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stress

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the tensions, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a situation strains our ability to cope effectively

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primary appraisal

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initial decision regarding whether an event is harmful

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secondary appraisal

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perceptions regarding our ability to cope with an event that follow primary appraisal; when we believe we can't cope, we're more likely to experience a full-blown stress reaction than when we believe we can cope

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problem-focused coping

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coping strategy by which we tackle life's challenges head on; is more likely to happen when we're optimistic and think we can achieve our goals

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emotion-focused coping

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coping strategy in which we try to place a positive spin on our feelings or predicaments and engage in behaviors to reduce painful emotions; more likely to happen when situations arise that we can't avoid or control (ex: after a relationship breakup, we may remind ourselves that we were unhappy months before it occured and therefore re-enter the dating arena)

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corticosteroids

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stress hormones that activate the body and prepare us to respond to stressful circumstances

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hassles

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minor annoyances or nuisances that strain our ability to cope

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general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

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stress-response pattern proposed by Hans Selye that consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion; Selye argues that we're equipped w/ a sensitive physiology that responds to stressful circumstances by kicking us into high gear; believed that too much stress leads to breakdowns

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flight-or-flight response

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physical and psychological reaction that mobilizes people and animals to either defend themselves (actively attack the threat or cope in the immediate situation) or escape (flee) a threatening situation

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alarm reaction

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involves excitation of the autonomic nervous system, the discharge of the stress hormone adrenaline, and physical symptoms of anxiety; anxiety is within a region of the midbrain (dubbed the emotional brain) that consists of the amygdala (where vital emotional memories are stored), hypothalamus, and hippopcampus

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hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

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a mind-body link under the hypothalamus... when the hypothalamus receives signals of fear, it hooks up w/ the pituitary gland, which releases hormones, including adrenaline, that trigger anxiety... blood pressure rises as adrenaline readies the person for flight-or-flight response

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resistance

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after the initial rush of adrenaline, you adapt and find ways to cope with the stressor... the moment the hippocampus detects danger, it opens up a gateway to portions of the cerebral cortex (the thinking brain)... confronted w/ a stressful situation, we examine each new development as it unfolds, consider alternative solutions, and direct our efforts toward constructing a coping plan

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exhaustion

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in prolonged stressors, our resistance can break down... our personal resources are limited and we lack good coping measures, causing our levels of activation to bottom out... the results can range from damage on an organ system, to depression & anxiety, to a breakdown in the immune system

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tend and befriend

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reaction that mobilizes people to nurture (tend) or seek social support (befriend) under stress; common pattern of reacting to stress among women

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diversity of stress responses

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long-lasting stress reactions can result in acute stress disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder

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social support

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relationships w/ people and groups that can provide us w/ emotions comfort and personal and financial resources; high levels associated with lower mortality rates; gaining control of situations can also relieve stress

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proactive coping

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anticipation of problems and stressful situations that promotes effective coping; people who engage in this tend to perceive stressful circumstances as opportunities for growth

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hardiness

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set of attitudes marked by a sense of control over events, commitment to life and work, and courage and motivation to confront stressful events

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spirituality

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search for the sacred, which may or may not extend to belief in God... compared with nonreligious people, religious people have lower mortality rate, improved immune system functioning, lower blood pressure, and greater ability to recover from illness

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health psychology

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field of psychology that integrates the behavioral sciences w/ the practices of medicine

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alternative medicine

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health care practices and products used in place of conventional medicine

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complementary medicine

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health care practices and products used along with conventional medicine

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acupuncture

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ancient Chinese practice of inserting thin needles into more than 2,000 points in the body to alter energy forces believed to run through the body

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homeopathic medicine

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remedies that feature a small dose of an illness-inducing substance to activate the body's own natural defenses; by no means all natural plants are effective medicines

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Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

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a scale that David Holmes and colleagues created to measure life events systematically; based on 43 life events ranked in terms of how stressful participants rated them; not a perfect predictor of who'll become physically or psychologically ill; neglects the fact that some stressful life events, like divorce or troubles with bosses, can be consequences rather than causes of people's psych problems

