Myers EXPLORING PSYCHOLOGY (6th Edition in Modules)

Module 31

Stress and Illness

James A. McCubbin, PhDClemson University

Worth Publishers

Stress and Illness

Stress the process by

which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging

Stress Appraisal

Stressful event(tough math test)

Threat(“Yikes! This isbeyond me!”)

Challenge(“I’ve got to apply

all I know”)

Panic, freeze up

Aroused, focused

Appraisal Response

Stress and Illness

General Adaptation Syndrome Selye’s

concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three stages

Stressresistance

Phase 1Alarm

reaction(mobilize

resources)

Phase 2Resistance(cope with stressor)

Phase 3Exhaustion(reservesdepleted)

The body’s resistance to stress canlast only so long before exhaustion sets in

Stressoroccurs

Stress and Health

Behavioral Medicine interdisciplinary field that integrates

behavioral and medical knowledge and applies that knowledge to health and disease

Health Psychology subfield of psychology that provides

psychology’s contribution to behavioral medicine

Stressful Life Events Chronic Stress by Age

Stressful Life Events

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

Perceived Control Equality and Longevity

Stress and the Heart

Hopelessnessscores

3.5

3

2.5

2

1.5

1

0.5

0 Heart attack DeathLow risk Moderate risk High risk

Men who feel extreme hopelessnessare at greater risk for heart attacksand early death

Stress and the Heart

Coronary Heart Diseaseclogging of the vessels that nourish the heart muscle

leading cause of death in many developed countries

Stress and the Heart

Type A Friedman and Rosenman’s term for

competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people

Type B Friedman and Rosenman’s term for

easygoing, relaxed people

Stress and Disease

Psychophysiological Illness “mind-body” illness any stress-related physical illness

some forms of hypertension some headaches

distinct from hypochondriasis-- misinterpreting normal physical sensations as symptoms of a disease

Stress and Disease Lymphocytes

two types of white blood cells that are part of the body’s immune system B lymphocytes form in the bone marrow

and release antibodies that fight bacterial infections

T lymphocytes form in the thymus and, among other duties, attack cancer cells, viruses, and foreign substances

Stress and Disease

Conditioning of immune suppression

UCS(drug)

UCR(immunesuppression)

UCS(drug)

UCR(immunesuppression)

CS(sweetenedwater)

CS(sweetenedwater) CR

(immunesuppression)

Stress and Disease Negative emotions and health-related

consequences

Unhealthy behaviors(smoking, drinking,

poor nutrition and sleep)

Persistent stressorsand negative

emotions

Release of stresshormones

Heartdisease

Immunesuppression

Autonomic nervoussystem effects

(headaches,hypertension)