Stress: The psychological and bodily response to a stimulus that alters your state of equilibrium

• Stressor: the stimulus causing the stress
• Physical stressors: hunger, a punch, an accident
• Psychological/social stressors: deadlines, sensing a lack of control, rejection/insults, frustration, conflict, crowding
• Perception of stimulus determines stress response
• Speisman et al. (1964) study: 3 groups watched a film of a ritual involving a crude gential operation; 2 groups heard soundtracks that de-emphasized the trauma, while one group heard a soundtrack emphasizing the pain – the “pain” group reported significantly more stress than the other two groups

• General Adaptation Syndrome (Selye): our bodies respond to stressors in generally predictable ways
• Stage 1: Alarm
• Fight or flight response: the body is mobilized to fight or to flee from a threat
• When we perceive threat, the brain activates the sympathetic nervous system (increases heart rate, breathing, pupil dilation, sweat for better grip) to sharpen the senses to fight or flee
• Stage 2: Resistance (aka adaptation)
• Once we are primed to fight or flee, the body mobilizes its resources to achieve equilibrium despite continued presence of stressor (i.e., adaptation to stressor)
• Increased blood flow delivers energy to body
• Digestion, growth, sex drive, and reproduction are slowed (e.g., low sperm count; menstruation stops)
• Helps to conserve energy for survival: chronic stress enervates energy reserves, leaving only fatigue
• Cortisol is secreted by brain to increase energy production and minimize inflammatory effects of injury
• Equilibrium/homeostasis is main goal here
• Stage 3: Exhaustion
• With more extreme and consistent stressors comes breakdown of immune system
• Exhaustion of body can occur and begin to damage the body
• This presents risk of stress-related diseases

• With stress…
• You’re more likely to catch a cold and your wounds take longer to heal
• Remember that your body mobilizes against threat by secreting cortisol
• Cortisol actually hinders the formation of and kills white blood cells, which defend the body against infection
• Cancerous tumors grow
• Decreased white blood cells fail to prevent the spread of tumor cells
• Increased blood flow by stimulated capillaries caused by stress triggering the sympathetic nervous system feeds the tumor
• Heart disease develops
• Stress increases blood pressure, and in combination with narrowing of arteries, can lead to heart damage/failure
• Stress facilitates atherosclerosis: plaque build-up in the arteries
• Unhealthy coping styles can develop
• Overeating, smoking, drinking, drug use, unsafe sex

Coping: techniques we employ to handle stress

• Less effective ways
• Aggression: behavior directed toward harming another living being who is motivated to avoid such treatment
• Relationship between stress and aggression unclear: does stress cause aggression or does aggression cause stress?
• Behavioral disengagement through learned helplessness (Seligman)
• Perception that one lacks control leads to “giving in” to the stressor, but this can lead to depression and stress-related problems
• Indulgences: smoking, eating, drug use, sex
• Defense mechanisms: remember Freud?
• More effective ways
• Constructive coping: active coping (trying to remove/work around stressor), planning (seeking advice, aid, info), social/emotional support, venting emotions, positive reinterpretation of stressor
• Non-avoidant or active strategies that focus on stressor lead to better long-term success
• Laughter/Humor: emotion-focused coping strategy
• Strengthens immune system: increased production of white blood cells
• Leads to venting, mental disengagement, and positive reinterpretation
• Keeping yourself healthy
• Exercise: regular aerobic activity
• Relaxation