Psychology: An Introduction Charles A. Morris & Albert A. Maisto © 2005 Prentice Hall Stress and Health Psychology

Stress A state of psychological tension or strain Adjustment is any attempt to cope with stress Health psychology Studies the relationship between psychological factors and physical health Stressors Events or circumstances that trigger stress

Sources of Stress Life changes Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) Assesses impact of major life changes Everyday Hassles Pressure Occurs when we feel forced to speed up or shift focus of our behavior Frustration Occurs when a person is prevented from reaching a goal

Sources of Stress Conflict Simultaneous existence of incompatible demands, opportunities, goals, or needs Approach/approach conflict occurs when there is a conflict between two appealing possibilities Avoidance/avoidance conflict occurs when there is a choice between two undesirable possibilities Approach/avoidance conflict is the result of being simultaneously attracted to and repelled by the same goal

Stress and Individual Differences Differences in reaction to stressors may be due to an individual’s appraisal

Stress and Individual Differences Hardiness A characteristic of people who can tolerate stress well or even thrive on it Resilience Ability of a person to “bounce back” after a stressful event Self-imposed stress

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 (discussed in chapter 11) may be adopted to cope with stress

Socioeconomic and Gender Differences in Coping Lower socioeconomic status can lead to a more stressful environment and there may be fewer resources for dealing with stress Women and men seem to be equally affected by stress physiologically There are apparent differences between the genders in the perception of stress Men and women may use different coping strategies

Stress and Health

The Biology of Stress Fight or flight response Release of adrenaline and norepinephrine into the bloodstream increasing heart rate and other functions to deal with stress General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Alarm reaction Resistance Exhaustion

Stress and Heart Disease Frequent or chronic stress can cause damage to the heart and blood vessels Type A personality Respond to life events with impatience and hostility Correlated with development of heart disease Type B personality Relaxed and easygoing

Stress and the Immune System Psychoneuroimmunology Study of the interaction between stress and the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems Chronic stress can suppress immune function Possible link between stress and cancer

Staying Healthy

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?