Thinking About Psychology:

The Science of Mind and Behavior 2e

Charles T. Blair-Broeker

Randal M. Ernst

Dr.Oz

• Stress soothers

• Oz Cab

• Stress and Weight Gain

• Stress Proof Your Body in 5 Steps

• De-Stress Plan

• One minute to better health (wellness challenge).

Biopsychological Domain

Stress and Health Chapter

Effects of Stress

Module 12

Stress

Module 12: Effects of Stress

Teens & Stress

• In your group, list the three most stressful things teens deal with daily.

• List some explanations as to why these things happen and why they are stressful.

Optimism & Pessimism

• Were your suggestions for “why these things happen” and why they are stressful (the attributions) optimistic or pessimistic?

• Optimistic thinking empowers people to seek ways to change stressful situations and pessimistic thinking sees no way out of a stressful circumstance.

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.

Stress

• Play “Emotions, Stress and Health” and “Stress: Locus of Control”

• http://www.learner.org/resources/series142.html

• Dr.Oz (stress and meditation)

• http://www.doctoroz.com/press

Health Psychology

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

Stress:Responding to Stress

Module 12: Effects of Stress

Responding to Stress

Responding to Stress

Responding to Stress

Hans Selye (1907-1982)Sell-yay

• 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

General Adaptation Syndrome

• 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)

General Adaptation Syndrome

General Adaptation Syndrome

General Adaptation Syndrome

• Watch “Worried Sick” Scientific American Frontiers

• http://www.pbs.org/saf/1310/video/watchonline.htm

Stress:Stressful Events

Module 12: Effects of Stress

Daily Stress

• Stress can be caused by:

– Typical demands of the day

– Living situations

– Economic difficulties

Burnout

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

• Burnout can result in:

– Depression

– Decreased performance

– Cynicism

Significant Life Changes

• Stress can be the result of personal life changes

– Death of a loved one (risk of dying in the week after your spouse dies doubles!)

– Leaving home for college

• Can result in health problems

Catastrophes

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

• Prolonged exposure can lead to physical and psychological problems.

• 44% of Katrina-related deaths in Alabama were related to stress.

Effects of Perceived Control

Module 12: Effects of Stress

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.

Control and Stress

• Play “Coping with Stress: Control and Predictability” (2:49) Module #22 from The Brain: Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Optimism

• A generally positive outlook on the future

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

• Opposite of pessimism

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

Module 12: Effects of 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.

Cognition and Cancer

• Play “Cognition and the Immune System: Mind/Body Interaction” (10:20) Segment #4 from The Mind: Psychology Teaching Modules (2nd edition).

Stress and Disease:Stress and Heart

Problems

Module 12: Effects of Stress

Type A

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

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

Type B

• Individuals who are easygoing, relaxed people

The End