Stress Chapter 15

Psychology: An IntroductionCharles A. Morris & Albert A. Maisto

© 2005 Prentice Hall

Stress and Health Psychology

Chapter 12



What is Stress?

Many DefinitionsStress is the anxious or threatening feeling

resulting from our appraisal of a situation and our reaction to demands placed upon us.

Event that produces tension or worryResponse to an event that produces

tension or worry



Stress

A state of psychological tension or strainAdjustment is any attempt to cope with

stressHealth psychology

Studies the relationship between psychological factors and physical health

StressorsEvents or circumstances that trigger stress



Sources of Stress

Life changesSocial Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Assesses impact of major life changes

Everyday HasslesPressure

Occurs when we feel forced to speed up or shift focus of our behavior

FrustrationOccurs when a person is prevented from reaching

a goal



Sources of Stress

ConflictSimultaneous existence of incompatible

demands, opportunities, goals, or needsApproach/approach conflict occurs when there is a

conflict between two appealing possibilitiesAvoidance/avoidance conflict occurs when there is

a choice between two undesirable possibilitiesApproach/avoidance conflict is the result of being

simultaneously attracted to and repelled by the same goal



Stress and Individual Differences

Differences in reaction to stressors may be due to an individual’s appraisal



Stress and Individual Differences

HardinessA characteristic of people who can tolerate

stress well or even thrive on itResilience

Ability of a person to “bounce back” after a stressful event

Self-imposed stress



Coping With Stress

Direct coping Intentional efforts to change an uncomfortable

situation Confrontation

Acknowledging stress directly and initiating a solution

Compromise Choosing a more realistic goal when an ideal goal cannot be

met

Withdrawal Avoiding a situation when other options are not practical



Coping With Stress

Defensive copingCan occur when you cannot identify the

source of stress or cannot do anything to change the situation

Defense mechanisms (discussed in chapter 11) may be adopted to cope with stress



Socioeconomic and Gender Differences in Coping

Lower socioeconomic status can lead to a more stressful environment and there may be fewer resources for dealing with stress

Women and men seem to be equally affected by stress physiologically

There are apparent differences between the genders in the perception of stress

Men and women may use different coping strategies



The Biology of Stress

Fight or flight responseRelease of adrenaline and norepinephrine

into the bloodstream increasing heart rate and other functions to deal with stress

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)Alarm reactionResistanceExhaustion



Stress and Heart Disease

Frequent or chronic stress can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels

Type A personalityRespond to life events with impatience and

hostilityCorrelated with development of heart disease

Type B personalityRelaxed and easygoing



Stress and the Immune System

PsychoneuroimmunologyStudy of the interaction between stress and

the immune, endocrine, and nervous systemsChronic stress can suppress immune

functionPossible link between stress and cancer



Methods of Reducing Stress Calm down

Exercise Relaxation training

Reach out Social support network

Religion Studies have shown an association between religion and lower

stress May be related to social support

Altruism Giving to others because is gives you pleasure Shown to be a good way to reduce stress



Methods of Reducing Stress

Learn to cope effectivelyProactive coping

Anticipate stressful events and take steps to avoid them

Positive reappraisalAlter the way you think about a stressful situationMaking the best of a tense or stressful event

HumorFinding the funny things in a situation



Coping With Stress at College

Plan aheadPrioritizeExerciseListen to music, watch TV, or go out as a

study breakTalk to othersMeditate or use other relaxation

techniques



Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle

Eat a well-balanced dietExerciseQuit smokingAvoid high risk behaviors



Sources of Extreme Stress

UnemploymentStages of relief, optimism, doubt, malaise,

cynicismDivorce and separation

Ambivalence, feelings of failure, sadness, and fear

Bereavement



Sources of Extreme Stress

CatastrophesShock stageSuggestible stageRecovery stage

Combat and other threatening personal attacksEffects can lingerCan lead to depression and other disorders



Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Characterized by episodes of anxiety, sleeplessness, and nightmares from a disturbing event in the past

Victims may withdraw from social life or job and family responsibilities



Traumatic events

Traumatic events that may trigger PTSD include: violent personal assaults

Sexual assaultPhysical attackAbuseStabbing

natural disastersAccidentsMilitary combat.



Symptoms of PTSD

Re-experiencing the event through flashbacks or nightmares

Avoiding people, places or thoughts that bring back memories of the trauma

Feeling angry & unable to trust peopleSocial withdrawalNumbness InsomniaLack of concentration



How long do symptoms last?

The symptoms of PTSD can start after a delay of weeks, or even months. They usually appear within 3 months after the traumatic event.

Some people get better within 6 months. Others may have the illness for much longer.



Consequences

Physiological outcomes

Psychological outcomes

Self-destructive behaviors



Physiological outcomes

Neurobiological changes Psychophysiological changes HeadacheStomach or digestive problems Dizziness



Psychological outcomes

DepressionOther anxiety disorders (such

as phobias, panic, and social anxiety)

Splitting off from the presentEating disorders



Self-destructive behaviors

Low self esteem Alcohol and drug abuse Suicidal attempts Self-injury Risky sexual behaviors leading to

unplanned pregnancy or STDs, including HIV



Treatment

PTSD is treated by a variety of forms of psychotherapy (talk therapy) and pharmacotherapy (medication).

There is no single best treatment, but some treatments are quite promising, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).



Treatment

A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a psychotherapy based on modifying beliefs and behaviors, with the aim of influencing disturbed emotions.



Cognitive Restructuring

Cognitive restructuring aims at replacing dysfunctional thoughts with more realistic & helpful ones.e.g. “I’ll never be normal again..I am gonna die”“I’ll get better..It will just take time”Or “I feel scared..But I am safe”



Exposure Therapy

In exposure therapy your goal is to have less fear about your memories.

By talking about your trauma repeatedly with your therapist, you'll learn to get control of your thoughts and feelings about the trauma.

You'll learn that you do not have to be afraid of your memories anymore.



Medication

The use of medication in addition to psychotherapy has been shown to be beneficial in the treatment of PTSD.

The most widely used drug treatments for PTSD are the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac & Zoloft

N.B. Drug trials for PTSD are still at a very early stage



The Well-Adjusted Person

Psychologists may judge the adjustment value of an action by the following criteriaDoes the action realistically meet the

demands of the situation or just postpone the resolution of the problem?

Does the action meet the individual's needs?Is the action compatible with the well-being of

others?

Stress Chapter 15

Education

Transcript of Stress Chapter 15