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Hassles scale

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measures how stressful events, ranging from small annoyances to major daily pressures, impact our adjustment; both major life events & hassles are associated w/ poor general health; nevertheless, frequency and perceived severity of hassles are better predictors of physical health, depression, and anxiety than are major life events

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posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

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a condition that sometimes follows extremely stressful events; its telltale symptoms include vivid memories, feelings, and images of traumatic experiences, known commonly as flashbacks; other symptoms include efforts to avoid reminders of the trauma, feeling detached or estranged from others, and symptoms of increased arousal, such as difficulty sleeping and starling easily... lifetime prevalence rates are 5% in males and 10% in females

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immune system

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our body's defense system against invading bacteria, viruses, and other potentially illness-producing organisms and substances; consists of the skin, phagocytes, lymphocytes (T & B cells), and macrophages

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acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)

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a life-threatening, incurable, yet treatable condition in which the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks and damages the immune system

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psychoneuroimmunology

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study of the relationship between the immune system and central nervous system (ex: high levels of stress over the past year can make you more susceptible to catching cold virus... caring for someone w/ Alzheimer's is associated w/ lower ability to heal from injury and decrease blood clotting); must be careful not to fall prey to exaggerated claims however

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psychophysiological

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illnesses such as asthma and ulcers in which emotions and stress contribute to, maintain, or aggravate the physical factors

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biopsychosocial perspective

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the view that most medical conditions are neither all physical nor all psychological; numerous physical illness depend on the interplay of genes, lifestyle, immunity, social support, everyday stressors, and self-perceptions

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coronary heart disease (CHD)

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damage to the heart from the complete or partial blockage of the arteries that provide oxygen to the heart; the top cause of death and disability in the U.S.

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type A personality

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personality type that describes people who are competitive, driven, hositle, and ambitious... additional characteristics that clustered under this description include perfectionistic, stubborn, opinionated, cynical, and controlling... high risk for heart disease; lower socioeconomic status

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type D personality

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personality type that describes people who experience strong negative emotions, but do not express these emotions socially

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asthma

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medical condition in which breathing becomes difficult when the bronchial tubes in the lungs become inflamed, spasm, and are clogged with mucus

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peptic ulcer

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inflamed area in the stomach lining that can cause pain, nausea, and loss of appetite; stress can play a role; mainly causes by an unusual bacterium that thrives in stomach acid called Helicobacter pylori

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behavioral control

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ability to step up and do something to reduce the impact of a stressful situation; this type of active coping is called problem-focues and is generally more effective than avoidance oriented coping

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cognitive control

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ability to cognitively restructure or think differently about negative emotions that arise in response to stress-provoking events; includes emotion-focused coping, a strategy that comes in handy when we're adjusting to uncertain situations or aversive events we can't control or change

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decisional control

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ability to choose among alternative courses of action (ex: we can consult w/ trust friends about which classes to take & which professors to avoid, and make decisions about which surgeon to consult to perfrom a high-stakes operation

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informational control

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ability to acquire info about a stressful event (ex: knowing what types of questions are on the SAT or GRE can help us prepare for them, or knowing something about the person we're "fixed up with" on an upcoming date)

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emotional control

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ability to supress and express emotions; "there's a time and place for everything"... communication can strengthen social bonds, enhance problem solving, and regulate emotions... but concealing our emotions can be best when doing things like hiding our fear when giving a speech or suppressing anger when trying to resolve a problem w/ a coworker

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optimism

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having a rosy outlook and not dwelling on the dark side of life; advantages: people are more productive, focused, persisten, and better at handling frustration; associated w/ lower mortality rate, a more vigorous immune response, lower distress in fertile women trying to have a child, better surgical outcomes, and fewer physical complaints

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rumination

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focusing on how bad we feel and endless analyzing the causes and consequences of our problems; women have much higher rates and more frequent bouts of depression than men because they recycle negative events in their minds more

Psychology Chapter 12: Stress, Coping, and Health

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