Psych 1000: Ch. 14 – Flashcards

subfield of psychology devoted to studying psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill

process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or threatening to one's well-being

environmental events that may be judged as threatening or demanding; stimuli that initiate the stress process

judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might entail

A stressor would likely be appraised as a threat if one anticipates that it could lead to some kind of harm, loss, or other negative consequence; conversely, a stressor would likely be appraised as a challenge if one believes that it carries the potential for gain or personal growth.

judgment of options available to cope with a stressor and their potential effectiveness

A threat tends to be viewed as less catastrophic if one believes something can be done about it

good form of stress; low to moderate in intensity; associated with positive feelings, as well as optimal health and performance

bad form of stress; usually high in intensity; often leads to exhaustion, fatigue, feeling burned out; associated with erosions in performance and health

as stress increases, so do performance and general well-being, when stress levels reach an optimal level performance reaches its peak, when stress exceeds this optimal level it is no longer a positive force—it becomes excessive and debilitating

Generally speaking, have our stress levels been increasing or decreasing over the years?

stress hormone released by the adrenal glands when encountering a stressor; helps to provide a boost of energy, thereby preparing the individual to take action

situations in which a person is exposed to actual or threatened death or serious injury

events or situations that require us to make changes in our ongoing lives and require time as we adjust to those changes

the minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives

Under what circumstance are hassles especially bad for our health?

What activates the fight-or-flight response?

set of physiological reactions (increases in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and sweat) that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat; these reactions are produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system

physical disorders or diseases in which symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors

decreased effectiveness of the immune system

field that studies how psychological factors (such as stress) influence the immune system and immune functioning

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by individuals who tend to be extremely competitive, impatient, rushed, and hostile toward others

What is it about being type A that makes it so dangerous for the individual?

psychological and behavior pattern exhibited by a person who is relaxed and laid back

hostility and social strain form a cycle

A study of over 10,000middle-agedLondon-based civil servants who were followed an average of 12.5 years revealed that those who earlier had scored in the upper third on a test of negative affectivity were 32% more likely to have experienced heart disease, heart attack, or angina over a period of years than were those who scored in the lowest third

Researchers interviewed 276 healthy volunteers about recent stressful experiences. Following the interview, these participants were given nasal drops containing the cold virus. When examined later, participants who reported experiencing chronic stressors for more than one month—especially enduring difficulties involving work or relationships—were considerably more likely to have developed colds than were participants who reported no chronic stressors

Why does stress make us sick?

Experiencing depression is associated with what?

Hans Selye's three-stage model of the body's physiological reactions to stress and the process of stress adaptation

alarm reaction, stage of resistance, stage of exhaustion

Stress can shorten telomeres, which are segments of DNA that protect the ends of chromosomes. Shortened telomeres can inhibit or block cell division, which includes growth and proliferation of new cells, thereby leading to more rapid aging.

a general sense of emotional exhaustion and cynicism in relation to one's job

What type of profession is especially likely to lead to burnout?

What are the two proposed causes of burnout?

mental or behavioral efforts used to manage problems relating to stress, including its cause and the unpleasant feelings and emotions it produces

one attempts to manage or alter the problem that is causing one to experience stress

more likely to occur when encountering stressors we perceive as controllable

consists of efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress

more likely to predominate when faced with stressors that we believe we are powerless to change

peoples' beliefs concerning their capacity to influence and shape outcomes in their lives

People who report higher levels of perceived control view their health as controllable, thereby making it more likely that they will better manage their health and engage in behaviors conducive to good health

stress reduction technique combining elements of relaxation and meditation

sitting upright on a comfortable chair with feet on the ground and body in a relaxed position, a quiet environment with eyes closed, repeating a word or a phrase—a mantra—to oneself, such as "alert mind, calm body,", passively allowing the mind to focus on pleasant thoughts, such as nature or the warmth of your blood nourishing your body

soothing and often beneficial support of others; can take different forms, such as advice, guidance, encouragement, acceptance, emotional comfort, and tangible assistance

A form of exercise designed to promote aerobic metabolism, involving low to moderately intense activities performed for extended periods of time

A form of exercise involving highly intense activities that triggers anaerobic metabolism, especially when the aerobic pathways become insufficient in supplying energy at the required rate