AP PSYCHOLOGY: UNIT V Motivation, Emotion & Stress : Stress & Health
AP PSYCHOLOGY: UNIT V
Motivation, Emotion & Stress: Stress & Health
PART ONE
Stress & Health: The Basics
Stress & Health: The Basics
Stress The process by which we perceive & respond
to certain events (known as stressors) that we appraise as threatening and/or challenging Stress is not…
A simple stimulus or responseNecessarily a negative thing
Stress & Health: The Basics
Two major classifications of stress… Acute Stressors
Relatively short in duration with a clear endpoint An encounter with a belligerent customer A major exam An impending natural disaster
Chronic Stressors Relatively long in duration with no apparent
endpoint Persistent financial strains A sick family member A hostile boss
PART TWO
Stress & Health: Types of Stress
Stress & Health: Types of Stress
Frustration (Daily Hassles) Occurs in any situation in which a hassle or
annoyance is present Insignificant (in terms of stress)
TrafficBroken air conditioner Aggravating people
Significant (in terms of stress)Failure and/or loss
Stress & Health: Types of Stress
Conflict Occurs when two (or more) incompatible motivations
or behavioral impulses compete for expression Approach-Approach Conflict
A choice must be made between two attractive goals
Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict A choice must be made between two unattractive goals
• 100 Multiple Choice Questions OR 5 Short Answer Essays
Approach-Avoidance Conflict A choice must be made about whether to pursue a
single goal that has both attractive & unattractive aspects
Stress & Health: Types of Stress
Significant Life Changes Any significant alteration to one’s
circumstances that require readjustment Going off to college Marriage or divorce Death of loved one Loss of job
Stress & Health: Types of Stress
Catastrophes Events causing great and often sudden damage
or suffering War/Conflicts Natural disasters (floods, hurricanes, fires)
Prevalence of PTSD following disasters
Bombing 34%
Plane crash into hotel
29%
Mass shooting 28%
Rates of Acute Stress Disorder
Typhoon 7%
Industrial accident 6%
Mass shooting 33%
Violent assault 19%
PART THREE
Stress & Health: Stress Responses
Stress & Health: Response to Stress
“Fight or flight” – How the body responds
Sympathetic nervous system Heart rate and respiration increases Digestion slows Release of sugars
Adrenal glands Excrete epinephrine and norepinephrine
Outer part of adrenal glands Secrete glucocorticoids – stress hormones
Physiological Response to Stress
Heart disease Specifically coronary heart disease (90% of heart related deaths)
Increase heart rate Higher levels of stress hormones Higher blood pressure
Increased respiration can cause asthma attacks or hyperventilation
Muscle tension can lead to tension-type headaches or migraines
Reproduction Testosterone production, sperm production and maturation Absent or irregular menstrual cycles (or changes in length) Premenstrual symptoms become worsened – cramping, bloating,
etc.
Stress & Health: Response to Stress
Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
Body’s adaptive response to stress is as general as an alarm sounding
Consists of three separate stages: Alarm reaction – activation of sympathetic nervous system
Resistance – coping with stressor; resistance can only last so long
Exhaustion – reserves depleted; vulnerable to collapse or illness
Stress & Health: Coping with Stress
Emotional Responses Dependent on the stimulus (and one’s personality)
Common responses to stress typically occur along three dimensions of emotion (1) Annoyance, frustration, anger, rage (2) Apprehension, embarrassment, anxiety, fear (3) Dejection, depression, sadness, grief
Emotion-focused coping Trying to reduce negative emotional responses
Praying, eating, drugs/alcohol, disclosure Used when we cannot change situation
…or when we believe we cannot change situation
Stress & Health: Coping with Stress
Problem-focused coping Addressing stressors directly Used when we feel a sense of control over a
situation We believe we can change the circumstances
or change ourselves to alleviate the stress
Example: You have a disagreement with a friend and
confront the individual directly to discuss the issue How would emotion-focused be different in this
case?
Stress and Health: Coping Strategies
Planning, information seeking
Seeking social support
Turning to religion
“Venting” of emotions
Distraction
Humor
Adjusting expectations
Staying busy to take your mind off an issue
Time-management
Journaling
Taking control
Evaluating pros and cons
Relaxation, meditation
Problem-focused OR Emotion-focused Coping Strategies
(Does this help me solve the problem?)
Stress & Health: Coping with Stress
Constructive CopingHealthy efforts to deal with stressful
events How?
Realistic appraisal of the stress & coping resources
Learning to recognize, and in some cases regulate, potentially disruptive emotional reactions to stress
Direct confrontation of the problem
PART FOUR
Stress & Health: Effects of Stress
Stress & Health: Effects of Stress
Psychological Effects Burnout
Physical & emotional exhaustion, as well as cynicism and a lowered sense of self-efficacy Generally brought on by work-related stress
Psychological problems & disorders Poor academic performance, sleep disturbances,
sexual difficulties, alcohol & drug abuse, etc.
Positive effects? Resilience
Successful adaptation to significant stress & trauma
PART FIVE
Stress & Health: Personality Factors
Stress & Health: Behavior Pattern
(Friedman and Rosenman)
Type A General Characteristics
Competitive, self-critical, supermotivated Time-conscious & impatient Anger & hostility Easily annoyed; tend to overreact
In life… Tend to be workaholics Often successful, but frequently unsatisfied Find it very difficult to relax/to do nothing
More prone to..? High blood pressure and heart disease
Stress & Health: Personality Factors
Type BGeneral Characteristics
Easygoing & slow to anger Relaxed & flexible Less competitive
In life… Don’t stress over deadlines
Less time-bound