Stress

• What is stress defined as in the study material?


  Stress is a demand the environment makes on us.
• How is stress described as a transaction?


  It occurs when perceived demands exceed perceived ability to cope.
• What is the physiological response to stress?

  It is how the body physically responds to a stressor.
• What are the two types of stress mentioned?

  • Acute stress: Short term, immediate perceived threats.
  • Chronic stress: Long term, frequent/intense stressors.
• What characterizes acute stress?


  It is short term and involves immediate perceived threats.
• Give an example of an acute stressor.


  Forgetting homework or losing a phone.
• What defines chronic stress?


  It occurs when stressors are frequent/intense, preventing relaxation response.
• What is a stressor?


  A stressor is any event that leads to the experience of being stressed.
• How has the evolution of stress changed from early humans to today?


  • Early humans faced physical stressors.
  • Today, there are more social and mental stressors.
• What is the fight or flight response?


  It is a coordinated pattern of bodily changes in response to imminent danger.
• What physiological changes occur during the fight or flight response?


  Breathing/heart rate increase, pupils/blood vessels dilate, digestion stops.
• What are the three stages of the General Adaptation System (GAS)?


  1. Alarm Reactions
  2. Resistance
  3. Exhaustion
• What happens during the alarm reaction stage of GAS?


  The body experiences shock and resources are decreased before recovery.
• What occurs during the resistance stage of GAS?


  The body attempts to adapt to stress by resisting the stressor.
• What is the outcome of prolonged resistance to stress?


  The body's resources are consumed at a harmful rate.
• What happens during the exhaustion stage of GAS?


  The body's resources are drained, leading to increased sympathetic arousal symptoms.
• What are some stress-related illnesses mentioned?


  Raised blood pressure, coronary heart disease, depression.
• What did Seyle's research on rats demonstrate about stress responses?


  • Same collection of responses occurred regardless of stressor.
  • Responses appeared after 6-48 hours.
  • Responses tracked through resistance and exhaustion stages.
• What limitation did Mason's study reveal about GAS?


  GAS may not be a general response to all stressors.
• What ethical issue is mentioned regarding the studies on stress?


  Both studies used animals, limiting generalization to humans.
• What are the pathways involved in acute and chronic stress?

  • Acute: Sympathomedullary (SAM) pathway.
  • Chronic: Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) pathway.
• What is the SAM pathway responsible for?


  It is involved in the fight/flight response to acute stress.
• What happens in the SAM pathway when a stressor is detected?


  The hypothalamus sends a signal to the sympathetic nervous system.
• What hormones are released by the adrenal medulla during the SAM pathway response?


  Adrenaline and noradrenaline.
• What are the effects of adrenaline and noradrenaline on the body?


  Increased heart and breathing rate, dilated pupils, digestion stops.
• How does the parasympathetic nervous system respond after the threat is over?


  It brings the body back to calmness, decreasing heart rate and resuming digestion.
• What is the HPA pathway's role in stress response?


  It responds to chronic stress and takes longer to activate than the SAM pathway.
• What happens when the hypothalamus is activated in the HPA pathway?


  Corticotropic hormone (CRF) is released into the bloodstream.
• What does CRF stimulate in the HPA pathway?


  It stimulates the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH).
• What does the adrenal cortex release in response to ACTH?


  Cortisol, the stress hormone.
• What is the negative feedback loop in the HPA pathway?


  High levels of CRF and ACTH lead to high cortisol, which then decreases CRF and ACTH levels.
• What are the effects of cortisol on the body?


  It powers the stress response by restoring energy supplies but can suppress the immune response.
• What is a real-world application of understanding the physiology of stress?


  • Knowledge helps in treating Addison's disease.
  • Individuals can self-administer cortisol replacement therapy.
  • Improves lives of people with adrenal gland disorders.
• What limitation is associated with physiological explanations of stress?


  They ignore psychological factors in stress.
• What did Lazarus introduce regarding stress?


  Cognitive appraisal as a factor in determining if a stressor is a threat.
• What did Speisman et al. (1964) find about heart rate changes?


  Heart rate changes depended on how students interpreted the film.
• What gender bias is mentioned regarding the fight or flight response?


  It is based on research with male animals, ignoring hormonal fluctuations in females.
• What alternative stress response is suggested for females?

  Tend and befriend, nurturing offspring and seeking support.