1. UNIT 4 BRAIN, BEHAVIOUR & EXPERIENCE
AREA OF STUDY 2
MENTAL HEALTH

2. STRESS & HEALTH
STRESS = A state of physiological and psychological arousal produced by internal or external stressors that are perceived by the individual as challenging or exceeding their ability or resources to cope
A STRESSOR IS ANY PERSON, OBJECT, SITUATION OR EVENT THAT PRODUCES STRESS
CAN BE INTERNAL: THIS MEANS THE STRESSOR ORIGINATES WITHIN THE INDIVIDUAL
CAN BE EXTERNAL: ORIGINATES OUTSIDE THE INDIVIDUAL FROM SITUATIONS AND EVENTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT
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3. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS
A STRESS RESPONSE IS A REACTION THAT INVOLVES THE PHYSIOLOGICAL (BODILY) AND PSYCHOLOGICAL (MENTAL) CHANGES THAT PEOPLE EXPERIENCE WHEN CONFRONTED BY A STRESSOR
MILD STRESS: small amounts of stress that can be useful and improve performance in both simple and complex tasks
ACUTE STRESS RESPONSE: suddenly produces a very high arousal level for a relatively short time
CHRONIC STRESS RESPONSE: produces an increased arousal level that persists over a relatively long time
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4. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS FIGHT-FLIGHT RESPONSE
AN INVOLUNTARY REACTION RESULTING IN A STATE OF PHYSIOLOGICAL READINESS TO DEAL WITH A SUDDEN AN IMMEDIATE THREAT BY EITHER CONFRONTING IT (FIGHT) OR RUNNING AWAY TO SAFETY (FLIGHT)
INVOLVES: SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
ENDOCRINE SYSTEM (HORMONES)
CHANGE CAN OCCUR WITHIN SECONDS
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5. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS FIGHT-FLIGHT RESPONSE
INVOLVES CHANGES SUCH AS:
INCREASED HEART RATE AND BLOOD PRESSURE
REDISTRIBUTION OF BLOOD SUPPLY FROM SKIN AND INTESTINES TO MUSCLES
INCREASED RESPIRATION RATE (TO INCREASE OXYGEN SUPPLY)
INCREASED GLUCOSE SECRETION BY THE LIVER (FOR ENERGY)
DILATION OF PUPILS
SUPPRESSION OF FUNCTIONS SUCH AS DIGESTION AND SEXUAL DRIVE
HYPOTHALUMUS IS ACTIVATED
HYPOTHALAMUS ACTIVATES THE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM
SNS THEN STIMULATES THE ADRENAL MEDULLA
ADRENAL GLANDS SECRETE HORMONES CALLED CATECHOLAMINES
CATECHOLAMINES = ADRENALINE/EPINEPHRINE
NORADRENALINE/NOREPINEPHRINE
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6. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS ACTIVATION OF THE HPA AXIS
IF THE STRESSOR IS NOT REMOVED, THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE CANNOT BE MAINTAINED FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME.
IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, THE HPA AXIS IS ACTIVATED
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7. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS BODY SYSTEMS INVOLVED IN A PHYSIOLOGICAL STRESS RESPONSE
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8. PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS EUSTRESS & DISTRESS HANS SELYE
EUSTRESS: A positive psychological response to a stressor
(enthusiastic, motivated, excited, active, alert)
DISTRESS: A negative psychological response to a stressor
(anger, anxiety, nervousness, irritability, tension)
All stressors produce a non-specific physiological stress response. A stressor can be perceived as eustressful or distressful depending on the individual
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9. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS EMOTIONAL CHANGES
EMOTIONAL CHANGES INFLUENCE THE WAY A PERSON FEELS
THESE INCLUDE FEELING ANXIOUS, TENSE, DEPRESSED, ANGRY, IRRITABLE, SHORT-TEMPERED
PEOPLE CAN REPORT FEELING HELPLESSNESS OR HOPELESSNESS
THESE FEELINGS ARE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED BY A NEGATIVE ATTITUDE TO THEMSELVES, THEIR WORK OR SCHOOL AND LIFE IN GENERAL
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10. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS COGNITIVE CHANGES
COGNITIVE CHANGES INFLUENCE A PERSON’S MENTAL ABILITIES
MENTAL ABILITIES INCLUDE PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES AND ENVIRONMENT, THEIR ABILITY TO LEARN AND HOW THEY THINK, DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING, MAINTAINING ATTENTION AND THINKING CLEARLY
CATASTROPHISING = OVEREMPHASISING THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE EVENTS
PROBLEM SOLVING AND DECISION MAKING IS ALSO AFFECTED
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11. PSYCHOLOGICAL RESPONSES TO STRESS BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES
BEHAVIOURAL CHANGES ARE APPARENT IN HOW A PERSON LOOKS, TALKS AND ACTS
BEHAVIOURAL RESPONSES TO STRESS INCLUDE STRAINED FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, A SHAKY VOICE, HAND TREMORS OR MUSCLE SPASMS
INCREASE OR DECREASE IN EATING
SLEEP PATTERNS MAY CHANGE
SOME PEOPLE BEHAVE MORE AGGRESSIVELY WHILST OTHERS MAY WITHDRAW
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12. PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF THE STRESS RESPONSE
There are many various psychological factors that cause or influence a stress response
Prior experience of stress
Attitudes
Motivation
Levels of self-esteem
General outlook on life
Personality
Coping skills
Perception of our control over the stressor
Lazarus & Folkman (1984) developed the Transactional Model of Stress and Coping.
