lesson 1 physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

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Lesson 1: Physiological & psychological characteristics of responses to stress

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Page 1: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Lesson 1: Physiological & psychological characteristics of responses to stress

Page 2: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Exposure to stressful situations and events is a common human experience. From losing your locker key to losing your job – these events can produce stress.

Stressor = any person, situation or event that produces stress. Virtually anything can be a stressor and therefore a cause of stress to an individual.

Stress and Health

Stress =A state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability to cope.

Page 3: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Biopsychosocial approach to stress

Page 4: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Responses to Stress

Stress affects different people in different ways – depending on severity, duration and the individual.

A Stress Response = physiological (bodily) and psychological (mental) changes experienced when confronted by a stressor.

Stress&can&be&classified&as&MILD,&ACUTE&or&CHRONIC.&

Mild&stress&&?&can&be&s@mula@ng&–&low&levels&of&arousal&can&enhance&performance.&Acute&–&sudden&high&arousal&level.&Chronic&–&long&term&–&can&be&damaging.&&

Page 5: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress
Page 6: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress

Page 7: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress
Page 8: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress
Page 9: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress
Page 10: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Eustress and Distress

Eustress is a positive psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of positive psychological states such as feeling enthusiastic, excited, active and alert. Distress, on the other hand, is a negative psychological response to a stressor, as indicated by the presence of negative psychological states such as anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability or tension.

Page 11: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Yerkes-Dodson Curve

Page 12: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

The following is not examinable but interesting and relevant to your life

Page 13: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress •  The$second$model$which$addresses$the$physiological$responses$to$stress$is$$

the$General$Adapta-on$Syndrome.!

2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#

General'Adapta,on'Syndrome'=''A"three"stage"physiological"stress"response"that"occurs"regardless"of"the"stressor"that"is"encountered."There"are"three"stages"in"the"GAS"–"Alarm"Reac;on,"Resistance"and"Exhaus;on.""

Research"by"Hans"Selye.""

Page 14: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress 2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#

•  Cannon’s'belief'that'prolonged'stress'is'harmful'was'confirmed'by'Selye.''

•  Most'of'Selye’s'stress'studies'used'rats'who'were'exposed'to'a'variety'of'stressors.'(eg.'Tail'pulling,'electric'shocks'etc).'

•  Regardless'of'the'stressor,'the'results'were'relaDvely'similar'–'enlarged'adrenal'glands,'weight'loss,'stomach'ulcers'and'depleted'immune'system'etc.''

•  He'then'concluded'that'stress'is'nonGspecific.''•  Humans'reacted'in'much'the'same'way'to'stress.''

•  Based'on'his'studies,'Selye'develop'the'three'stage'•  'GENERAL'ADAPTATION'SYNDROME.''

Page 15: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress 2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#

There%are%three%stages%in%the%GAS.%

Stage%One:%Alarm%Reac6on:%!Occurs!when!the!person/animal!is!first!exposed!to!the!stressor.!!

•  Body!goes!into!temporary!state!of!‘shock’!–!body!temp!and!blood!pressure!drop.!!

•  The!body!then!quickly!rebounds!from!this!during!what!is!called!‘countershock’.!

•  SympatheCc!NS!is!acCvated!and!a!reacCon!like!that!of!the!flightGflight!response!occurs.!Arousal!is!produced!by!the!release!of!hormones!by!the!endocrine!system:!the!pituitary!glands!secrete!ACTH,!which!causes!a!heightened!release!of!adrenaline,!noradrenaline,!and!corCsol!by!the!adrenal!glands!into!the!bloodstream.!!

•  Organism!is!alert!and!ready.!%

The body cannot stay in this state for long without serious consequences. Some organisms in a continuous state of alarm have died within hours or days

Page 16: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress

2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#

There%are%three%stages%in%the%GAS.%

Stage%Two:%Resistance:%%•  If#the#reac*on#con*nues#and#is#not#strong#enough#to#cause#death#the#

physiological#reac*on#enters#the#stage#of#resistance.##•  The#body#tries#to#adapt#to#the#stressor.#Physiological#arousal#declines#but#

remains#higher#than#normal#and#the#body#replenishes#the#hormones#released#by#the#adrenal#glands.##

•  The#organism#may#show#few#outward#signs#of#stress.#However,#the#body#may#not#be#able#to#resist#new#stressors.##

•  The#body#becomes#increasingly#vulnerable#to#health#problems.#These#health#problems#include#ulcers,#high#blood#pressure,#asthma,#and#illnesses#that#result#from#impaired#immune#func*on.#

Page 17: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress

2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#

There%are%three%stages%in%the%GAS.%

Stage%Three:%Exhaus4on:%%•  Severe%long*term%or%repeated%stress%will%cause%the%organism%to%enter%the%

third%stage,%the%stage%of%exhaus9on.%%•  The%immune%system%and%the%body's%energy%reserves%are%weakened%un9l%

resistance%is%very%limited.%%•  If%the%stress%con9nues,%disease%and%physiological%damage%become%

increasingly%likely%and%death%may%result.%

Page 18: Lesson 1   physiological and psychological charactertistics of responses to stress

Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress

2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#