Stress and Health
Health psychology - the branch of psychology that studies how biological, behavioral,
and social factors influence health, illness, medical treatment, and health-related
behaviors
Stress - a negative emotional state occurring in response to events that are perceived
as taxing or exceeding a person’s resources or ability to cope
Stress Appraisal - how you see or appraise the stress or present situation
Appraisal model - experience of stress is determined in part by our subjective
evaluation of the phenomenon as well as our resources for coping
Stressor - events we see as threatening or challenging
Stress is more the result of how we appraise the stressor and less from the events
themselves
Traumatic events - events or situations that are negative, severe, and far beyond our
normal expectations for everyday life or life events
According to health psychologist Shelly Taylor, the “tend and befriend” response
is a phenomenon when those around you quickly come to your aid whether
stranger or friend during traumatic events
- People who are good with dealing with stress can be quick to help others
- Those who aren’t good with deling with stress aren’t
Walter Cannon: confirmed that the response to stress is a mind/body experience
and results in a chain of internal physical reactions
- Observed that stressors trigger an outpouring of stress hormones and are part of
the sympathetic nervous system’s response
- The result is a change in physical symptoms and a release of energy from the
body’s reserves
Health psychology - the branch of psychology that studies how biological, behavioral,
and social factors influence health, illness, medical treatment, and health-related
behaviors
Stress - a negative emotional state occurring in response to events that are perceived
as taxing or exceeding a person’s resources or ability to cope
Stress Appraisal - how you see or appraise the stress or present situation
Appraisal model - experience of stress is determined in part by our subjective
evaluation of the phenomenon as well as our resources for coping
Stressor - events we see as threatening or challenging
Stress is more the result of how we appraise the stressor and less from the events
themselves
Traumatic events - events or situations that are negative, severe, and far beyond our
normal expectations for everyday life or life events
According to health psychologist Shelly Taylor, the “tend and befriend” response
is a phenomenon when those around you quickly come to your aid whether
stranger or friend during traumatic events
- People who are good with dealing with stress can be quick to help others
- Those who aren’t good with deling with stress aren’t
Walter Cannon: confirmed that the response to stress is a mind/body experience
and results in a chain of internal physical reactions
- Observed that stressors trigger an outpouring of stress hormones and are part of
the sympathetic nervous system’s response
- The result is a change in physical symptoms and a release of energy from the
body’s reserves