This model describes two key psychological factors that determine the extent to which an event is experienced as stressful
The meaning of the event to the individual
The individual’s judgment of their ability to cope with the event
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13. PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF THE STRESS RESPONSE LAZARUS & FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS & COPING
PROPOSES THAT STRESS INVOLVES AN ENCOUNTER (TRANSACTION) BETWEEN AN INDIVIDUAL AND THEIR EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT, AND THAT A STRESS RESPONSE DEPENDS ON THE INDIVIDUAL’S INTERPRETATION (APPRAISAL) OF THE STRESSOR AND THEIR ABILITY TO COPE WITH IT
PERSON’S APPRAISAL OF THE DEMANDS OF THE SITUATION
PERSON’S ESTIMATION OF THEIR ABILITY TO MEET THOSE DEMANDS
= STRESS
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14. OUTCOME OF THIS QUESTION
LAZARUS & FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS & COPING TYPES OF APPRAISAL
PRIMARY APPRAISAL
We first evaluate or judge the significance of the situation
Is this something I have to deal with?
Am I in trouble?
Does this matter to me?
OUTCOME OF THIS QUESTION
IRRELEVANT BENIGN-POSITIVE STRESSFUL
NO RESPONSE NO RESPONSE WE THEN ENGAGE IN ADDITIONAL APPRAISALS
HARM/LOSS: HOW MUCH
DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE
THREAT: HOW MUCH
TROUBLE MAY I BE IN
CHALLENGE: CAN I GROW
OR LEARN
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15. LAZARUS & FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS & COPING TYPES OF APPRAISAL
SECONDARY APPRAISAL
We evaluate our coping options and resources and our options for dealing with the stressful situation
These coping options and resources may be:
INTERNAL (strength, determination, desire to succeed)
EXTERNAL (money, support from friends or family)
REAPPRAISAL
We determine the extent to which additional resources are needed to cope with the situation
We reappraise the situation while taking into account the coping resources available
We reappraise the coping resources while taking account of the reappraised threat
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16. LAZARUS & FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS & COPING COPING STRATEGIES
When we appraise a situation as stressful we need to learn how to cope with it.
Coping = the process of constantly changing cognitive and behavioural efforts to manage specific internal and/or external stressors that are appraised as exceeding the resources of the person
The various types of coping strategies are classified as;
Problem-focused coping
Emotion-focused coping
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17. LAZARUS & FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS & COPING COPING STRATEGIES
PROBLEM-FOCUSED COPING:
Involves efforts to manage or change the cause or source of the stress. This can include;
Examining a stressor from a new perspective
Obtaining more information about the stressor
Redefining the stressor in a way that is more manageable
Generating alternative ways of dealing with the stressor
Focusing on changing only what is changeable
Learning new skills to manage the stressor
EMOTION-FOCUSED COPING:
Involves efforts to deal with our emotional response to the stressor. In particular, to decrease the emotional component;
Denial (I’m not stressed)
Distancing (I don’t let it get to me)
Avoiding (I’m not going to the event)
Minimising (It’s not that bad)
Wishful Thinking (I wish it would go away)
Acceptance (This can’t be changed)
Venting emotions (I feel angry)
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19. LAZARUS & FOLKMAN’S TRANSACTIONAL MODEL OF STRESS & COPING STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS OF THE TRANSACTIONAL MODEL
STRENGTHS
LIMITATIONS
The transactional model focuses on psychological determinants of the stress response over which we have control
Difficult to test through experimental research
Emphasises the personal nature and individuality of the stress response
Some doubt that we need to appraise something as causing stress in order to have a stress response
Views stress as involving an interaction with the environment in which an individual has an active role. This allows for more variability in the stress response and explains why individuals respond in different ways to the same type of stressors
Difficult to study primary and secondary appraisals separately as these can often occur simultaneously
Proposes different methods for managing psychological responses to stressors. Has enhanced understanding of stress-management strategies
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