PSYCH 202 1st Edition Lecture 3From Personality to Stress-"Stress-reactivity" is an individual difference factor, a predisposing "trait"oSome people may be more disposed to perceive events as hasslesoSome people are more disposed to experience major stressful eventsoExamples-OptimismThe trait of "optimism" is associated with the following empirical findings:-Less illness symptoms in college and beyond-More active approach to stress and problem solving-Higher levels of academic success and performance-More likely to complete treatment programs for alcoholism-More likely to make quick, full recovery from coronary bypass surgery-Immune system functioning of optimists is higher-Optimists respond to stressors with smaller increases in blood pressure-Cardiac patients with minimal optimism (higher "hopelessness") have higher rates of new heart attacks are twice as likely to die than persons with low hopelessness-Self-Efficacy (Albert Bandura**)Degree to which a person believes (cognitive variable) they havecontrol over reinforcement of their life or what happens to them or that they can improve the things in their lives-Can you persevere when faced with obstacles in your life-High self-efficacy = high optimism-HardinessA trait of people demonstrate:-Commitment: sense of purpose/involvement with work and family-Challenge: openness to new experiences and desire to embrace them-Control: belief that one has power to influence important future outcomes-- high "self-efficacy" and low "learned helplessness"-Hardy people experience less stressful hassles-Respond to threat and challenge with less physiological stress-All 3 reflect low stress-reactivity-Higher stress-reactivity: pessimistic, low SE, low hardiness, and highly neurotic and disagreeableSymptoms of psychopathology, mental disorder, personal distress, and reduced physical health-What is "stress"?oHans Selye distinguished "stressors" from "stress"-1950's: he examined its role in health and disease-**Video-Stress is nonspecific response of the organism to any pressure or demand-General adaptation syndrome-Selye's Distinctions:A stressor is:-"astimulus-event that produces a stress response"Where are our "stressors"?-External stressors: loss of job, relationship problems, classes not going well-Internal stressors: chronic self criticism/depressive thinking/social anxiety/hostility (unstable emotionality or "neuroticism"), chronic circulating stress-hormones (dysregulated HPA axis)General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)-3 stages-Alarm: sympathetic nervous system is activated-Adrenaline flows-HPA Axis is activated-Resistance-Plateau stage-Antibodies are sent to wound in case of physical harm-Exhaustion-Stage of depletion-Begins to develop decay and deterioration-Leads to premature deathSelye's view is that stress is the total response of your organism (mind and body) to whatever stressors you
View Full Document