1. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Psychology: From Inquiry to Understanding 2/e Scott O. Lilienfeld Steven Jay Lynn Laura Namy Nancy J. Woolf Prepared by Caleb W. Lack This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

2. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Stress, Coping, & Health: The Mind-Body Interconnection Chapter Twelve

3. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Lecture Preview What is stress? How we adapt to stress The brain-body reaction to stress Coping with stress Promoting good health

4. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. What is Stress? Stress is the tension, discomfort, or physical symptoms that arise when a stressor strains our ability to cope effectively A traumatic event is a stressor so severe that it can produce long-term psychological or health consequences

5. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Three Approaches to Stress Stressors as stimuli approach focuses on identifying types of stressful events Helps identify situations that cause more stress and persons that react more strongly Disasters that impact an entire community can increase social awareness and cement interpersonal bonds

6. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Three Approaches to Stress Stress as a transaction examines how people interpret and cope with stressful events Primary and secondary appraisals to determine if a situation is harmful and then if we can cope with it Problem-focused vs emotion-focused coping

7. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Three Approaches to Stress Stress as a response approach assesses psychological and physical reactions to stress Can be lab-induced or real-world stressors Measure large number of outcome variables, including corticosteroids

8. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Measuring Stress Number of major life events over past year have been found to be related to physical and psychological health The Social Readjustment Rating Scale ranks a number of particularly stressful events, but neglects coping resources or chronic issues

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10. Measuring Stress Hassles – minor annoyances that strain our ability to cope – can impact us as well More hassles are related to physical health, depression, and anxiety Research shows this is true even when major life events are controlled for

11. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Mechanics of Stress The pattern of response to stress is called the general adaptation syndrome (GAS) Alarm reaction - autonomic nervous system is activated, stress hormones released, physical symptoms of anxiety – HPA axis and fight or flight response

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13. Mechanics of Stress Resistance – you adapt and find ways to cope with the stressor Exhaustion – in prolonged stressors, our resistance can break down – Can cause physical or psychological damage

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15. Diversity of Stress Responses Women are more likely to tend and befriend than males They nurture (tend) or seek social support (befriend) when faced with a potentially dangerous situation Operates in conjunction with fight or flight

16. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Diversity of Stress Responses Long-lasting stress reactions can result in acute stress disorder or posttraumatic stress disorder Lifetime prevalence rates are 5% in males and 10% in females

17. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP PTSD Natural disaster4-5% Bombing34% Plane crash into hotel29% Mass shooting28% PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP ACUTE STRESS DISORDER Typhoon7% Industrial accident6% Mass shooting33% Violent assault19% Vehicle accident14% Assault, severe burns13%

18. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. The Immune System Our body’s defense against invading bacteria, viruses, and other potentially illness- producing organisms and substances Consists of the skin, phagocytes, lymphocytes (T and B cells), and macrophages Can be compromised via disorders like AIDS

19. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Psychoneuroimmunology Study of the relationship between the immune system and central nervous system For example: – High levels of stress over the past year make you more susceptible to catching cold virus – Caring for someone with Alzheimer’s is associated with lower ability to heal from injury and decrease blood clotting

20. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Stress-Related Illnesses Authentic illnesses that that emotions and stress contribute to or maintain are called psychophysiological – Ulcers (caused by bacteria) – Coronary heart disease – AIDS Biopsychosocial perspective on illness

21. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Coronary Heart Disease The complete or partial blockage of the arteries that provide oxygen to the heart Top cause of death and disability in the US Associated with number of factors, especially stress

22. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Coronary Heart Disease Aspects of a Type A personality place one at high risk for CHD, especially anger and hostility Lower socioeconomic status also places at heightened risk due to lowered ability to cope with stressors

23. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Coping with Stress Social support encompasses interpersonal relations with people, groups, and the larger community – Higher levels associated with lower mortality rates Gaining control of situations can also relieve stress

24. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Gaining Control Informational control and proactive coping Emotional control is the ability to suppress and express emotions Catharsis – the disclosing of painful feelings – can be useful, but only if it involves problems solving and efforts to make situations “right”

25. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Crisis Debriefing A single session, 3-4 hour conducted soon after a trauma designed to ward off PTSD Research shows it is not helpful, and may instead increase risk of developing PTSD

26. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Flexible Coping Ability to adjust coping strategies as the situation demands is critical to contending with many stressful situations Suppressing and avoiding emotions distracts us from problem solving and may cause emotions to return in greater force

27. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Individual Differences Hardiness is a set of attitudes where you – View change as a challenge rather than a threat – Are committed to their life and work – Believe you can control events Related to low-levels of anxiety proneness and general tendency to react calmly to stress

28. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Individual Differences Optimistic persons are more productive, focused, and handle frustration better – Also show lower levels of mortality and better immune system response Higher levels of spirituality and religion have many of the same benefits

29. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Individual Differences Some ways of reacting to stress are actually counterproductive Ruminating – focusing on negatives and endlessly analyzing what caused problems Seen more frequently women, in part due to early socialization

30. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Good Health and Less Stress Health psychology integrate behavioral sciences with the practice of medicine Combine educational and psychological interventions to promote and maintain health, and prevent and treat illness Here are four behaviors to promote health

31. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Stop Smoking! Leading cause of preventable death in US 24% of men and 18% of women smoke – 1 in 4 smokers dies from smoking-related disease Only 5% of smokers who try to quit succeed – 25-35% succeed when using methods developed by health psychologists

32. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Curb Alcohol Consumption Heavy episodic drinking (binge drinking) is five or more drinks on one occasion for men, four or more for women Associated with increases in cancer, liver problems, pregnancy complications, and brain shrinkage

33. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Achieve a Healthy Weight Two-thirds of Americans are overweight, with half of those being obese Calculated based on body-mass index (BMI) – Dividing weight in pounds (lbs) by height in inches (in) squared and multiply by 703

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35. Achieve a Healthy Weight Obesity puts you at a higher risk for heart disease, stroke, arthritis, cancer, and diabetes Suffer a variety of emotional and social problems as well – Teasing, depression, anxiety Prejudice and discrimination are also present

36. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Tips to Achieve a Healthy Weight Avoid fad and crash diets (yo-yo effect) Exercise regularly Monitor total calories and body weight Eat properly (good fats, low salt, high fiber foods) Get social support Control portion size

37. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Exercise Regular aerobic exercise has many benefits – Lower blood pressure and risk for CHD – Improve lung function – Relieve the symptoms of arthritis – Decrease diabetes risk – Cut the risk of breast and colon cancer 30 minutes several times a week is best

38. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Change is Easier Said than Done Personal inertia Misestimating risk and causes of death Feeling powerless to change Prevention programs attempt to stop unhealthy habits before they develop

39. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Complementary & Alternative Medicine Alternative medicine is used in place of conventional medicine Complementary medicine refers to products and practices that are used together with conventional medicine United by that they’ve not yet been shown to be safe and effective using scientific standards

40. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Americans spend about $34 billion per year on CAM TYPE OF THERAPY% OF USERS DURING PREVIOUS YEAR Natural products17.7% Meditation9.4% Chiropractic and related methods8.6% Massage8.3% Yoga6.1% Diet-based therapies3.6% Homeopathy1.8% Acupuncture1.4% Biofeedback0.2%

41. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Biologically Based Therapies Most herbal supplements and treatments have not found to be effective – St. John’s Wort, shark cartilage, glucosamine, chondroitin, acai berries, gingko biloba Vitamins and dietary supplements as well – Calcium, vitamin C Not regulated by the FDA

42. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Manipulative Methods Includes chiropractic manipulation, where spine is manipulated to treat pain and illness No scientific support for subluxation theory No more effective than safe treatments like exercise, relaxation, and physical therapy

43. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Mind-Body Medicine Biofeedback is feedback by a device that provides almost an immediate output of a biological function, such as heart rate Does not seem to yield effects beyond the relaxation associated with sitting quietly

44. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Mind-Body Medicine Meditation refers to a variety of practices that train attention and awareness Associated with a variety of positive effects – Heightened creativity, empathy, self-esteem – Decreased anxiety and depression – Increased blood flow to brain and immune function

45. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Energy Medicines Based on the idea that disruptions in our body’s energy field can be mapped and treated Acupuncture involves placing needles on body to relieve energy (qi) blockages No scientific evidence to support such energy or blocks in it

46. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Placebos and CAM When placed against placebos, CAM does not hold up Sham acupuncture treatments do as well at treating back pain and migraines Pain is very highly responsive to placebo treatments, which may help to explain why CAM is so popular

47. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Whole Medical Systems Homeopathic medicine is based on the premise that consuming an extremely diluted dose of a substance that produces an illness in a healthy person will alleviate that illness No evidence that it is effective for any problem

48. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Why is CAM so Popular? 1.Produce placebo effects and instill hope 2.People assume natural products improve health because they see no negatives 3.False correlation with symptom relief 4.Attribute success to CAM instead of conventional medicine 5.Misdiagnosis and non-severity of problem

49. Copyright © 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved. Think Before You Try CAM Does it lack a scientific rationale, or contradict well-accepted scientific laws or principles? Do carefully done studies show that the product or treatment is less effective than conventional approaches?