim of temoshok study in type c people
to find out if type c people are more likely to develop cancer
81
procedure of temoshok study in type c people
studied patients with malignant melanoma
used interviews and psychological questionnaires to assess how patients deals with emotions
looked if they expressed their feelings or not.
82
findings temoshok study in type c people
patients who had more advanced cancer were more likely to show type c traits
they tended to be co operative, emotionally controlled and unwilling or express anger or frustration
83
conclusion temoshok study in type c people
suppressing emotions over a long time might weaken immune system making it harder for the body to fight illness
84
strength temoshok study in type c people
practical value
led to specific therapies aimed at reducing stress in emotionally repressed
these are useful in clinical settings since they can directly improve health outcomes
they also helping prevent emotional burnout and improve communication in person and professional relationship
85
strength temoshok study in type c people (2)
women with breast cancer often showed traits of type c
showing link between personality and illness
86
weakness of temoshok study in type c people
link between type c personality and illness is still debated
critics argue that other factors such as genetics, lifestyle and social supports may play a bigger role
weakens reliability of theory
87
hardiness personality
set of traits that helps individuals cope better with stress
commitment
control
challenge
88
aim of study kobasa stress and hardiness personality
investigate why some people under high stress remain healthy while others become ill.
89
procedure study kobasa stress and hardiness personality
800 American business
completed a stress questionnaire and a health record.
- one grp had high stress but low illness
- one grp had high stress and high illness
90
findings study kobasa stress and hardiness personality
the grp w high stress but low illness scored high of 3 key traits
1. control
2. commitment
3. challenge
91
strength study kobasa stress and hardiness personality
useful in real life since it led to hardiness training which help people cope better with stress.
people are more in control
helps high pressure job like the military and emergency services.
92
weakness study kobasa stress and hardiness personality
hardiness theory is that it may not be the only factor protecting people from stress
some researchers argue that social support plays a bigger role.
this is makes it harder to know whether hardiness is truly the key factor or just one part of a bigger picture
93
what are benzodiazapines
benzodiazenpines are a class of drugs that directly affect the central nervous system
94
what effect do BZs have on stress
slow down neural activity throughout the CNS
increase calmness, reduce anxiety
relax muscles and reduce physical tension
95
how do BZs work?
enhance the activity of GABA, which is the brain's main inhibitory neurotransmitter
they do this by binfing to GABA-A receptor sites, making the receptor more sensitive to GABA
this allows more chloride ions to enter the neurons
neurons becomes less likely to fire
96
strength of BZs
effective in the short term management of stress related disorder
a study on patients with social anxiety disorder and found 78% of those treated with benzodiazepines showed improvement compared to the 20% in the placebo group
suggests BZs can offer rapid relief from acute stress symptoms
but the benefit is limited to short term use
97
weakness of BZs
not a reliable long term solution for managing stress.
less effects for conditions like PTSD and may even worsen symptoms over time
98
what are Beta blockers?
beta blockers are a class of drugs which directly affect the activity of hormones: adrenaline and nor adrenaline.
99
what effects do beta blockers have on stress
reduce the body's physiological reaction to stress, slowing heart rate and reducing blood pressure.
effects are primarily physiological, but calming emotionally.
100
how do beta blockers work
they block beta adrenergic receptor sites for adrenaline and nor adrenaline throughout the body
101
strength of beta blockers
reduce rapid heartbeat and shaking
research supports their effectiveness
found that beta blockers reduce the impact of adrenaline on the body
helpful in short term situations
102
weakness of beta blockers
over reliance in it may divert attention from more effective and holistic approaches to stress management.
CBT has been shown to provide longer lasting benefits without the risks associated with drug treatments
healthcare systems may underinvest in improvement and putting strain on public money
103
what is stress inoculation training
cognitive behavioural method developed to help individuals cope with stress by preparing them in advance to handle stressful situations.
it works like a psychological "vaccine" by exposing people to manageable levels of stress
104
3 main phases of SIT
1. conceptualization phase - the therapist helps the individual understands what stress is
2. skills acquisition and rehearsal phase - learns and practices new coping skins
3. application and follow through phase - applies the new skills in increasingly stressful situations often through roleplay
105
strength in SIT
positive economic implications.
teaches long term coping strategies reduce the need for repeated therapy or medication
lower healthcare costs
investing sit might be expensive but the long term savings and improvements in reducing stress and improving well being can outweigh the initial costs
106
weakness of SIT
not suitable for everyone
beta blockers provide quick relief from physical symptoms such as racing heart.
some individuals may prefer the immediate effects of medication
107
what is biofeedback
stress management technique that helps individuals gain control over involuntary physical processes
e.g heart rate
108
how does biofeedback work
by attaching sensors to the body that provide real time feedback on these physiological responses
the person learns relaxation techniques
when the person successfully reduces their stress response and receive positive feedback they will reinforce this behavior
109
strength of biofeedback
helpful way to manage stress and control physical reactions
found people who used biofeedback regularly had lower stress levels and felt better overall
shows biofeedback regularly is a useful tool.
but only for people who are motivated and used it often
110
another strength for biofeedback
biofeedback is non invasive compared to beta blockers
they teach coping skills
biofeedback helps people understand and manage stress overtime
111
female and male biological differences
females have higher levels of oxytocin (love and nurturing)
males have higher testosterone which dampens oxytocin
112
how do biological differences affect coping strategies for stress
oxytocin is released along with cortisol so females tend to seek social support as a way of coping with stress
males have a fight or flight response so they have more physical coping mechanisms
113
strength of biological differences
supported by behavioral research
found that women were significantly more likely than men to seek and use social support as a coping mechanism for stress
this increases the validity of the research
114
weakness of biological approach
women do not always respond to stress with "tend and befriend" behaviors.
women can be just as aggressive as men if someone is in danger.
oversimplifies gender responses to stress as both genders can demonstrate both behaviours
115
3 types of social support
1. instrument support - practical help or tangible assistance that directly addresses the source of stress
2. emotional support - non-practical support that involves empathy, listening and comfort
3. support aimed at boosting a persons self confidence and self worth
116
strength of social support
instrument support helps reduce stress
by offering practical help
research found women who received this kind of support during childbirth had shorter and more positive experience
emotional support is useful since it helps people who feel misunderstood
BUT it does always depend on the person
psych
flashcards
Decks in class (17)
# Cards
-
memory (1)62
-
research methods (yr1)80
-
biopsychology (yr1)30
-
approaches50
-
psychopathology50
-
attachment42
-
social influence. :/17
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approaches part TWO!!44
-
memory (1)27
-
comparing approaches32
-
comparing approaches (2)6
-
research methods (yr2)40
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biopsychology (yr2)85
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function and role of sensory and motor neuron27
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stress117
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rls74
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aggression52
