Stress characteristics:
Stress can be long-term and short-term, having both physiological and psychological effects
-Physiological response to stress:
Based on the work of Hans Selye (1936); outlines a general physical response
->Proposed the three stages of GAS:
1.) Alarm reaction stage: Refers to acute stress: Increased activity in the SAM (regulates our fight/flight response) and the HPA
(responsible to deal with stress over a longer duration) -> emphasizing the role of HPA. Alarm reaction develops 6-48hours after stress e.g.
an injury and includes the loss of muscular tine and a drop in body temperature and size of the spleen and liver
2.) Resistance stage: Refers to episodic acute stress Stage of adaptation, also involving the HPA. Body is trying to fit in with the
demands of the environment = as the stage proceeds, Parasympathetic nervous system requires more careful use of the body’s resources
to cope = increased size of adrenal glands and decrease in pituitary activity (like production of growth hormone)
3.) Exhaustion stage: Refers to chronic stress: When stress is prolonged, the physiological systems used in the previous 2 stages
eventually becomes ineffective = The initial autonomic nervous system symptoms of arousal re-appear = sweating, increased heart rate.
Extreme cases, damaged adrenal cortex = failure of parasympathetic system and collapse the body’s immune system = leads to stress
related disease such as high blood pressure, heart disease and asthma
-Psychological response to stress: This is where the irrational thoughts play a part
Our perception plays a key part into stress and how it is dealt.
->Lazarus & Folkman: agued that how we deal with stress involves other non-biological processed like perception.
2 types of coping: Perceived coping and actual coping – how we perceive our ABILITY TO MANAGE ACTUE STRESS AND THE REAL
STRATEGIES WE USE TO COPE WITH STRESS
Transactional model: stress lies in one’s perception of themselves and their world; A state of stress exists when there is a mismatch
between the demands, we perceive the world is making on us and our perceived coping strategies
->Kelly McGonigal and managing stress responses: We should make stress our friend as it is found to have positive effects on the mind
and body -> If we perceive stress to help us, then our risk of death is reduced
Biological explanation one: Acute stress (Short term stress) AO3:
AO1: + EEA: A key strength of the biological explanation of stress is that it
, This refers to the alarm stage of stress in Selye’s G.A.S and the biological enhances evolutionary adaptiveness. The fight, flight and freeze
functions that: Focus on body’s automatic physiological response to responses prepare the body to deal with threats by increasing heart rate,
stressors, particularly acute stress, which is explained by the blood pressure and oxygen supply to vital organs such as the heart and
Sympathomedullary (SAM) pathway. When a stressor is perceived, the muscles. From an evolutionary perspective, these automatic
hypothalamus activates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic physiological responses would have increased survival chances when
nervous system, which then stimulates the adrenal medulla to release facing predators or danger, making them adaptive. This supports the
adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones increase heart rate, biological explanation as it suggests stress responses are not
blood pressure and respiration, preparing the body for the fight-or-flight maladaptive but have clear survival value.
response, which has clear evolutionary value as it enhances survival in + Modification: Biological feedback-> allows individuals to become
threatening situations. The autonomic nervous system has two branches: aware of their physiological stress responses, such as heart rate and
the sympathetic nervous system (Adrenaline involved), responsible for muscle tension, and learn to control them. This shows that biological
arousal and short-term stress responses, and the parasympathetic stress responses are modifiable rather than fixed, increasing the
nervous system (noradrenaline involved) , which calms the body and usefulness of the biological explanation in managing stress-related
conserves energy through processes such as rest and digestion. symptoms. This application supports the validity of the biological
Key study: Friedman & Rosenman (1959): Cardiologists who looked approach by demonstrating its real-world relevance
into the relationship between personality and stress in its effect to +Supportive research: Kielcolt-Glaser researched if there is a link
immunity linking to cardio vascular disease between high and low stress and the immune system and if other factors
->They found that individuals with a Type A personality such as loneliness played a factor-> Found that natural and killer cells
(Competitiveness, ambitious, impatient, restless and pressured) -> 70% and T cells both reduced in second sample (day of the exam blood test
of them developed CHD = chronic stress/ exhaustion stage, leading to vs one month before). Questionnaire also found that those who noted
the restriction of blood pressure they were lonely seemed to have the lowest levels and suffering from
->also found that Type A individuals had an increase in adrenaline and stress
noradrenaline = fight/flight response - Biological differences of F&R (A Counter argument): A limitation
of Friedman and Rosenman’s study is that it assumes biological
differences in stress responses are mainly due to personality type.
Although Type A individuals were found to have higher rates of coronary
heart disease, this does not mean that all Type A individuals experience
the same level of physiological stress or that Type B individuals are
protected. Biological factors such as genetics, hormone levels and
cardiovascular health may vary within personality types, suggesting that
the study oversimplifies biological differences in stress responses.
-Methodological issue: correlational and co variables: it is difficult
to determine whether stress causes physical illness or whether illness
itself increases stress. As causation cannot be established, this weakens
the biological explanation by reducing the certainty of its conclusions
about the effects of stress on health. For example, Liu found that
700,000 UK women who were ill were more likely to report increased
stress.
