WHS AP Psychology Unit 8: Motivation, Emotion and Stress Essential Task 8-2:Identify the effects of stress on psychological/physical well-being and how to cope with stress.

We are here Motivation & Emotion Stress Sources Measures Theories Effects Coping Motivation Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Drive Reduction Theory Arousal Theory Intrinsic/ Extrinsic Motivation Human Drives Theories of Emotion James-Lange Cognitive Appraisal Schachter two-factor Cannon-Bard Opponent Process Explain complex motives (eating, aggression, achievement and sex)

Essential Task 8-2: Effects of stress on pychological/physical well-being How to cope with stress Outline

Stress and Causes of Death Prolonged stress combined with unhealthy behaviors may increase our risk for one of today's four leading diseases.

Health Psychology Health psychology is a field of psychology that contributes to behavioral medicine. The field studies stress-related aspects of disease and asks the following questions: 1.How do emotions and personality factors influence the risk of disease? 2.What attitudes and behaviors prevent illness and promote health and well- being? 3.How do our perceptions determine stress? 4.How can we reduce or control stress?

Stress can be adaptive. In a fearful or stress- causing situation, we can run away and save our lives. Stress can be maladaptive. If it is prolonged (chronic stress), it increases our risk of illness and health problems. Stress and Illness

Stress and Heart Disease Frequent or chronic stress can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels Type A personality –Competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone people –Respond to life events with impatience and hostility –Correlated with development of heart disease Type B personality –Relaxed and easygoing

Correlation? FINDINGS: Of the original sample of 3200, 257 participants had developed coronary heart disease during the 81⁄2 years 70% of them had been classified as Type A. Type As were found to have higher levels of cholesterol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline than Type Bs. A significant but moderate correlation was found between personality type and coronary heart disease. CONCLUSIONS: The research shows that Type A behaviour pattern is fairly strongly linked to CHD. Friedman and Rosenman concluded that the Type A behaviour pattern increases the individual’s experience of stress, which increases physiological reactivity, and that in turn increases vulnerability to CHD. The high levels of the stress hormones suggest that they do experience more stress than Type Bs. The stress response inhibits digestion, which leads to the higher level of cholesterol in the blood, and this places Type As at risk of CHD. Implications include the need to reduce the “harmful” Type A characteristics.

Stress and the Immune System B lymphocytes fight bacterial infections, T lymphocytes attack cancer cells and viruses, and microphages ingest foreign substances. During stress, energy is mobilized away from the immune system making it vulnerable. Lennart Nilsson/ Boehringer Ingelhein International GmbH

Stress and Colds People with the highest life stress scores were also the most vulnerable when exposed to an experimental cold virus.

Stress and AIDS Stress and negative emotions may accelerate the progression from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) to acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). UNAIDS/ G. Pirozzi

Stress and Cancer Stress does not create cancer cells. Researchers disagree on whether stress influences the progression of cancer. However, they do agree that avoiding stress and having a hopeful attitude cannot reverse advanced cancer.

Health-Related Consequences Stress can have a variety of health-related consequences.

Coping With Stress Direct coping –Intentional efforts to change an uncomfortable situation –Confrontation Acknowledging stress directly and initiating a solution –Compromise Choosing a more realistic goal when an ideal goal cannot be met –Withdrawal Avoiding a situation when other options are not practical

Coping With Stress Defensive coping –Can occur when you cannot identify the source of stress or cannot do anything to change the situation –Defense mechanisms may be adopted to cope with stress Denial Repression Projection Identification Regression Intellectualization Reaction formation Displacement Sublimation

Coping with Stress Reducing stress by changing events that cause stress or by changing how we react to stress is called problem-focused coping. Emotion-focused coping is when we cannot change a stressful situation, and we respond by attending to our own emotional needs. OUR SENSE OF CONTOL IS THE DIFFERNCE!

Perceived Control Research with rats and humans indicates that the absence of control over stressors is a predictor of health problems.

Explanatory Style People with an optimistic (instead of pessimistic) explanatory style tend to have more control over stressors, cope better with stressful events, have better moods, and have a stronger immune system.

Social Support Supportive family members, marriage partners, and close friends help people cope with stress. Their immune functioning calms the cardiovascular system and lowers blood pressure.

Managing Stress Having a sense of control, an optimistic explanatory style, and social support can reduce stress and improve health.

Aerobic Exercise Can aerobic exercise boost spirits? Many studies suggest that aerobic exercise can elevate mood and well-being because aerobic exercise raises energy, increases self- confidence, and lowers tension, depression, and anxiety.

Biofeedback, Relaxation, and Meditation Biofeedback systems use electronic devices to inform people about their physiological responses and gives them the chance to bring their response to a healthier range. Relaxation and meditation have similar effects in reducing tension and anxiety.

Life-Style Modifying a Type-A lifestyle may reduce the recurrence of heart attacks.

Spirituality & Faith Communities Regular religious attendance has been a reliable predictor of a longer life span with a reduced risk of dying.

Intervening Factors Investigators suggest there are three factors that connect religious involvement and better health.

Managing Stress: Summary How can stress be managed?

Methods of Reducing Stress Calm down –Exercise –Relaxation training Reach out –Social support network Religion –Studies have shown an association between religion and lower stress –May be related to social support Altruism –Giving to others because is gives you pleasure –Shown to be a good way to reduce stress

Methods of Reducing Stress Learn to cope effectively –Proactive coping Anticipate stressful events and take steps to avoid them –Positive reappraisal Alter the way you think about a stressful situation Making the best of a tense or stressful event –Humor Finding the funny things in a situation

Coping With Stress at College Plan ahead Prioritize Exercise Listen to music, watch TV, or go out as a study break Talk to others Meditate or use other relaxation techniques

Adopt a Healthy Lifestyle Eat a well-balanced diet Exercise Quit smoking Avoid high risk behaviors

Sources of Extreme Stress Unemployment –Stages of relief, optimism, doubt, malaise, cynicism Divorce and separation –Ambivalence, feelings of failure, sadness, and fear Bereavement

Sources of Extreme Stress Catastrophes –Shock stage –Suggestible stage –Recovery stage Combat and other threatening personal attacks –Effects can linger –Can lead to depression and other disorders

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Characterized by episodes of anxiety, sleeplessness, and nightmares from a disturbing event in the past Victims may withdraw from social life or job and family responsibilities

The Well-Adjusted Person Psychologists may judge the adjustment value of an action by the following criteria –Does the action realistically meet the demands of the situation or just postpone the resolution of the problem? –Does the action meet the individual's needs? –Is the action compatible with the well- being of others?