Revision Notes – Stress
REVISION NOTES – STRESS
Stress ‡ an emotion, a state of psychological tension and physiological arousal produced by a stressor which makes the individual ready to respond, It is an adaptive response because it enables the individual to cope. It becomes maladaptive if the stressor persists
Stressor ‡ a physiological or psychological stimulus that threatens an individual’s well being. It could lead to a stress response.
THE BODY’S RESPONSE TO STRESS
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) – model outlined by Seyle (1936)
Observed that all animals produce the same sequence of responses to all stressors: cold, pain, and physical trauma. This response is adaptive because it enables the individual to cope under stress.
1. ALARM ‡ Prepares you to respond to environmental demands. The HPA system is activated: the sympathetic branch of the ANS is aroused and ACTH and adrenal hormones are released in readiness for fight or flight.
2. RESISTENCE ‡ If the stressor persists, the body adapts by returning to a normal level of functioning while coping with the stressor. Hormone production is maintained but at lower levels.
3. EXHAUSTION ‡ Eventually the body’s resources are depleted. Adrenal glands are not functioning, leading to low blood sugars and various psychosomatic disorders such as ulcers.
Evaluation of GAS syndrome
STRENGTHS ¸ Seyle observed stress reactions in rats and confirmed this is studies of hospital patients with various injuries and illnesses.
WEAKNESSES v Ignores the role of emotional and cognitive factors – possibly because of use of non-human animals.
‡ ‡ Lazarus showed that people experienced stress during a film depending on what they’d been told beforehand – cognitive appraisal affected the stress experienced. v Seyle thought that GAS was a non-specific response to any stressor but different stimuli lead to different responses. Also individual differences and situational differences.
SAM system – acute stress ‡ Automatic Nervous System
1.
Stress ‡ an emotion, a state of psychological tension and physiological arousal produced by a stressor which makes the individual ready to respond, It is an adaptive response because it enables the individual to cope. It becomes maladaptive if the stressor persists
Stressor ‡ a physiological or psychological stimulus that threatens an individual’s well being. It could lead to a stress response.
THE BODY’S RESPONSE TO STRESS
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) – model outlined by Seyle (1936)
Observed that all animals produce the same sequence of responses to all stressors: cold, pain, and physical trauma. This response is adaptive because it enables the individual to cope under stress.
1. ALARM ‡ Prepares you to respond to environmental demands. The HPA system is activated: the sympathetic branch of the ANS is aroused and ACTH and adrenal hormones are released in readiness for fight or flight.
2. RESISTENCE ‡ If the stressor persists, the body adapts by returning to a normal level of functioning while coping with the stressor. Hormone production is maintained but at lower levels.
3. EXHAUSTION ‡ Eventually the body’s resources are depleted. Adrenal glands are not functioning, leading to low blood sugars and various psychosomatic disorders such as ulcers.
Evaluation of GAS syndrome
STRENGTHS ¸ Seyle observed stress reactions in rats and confirmed this is studies of hospital patients with various injuries and illnesses.
WEAKNESSES v Ignores the role of emotional and cognitive factors – possibly because of use of non-human animals.
‡ ‡ Lazarus showed that people experienced stress during a film depending on what they’d been told beforehand – cognitive appraisal affected the stress experienced. v Seyle thought that GAS was a non-specific response to any stressor but different stimuli lead to different responses. Also individual differences and situational differences.
SAM system – acute stress ‡ Automatic Nervous System
1.