Stress

–Is the process by which we appraise and respond to environmental threats –Hans Selye believed we react similarly to physical and psychological stressors –A stressor is any thing we perceive as endangering our well-being. Selye ’ s General Adaptation Syndrome –Three-stage theory Alarm, resistance and exhaustion

Alarm During the alarm reaction, our body increases sympathetic nervous system activity. Activates the adrenal glands to prepare us for ‘ fight or flight ” which by increasing our heart and breathing rates, as well as the availability of glucose for energy, increases our strength for fighting an enemy or our ability to run away

Resistance Our temperature, heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration remain high. The level of hormones, such as adrenaline and corticosteroids, continues to rise. If crises is not resolved in this stage continued stress will lead to the next stage- exhaustion

Exhaustion Unresolved crises results in a depletion of our resources and decreased immunity to disease This leads to psychosomatic disorders such as ulcers or more severe disorders such as depression and even death

High Levels of Stress Decreased immunity High blood pressure Headaches Heart disease Quicker progression of cancer and AIDS People react differently to stress because of their personality

Personality Types Type A –High achievers –Competitive –Impatient –Multi-taskers –Walk, talk and eat quickly –Are at risk of having an early heart attack –Anger, hostility, and cynicism have a high correlation with cardiac problems –Don ’ t be like me Type B –Relaxed –Calm approach to life –Don ’ t achieve as much –Don ’ t make healthy changes to lifestyle as Type A personalities

Coping Strategies Maladaptive strategies lead to –Failure to remove stressors –Substituting one stressor for another –Aggression, indulging ourselves by eating, drinking, smoking, using drugs, spending money, excessive sleeping or using defense mechanisms Adaptive strategies –Remove stressors or better tolerate them by Taking direct action through problem solving Physical exercise or meditation Social support

Defense Mechanisms Unconscious mental processes employed by the ego to reduce anxiety

Defense Mechanisms Repression - keeping anxiety- producing thoughts out of the conscious mind Reaction formation - replacing an unacceptable wish with its opposite

Defense Mechanisms Displacement - when a drive directed to one activity by the id is redirected to a more acceptable activity by the ego Sublimation - displacement to activities that are valued by society

Defense Mechanisms Projection - reducing anxiety by attributing unacceptable impulses to someone else Rationalization - reasoning away anxiety- producing thoughts Regression - retreating to a mode of behavior characteristic of an earlier stage of development

Even More Defense Mechanisms Identification –Identifying with someone else because of your feelings of inadequacies or lack of confidence in one ’ s abilities People who takes on characteristics of famous people Buy expensive houses or cars to be identified as wealthy or successful Intellectualization –Extreme form of rationalization in elevated language which makes them feel smart or intelligent –Type A Personalities are superior in their understanding of the inner workings of the market system which allows them greater flexibility in their decision making opportunities

Conflict Caused by the inability to reach goal - frustration