Download Understanding Stress: Concepts, Effects on Health, and Coping Strategies - Prof. Brittany and more Study notes Psychology in PDF only on Docsity! Stress, Health, and Human Flourishing Chapter 10 Stress: Some Basic Concepts • Stress o The process by which we perceive and respond to certain events (stressors), that we appraise as threatening or challenging • Stressor • Stress Reaction Stress Reactions • General Adaptation Syndrome oHans Selye’s contribution to medicine and psychology oResponse to stress; general, in that body responds in same way regardless of stressor o3-stage process • Tend-and-Befriend Stress Effects and Health • Mind and body interact, including during the stress response • Psychoneuroimmunology – study of how psychological, neural, and endocrine processes combine to affect our immune system and health • Immune system acts as a complex security system Stress Effects and Health • Lymphocytes – white blood cells part of immune system o B lymphocytes fight bacteria o T lymphocytes fight cancer, virus, foreign bodies • Macrophages • Natural Killer Cells Stress Effects and Health • Stress and Cancer o Might an immune system weakened by stress be less able to fight off cancer and cancer- damaged cells? o Appears so, in research injecting animals with tumor cells or carcinogens o But, mixed results when evaluating human research Stress Effects and Health • Stress and Heart Disease – stress much more closely linked to coronary heart disease • Type A • Type B • Role of Anger and Depression Human Flourishing - Coping • Problem-focused Coping • Emotion-focused Coping o Each has its place, and each can be either adaptive or maladaptive Flourishing • Optimism o Anticipation of positive outcomes o Better health, less stress response, correlation with longer life o Unrealistic optimism (don’t think it can happen to me…..) • Pessimism o Anticipation of negative outcomes o Realistic anxiety (especially about future) Flourishing • Social support o Feeling liked and encouraged by friends and family o Less likely to die early if supported o Calms cardiovascular system o Supports immune functioning o Support system – marriage, family • Finding Meaning o Making sense of bad events, finding redeeming purpose o Ability to confide Managing Stress Effects • Aerobic Exercise o Reduces depression and anxiety o Increases arousal o Increases serotonin activity in the brain • Biofeedback, Relaxation, Meditation o Relieve headaches, high blood pressure, anxiety, insomnia o Relaxation response o Brain activity and immune functioning
