1. Introductory Psychology Concepts
Stress
© 2011 The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
A response to events that are threatening or challenging.
Stress is a very personal thing.
Although certain kinds of events, such as the death of a loved one or participation in military combat, are universally stressful, other situations may or may not be stressful to a particular person (Affleck et al., 1994; Krohne, 1996; Robert-McComb, 2001).
Insert pic from “Psychology”, Passer and Smith, pg 485

3. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Stress: What Occurs When Events are Identified as Threatening or Challenging
Psychological:
Emotions: anxiety, depression, anger, and irritability
Cognitive: trouble concentrating and thinking clearly
Motivation: change in appetite for food and sex
In most cases, these psychological states are temporary, but if the stress is not dealt with properly it can lead to long-lasting changes.

4. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Stress: What Occurs When Events are Identified as Threatening or Challenging
Physical: The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) suggests that there are three major stages to stress responses. (Source: Selye, 1976.)
1. Alarm and mobilization
Meeting and resisting
stressor.
2. Resistance
Coping with stress and
resistance to stressor.
3. Exhaustion
Negative consequences
of stress (such as illness)
occur when coping is
inadequate.
Stressor

5. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Psychoneuroimmunology: The Study of the Effects of Stress, Emotions, Thoughts and Behavior on the Immune System
Many contemporary psychologists specialize in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI), which takes a broader approach by focusing on the outcome of stress.
Their findings point to three main outcomes:
Direct physiological effects
Harmful behavior
Indirect Health-related behaviors

6. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Psychoneuroimmunology: The Study of the Effects of Stress, Emotions, Thoughts and Behavior on the Immune System
Direct physiological effects
• Elevated blood pressure
• Decrease in immune system
functioning
• Increased hormonal activity
• Psychophysiological conditions
Three major types of consequences result from stress: direct physiological effects, harmful behaviors, and indirect health-related behaviors.
(Source: Adapted from Baum, 1994.)
Harmful behaviors
• Increased smoking, alcohol use
• Decreased nutrition
• Decreased sleep
• Increased drug use
Stress
Insert figure 5 from “Understanding Psychology”, feldman, 8ed, pg 493.
Can also insert pic from “Psychology, an Introduction”, Lahey, pg 517.
Indirect health-related behaviors
• Decreased compliance with
medical advice
• Increase in delays in seeking
• Decrease in likelihood of seeking

7. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Stress and Personality: Type A and Type B Personality Types
When looking at stress, there are usually two different types of personalities that people will exhibit in their coping strategies.
Type A personalities tend to live under great pressure and demand much of themselves and others.
Many Type A personalities are classified as workaholics, continually striving to get more done in less time.
Insert pic from “Psychology”, Passer…, pg 497.

8. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Stress and Personality: Type A and Type B
People labeled Type A exhibit characteristics such as being excessively competitive, hard-driven, impatient, and hostile.
People labeled Type B show patience, serenity, and lack of time urgency; usually classified as noncompetitive, cooperative, and non-aggressive.

9. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Hardiness: Individuals Who Thrive on Stress
Many people work and live in highly stressful environments, and yet seem to thrive on this life style. This is known as hardiness, a personality characteristic associated with a lower rate of stress-related illness.
Three components of hardiness:
Commitment: Viewing families, work, and other involvements as extremely important.
Challenge: Believing that challenge, rather than stability, is the norm and should be embraced.
Control: Assuming that people can influence and control the events in their life.

10. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Effects of Culture on Coping
Many factors, including gender roles and culture, influence our tendency to favor one coping strategy over another.
Men are more likely to use problem-focused coping as the first strategy when they confront a stressor (Ptacek et al., 1992).
Women, who tend to have larger support networks and higher needs for affiliation than men, are more likely than men to seek social support (Billings & Moos, 1984; Schwarzer, 1998).
Women are also more likely to use emotion-focused coping (Carver et al., 1989; Pearlin & Schooler, 1978).

11. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Effects of Culture on Coping
The general pattern of coping preferences is consistent with the socialization that boys and girls traditionally experience.
In most cultures, boys are pushed to be more assertive, independent, and self-sufficient, whereas girls are expected to be more emotionally expressive, supportive, and dependent (Eccles, 1991; Lytton & Romney, 1991).
Common male response is “fight or flight,” whereas women are more likely than men to “tend and befriend.”

12. Introductory Psychology Concepts: Stress
Effects of Religion on Coping
Psychologists of religion have looked at how individuals use religion as a resource in coping with stress.
Attribution theory introduces three distinct styles of religious coping:
1. Deferring: people who leave their problems to God for resolution.
2. Collaborative: people who believe that a combination of divine influence and their own efforts are necessary to help them cope with stress.
3. Non-religious: people who do not appeal to God.