Stress trq

Monday, August 31

• Objective: Define Stress and describe the physical and emotional changes associated with stress

• Homework Due

Effects of Stress

How stressed are you?

• Take this stress assessment to find out

Stress

Stress

• The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging

• Is a process of perceiving and responding

• The response is called a stress reaction

• TRQ: #27

Health Psychology

• A subfield of psychology that focuses on how stress affects our well being and health

• TRQ: #28

Stress:Responding to Stress

• Regardless of the stressor, the body reacts by increasing the amount of blood sugar and adrenaline.

• These responses are designed to prepare a person for self-defense and are often called the fight-or-flight response.

• However, if stress persists for a long time, the body’s resources are used up.

Walter Canon’s Fight-or-Flight Response

Walter Canon’s Fight-or-Flight Response

Responding to Stress



Hans Selye (1907-1982)

• Psychologist who researched recurring responses to stress the he called the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)

• Discovered various chemicals caused stress reactions in animals

General Adaptation Syndrome

• Sylye’s concept of the body’s adaptive response to stress in three stages– Alarm

– Resistance

– Exhaustion


• Alarm Reaction – nervous system activated in response to stressor

• Resistance – body responds with physiological reactions to cope with the stressor

• Exhaustion – body’s resistance to stress is depleted (physical deterioration); this is when we are most likely to get sick

• TRQ: #30, 31




Stress:Stressful Events

Daily Stress

• Stress can be caused by:– Typical demands of the day– Living situations– Economic difficulties

– TRQ: #33

Burnout

• Physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion brought on by persistent job-related stress

• Burnout can result in:

– Depression

– Decreased performance

– Cynicism

– TRQ: #32

Significant Life Changes

• Stress can be the result of personal life changes– Death of a loved one– Leaving home for college

• Can result in health problems

• TRQ: #33

Catastrophes

• Large scale stress events (i.e. earthquakes, floods, war, etc.)

• Prolonged exposure can lead to physical and psychological problems.

• TRQ: #33

Do you think life events affect stress?

• Take this quiz to find out

Tuesday, September 1

• Objective: Evaluate how outlook and feelings of control influence health; and evaluate how social support and positive emotional experiences contribute to health and well-being

Effects of Perceived Control

Perceived Control

• The sense of control or influence one has over stressful events in one’s life

• Most studies suggest the lower the perceived control the larger the potential for health-related problems

• Lower perceived control leads to a lowered immunity to disease.

• TRQ: #34

Rodin’s nursing home study

• J. Rodin’s study took place in 1976.

• He separated nursing home patients into two groups: those that could choose how they wanted to decorate their rooms, and those that could not

• He found that those who were given the choice on decorations were happier, lived longer, and some actually recovered from their illness

• TRQ: #35

Optimism

• A generally positive outlook on the future

• Optimists have stronger immune systems and recover faster from health problems.

• Opposite of pessimism

• TRQ: #36

Stress Hormones

• Hormones released in response to stress

• The body must work to rid the body of the stress hormones.

• Pessimism and perceived lack of control both produce more stress hormones.

Stress and Disease:Cancer and Stress

Stress-Cancer Connection

• Evidence for a connection is not conclusive.

• Two conclusions:

– Stress does not create cancer cells.

– Stress affects the body’s malignancy- fighting ability.

– TRQ: #37

Stress and Disease:Stress and Heart

Problems

Type A

• Term for competitive, hard-driving, impatient, verbally aggressive, and anger-prone.

• More prone to heart attacks and other stress related illnesses.

• TRQ: #38, 39

Type B

• Individuals who are easygoing, relaxed people

• TRQ: #38, 39

Which type are you?

• Take this assessment to find out.

Promoting Wellness

Introduction

Martin Seligman (1942- )

• American psychologist

• Proponent of positive psychology

• Former president of the APA

Wellness

• The common result of a healthy lifestyle and healthy attitudes

Healthy Lifestyles:Exercise

Benefits of Daily Exercise

• Effective in reducing anxiety and depression

• Leads to greater self confidence and self discipline

Exercise and Mental Health

Healthy Lifestyles:Family and Friends

Benefits of Social Support

• Social support – makes people feel liked and wanted

• Social support leads to:

– Less physical problems

– More pleasure in life

– Longer life span

Healthy Lifestyles:The Faith Factor

Benefits of Religious Activity

• Studies suggest those involved in religion tend to live longer

• Factors of religion contributing to longer life include:– Religion promotes healthy lifestyles.– Religious involvement offers social

support.– Many religions promote optimism.

Benefits of Religious Activity

The Faith Factor Explained





Positive Experiences and Well-Being

Positive Psychology

• Subfield of psychology that focuses on the study of optimal human functioning and the factors that allow individuals and communities to thrive

Well-being

• Concept that includes life satisfaction, feelings of fulfillment, pleasant emotions, and low level of unpleasant emotions

• Person judges life as satisfying, fulfilling, and “going well”

Positive Experiences and Well-Being:

Flow

Flow

• A state of optimal experience that involves– A challenge

– Requires skill

– Has clear goals and

– Provides feedback

• People do the activity for its own sake.


Happiness

Characteristics of Happy People


Optimism

Explanatory Style

• Habits we have for thinking about the good or bad causes of events

• Can be optimistic or pessimistic

Optimism

• The tendency to expect the best

• Believe bad events are:

– Temporary

– Not their fault

– Will not have broader effects beyond the present circumstances

Pessimism

• The tendency to expect the worst

• Tend to blame themselves for bad situations

• Tend to see the negative as permanent in nature

Overcoming Illness-Related

Behaviors:Smoking

Dangers of Smoking

Nicotine

• The behavioral stimulant found in tobacco

Withdrawal

• The discomfort and distress that follows discontinuing the use of an addictive drug such as nicotine

10 Guidelines to Quitting Smoking

• 1. Set a specific date to quit.

• 2. Inform other people of your plans.

• 3. Get rid of all cigarettes.

• 4. Review previous attempts to quit and anticipate challenges.

• 5. Use a nicotine patch or gum.

10 Guidelines to Quitting Smoking(continued)

• 6. Be totally abstinent.

• 7. Avoid alcohol.

• 8. Quit together with family or friends who also smoke (especially those at home or work).

• 9. Avoid places where others smoke.

• 10. Exercise regularly.

Wednesday, September 2

• Objective: Evaluate how social support and positive emotional experiences contribute to health and well-being

• Assignment: Watch Stress: Portrait of a Killer and complete the video guide. This will be due at the end of class.

• Unit One Vocab Quiz is tomorrow…bring your notes and test review with you!

Thursday, September 3

• Objective: Use psychology terminology correctly

• Assignment: Unit One Vocabulary Quiz (you may use your notes and test review on this quiz)

• Assignment: Complete Unit One test review in class (due tomorrow)

• Unit One Test is tomorrow!

Friday, September 7

• Objective: Demonstrate mastery of memory and stress unit

• Assignment: Unit One Test (you may use a notecard on this test if you completed the “About Me” collage)

• When you finish your test, please sit quietly and do not talk until everyone is finished

The End

Education

Stress trq