-Use of non-human animals: Hans Selye’s research to support such is
based off animal research on rats which ignores human cognition =
Stress can be long-term and short-term, having both physiological and psychological effects
-Physiological response to stress:
Based on the work of Hans Selye (1936); outlines a general physical response
->Proposed the three stages of GAS:
1.) Alarm reaction stage: Refers to acute stress: Increased activity in the SAM (regulates our fight/flight response) and the HPA
(responsible to deal with stress over a longer duration) -> emphasizing the role of HPA. Alarm reaction develops 6-48hours after stress e.g.
an injury and includes the loss of muscular tine and a drop in body temperature and size of the spleen and liver
2.) Resistance stage: Refers to episodic acute stress Stage of adaptation, also involving the HPA. Body is trying to fit in with the
demands of the environment = as the stage proceeds, Parasympathetic nervous system requires more careful use of the body’s resources
to cope = increased size of adrenal glands and decrease in pituitary activity (like production of growth hormone)
3.) Exhaustion stage: Refers to chronic stress: When stress is prolonged, the physiological systems used in the previous 2 stages
eventually becomes ineffective = The initial autonomic nervous system symptoms of arousal re-appear = sweating, increased heart rate.
Extreme cases, damaged adrenal cortex = failure of parasympathetic system and collapse the body’s immune system = leads to stress
related disease such as high blood pressure, heart disease and asthma
-Psychological response to stress: This is where the irrational thoughts play a part
Our perception plays a key part into stress and how it is dealt.
->Lazarus & Folkman: agued that how we deal with stress involves other non-biological processed like perception.
2 types of coping: Perceived coping and actual coping – how we perceive our ABILITY TO MANAGE ACTUE STRESS AND THE REAL
STRATEGIES WE USE TO COPE WITH STRESS
Transactional model: stress lies in one’s perception of themselves and their world; A state of stress exists when there is a mismatch
between the demands, we perceive the world is making on us and our perceived coping strategies
->Kelly McGonigal and managing stress responses: We should make stress our friend as it is found to have positive effects on the mind
and body -> If we perceive stress to help us, then our risk of death is reduced
Biological explanation one: Acute stress (Short term stress) AO3:
AO1: + EEA: A key strength of the biological explanation of stress is that it
, This refers to the alarm stage of stress in Selye’s G.A.S and the biological enhances evolutionary adaptiveness. The fight, flight and freeze
functions that: Focus on body’s automatic physiological response to responses prepare the body to deal with threats by increasing heart rate,
stressors, particularly acute stress, which is explained by the blood pressure and oxygen supply to vital organs such as the heart and
Sympathomedullary (SAM) pathway. When a stressor is perceived, the muscles. From an evolutionary perspective, these automatic
hypothalamus activates the sympathetic branch of the autonomic physiological responses would have increased survival chances when
nervous system, which then stimulates the adrenal medulla to release facing predators or danger, making them adaptive. This supports the
adrenaline and noradrenaline. These hormones increase heart rate, biological explanation as it suggests stress responses are not
blood pressure and respiration, preparing the body for the fight-or-flight maladaptive but have clear survival value.
response, which has clear evolutionary value as it enhances survival in + Modification: Biological feedback-> allows individuals to become
threatening situations. The autonomic nervous system has two branches: aware of their physiological stress responses, such as heart rate and
the sympathetic nervous system (Adrenaline involved), responsible for muscle tension, and learn to control them. This shows that biological
arousal and short-term stress responses, and the parasympathetic stress responses are modifiable rather than fixed, increasing the
nervous system (noradrenaline involved) , which calms the body and usefulness of the biological explanation in managing stress-related
conserves energy through processes such as rest and digestion. symptoms. This application supports the validity of the biological
Key study: Friedman & Rosenman (1959): Cardiologists who looked approach by demonstrating its real-world relevance
into the relationship between personality and stress in its effect to +Supportive research: Kielcolt-Glaser researched if there is a link
immunity linking to cardio vascular disease between high and low stress and the immune system and if other factors
->They found that individuals with a Type A personality such as loneliness played a factor-> Found that natural and killer cells
(Competitiveness, ambitious, impatient, restless and pressured) -> 70% and T cells both reduced in second sample (day of the exam blood test
of them developed CHD = chronic stress/ exhaustion stage, leading to vs one month before). Questionnaire also found that those who noted
the restriction of blood pressure they were lonely seemed to have the lowest levels and suffering from
->also found that Type A individuals had an increase in adrenaline and stress
noradrenaline = fight/flight response - Biological differences of F&R (A Counter argument): A limitation
of Friedman and Rosenman’s study is that it assumes biological
differences in stress responses are mainly due to personality type.
Although Type A individuals were found to have higher rates of coronary
heart disease, this does not mean that all Type A individuals experience
the same level of physiological stress or that Type B individuals are
protected. Biological factors such as genetics, hormone levels and
cardiovascular health may vary within personality types, suggesting that
the study oversimplifies biological differences in stress responses.
-Methodological issue: correlational and co variables: it is difficult
to determine whether stress causes physical illness or whether illness
itself increases stress. As causation cannot be established, this weakens
the biological explanation by reducing the certainty of its conclusions
about the effects of stress on health. For example, Liu found that
700,000 UK women who were ill were more likely to report increased
stress.
-Use of non-human animals: Hans Selye’s research to support such is
based off animal research on rats which ignores human cognition =
