Life

101
Effects of
Coping

Attitude

Coping
Skill

Definitions
Stressor- a stimulus with the potential for triggering Fight or Flight
4 categories (Social, Environmental, Psychological, Philosophical)

Stress reactivity- Body changes to meet demands (F or F

response)

Strains-Outcomes of stress reactivity and may be physical,

psychological, or behavioral. (tension headache, phobias,
addictions)

Stress- The wear and tear on the body when there is reactivity.
Combination of a stressor, stress reactivity, and strain.

Homeostasis- The bodys balanced state

Eustress- Good stress
Distress- Bad Stress
Duration/Degree Duration= the amount of time our bodys physiology varies

Degree=Condition or the amount of physiological variance

Walter Cannon-

Harvard

Medical School
First to describe the effects of acute stress
Termed this stress reaction as the fight-or-

flight response
A primitive response that quickly increases
heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and
serum cholesterol

Acute Alarm Reaction

Body prepares for fight or flight
Time of emergency
Heart pumps blood faster and with greater

force
Blood pressure elevates abruptly
Lungs send more oxygen to muscles
Faster blood clotting

Acute Alarm Reaction

Widening of the pupils to admit more light in

order to heighten visual acuity and awareness

Increase in breathing rate
Endorphins released decrease in bodys
sensitivity to pain
Elevated blood sugar levels

Hans Selye
Studied the effects of long-term (chronic)

stress
Stress is- The nonspecific response of the
body to any demand made upon it
Summarized his findings by proposing a
three-phase process called the general
adaptation syndrome
alarm reaction
stage of resistance
stage of exhaustion

Other Influential
Researchers
Simeons
Psychosomatic disease

Benson
Relaxation response
Vogt
Autogenic training
Jacobson
Progressive relaxation

Stress Theory
Several theories explain the causes of stress:
Holmes and Rahe- Life events theory: stress
occurs when the situation requires more
resources than are available
Kobasa and colleagues- Hardiness theory: ones
attitude toward the events determines stress,
not the event.
Social support theory: insufficient social support
for responding to event

Fight or flight response

Is the glass half full or half

empty?
A situation can be stressful or not -- it all

depends on your perception of the event

A response to stress can be effective or not -it depends on your resources and coping
strategies
Refer to table 1.2 (p.13)

Relationship between stress

and illness.

Goals for Stress

Management
Do not eliminate all stress
Use as a motivator for peak performance
Stress can be useful, stimulating, and

welcome
Limit harmful effects

Limit the harmful effects of stress while

maintaining lifes quality and vitality.