PSYCH 202 1st Edition Lecture 4Stress is objective AND subjective-Objective stressors (2 classes):-Major life events (Holmes and Rahe: SRRS)-Death of spouse-Divorce-Jail/prison term-Death of close family member-Marriage-Loss of job-Daily hassles-People with large #'s of hassles are more emotionally distressed-Stressful life events affect us through the daily hassles they produce*-Stressful life events produce daily hassles-Stress objectively affects physiology also-Objective physiology of stress in 3rd graders-Epinephrine (adrenaline)-Cortisol-Both are higher in noisy environments-Hypothalamus: works with pituitary gland-CRF: hypothalamus (releases CRF) to anterior pituitary-CRF: corticotrophin releasing factor-ACTH: adrenocorticotropic hormone --Too much cortisol leads to:-Lower immune system-Lowers hippocampal neurogenesis-Increases visceral fat (can lead to diabetes and cancer)-Increases arterial plaque (can lead to heart disease and stroke)-Stress is an objective response (or set of responses)-Physiological and psychological stress-responses (stress-reactions) develop in relation to challenging events (stressors) experienced by individuals-These stress-reactions often become chronically present and may include:-Physiological production of stress-hormones (adrenaline, cortisol)-Negative cognitive appraisals (perception of harm and threat)-Behavioral habits non-conducive to health (patterns of sleep, eating, drug and alcohol use, physical activity, maladaptive recruitment of social support)-Emotional habits/tendencies toward emotional instability-neuroticism/over-reactivity (chronic irritability, anger, guilt worry)-And subjectivity matters also: the impact of major life events depends on individual differences in:-Appraisal-Coping (problem solving approaches, style of emotional coping)-Consider different persons responses to:-Divorce sudden unemployment-Disease-onset-All life-events represent potential stressors and are "appraised"-3 kinds of appraisal are possible to challenge:-Harm: a damaging event has occurred-Threat: a potential future harm is appraised as approaching-Challenges: events appraised as opportunities rather than threats-*harm and threat appraisals induce psychological stress-Perception -> appraisal -> emotions/coping-Coping and negative emotions, and "stress-reactivity" depend heavily on:-The personality (cognitive style and trait organization) of the perceiver-The non-personality produced mental andbehavioral habits of the perceiver (stress-management styles and skills)-People can learn to respond to stress: stress-management-Stress is both a response and a process of adjustment-Stress-reactions are not static! They are continually, dynamically produced as functions of cognitive re-appraisal, behavioral coping and emotional re-processing-We appraise all events, and in so appraising we express core personality traits-Levels of optimism, self-efficacy, hardiness, neuroticism, agreeableness, stress-reactivity-Personality traits that create vulnerability to stress-reactions (low self-efficacy, low optimism, high pessimism, high neuroticism, high stress-reactivity) can be modulated with concentrated focus on behavioral and emotional health-Balanced living through exercise and intake; healthy relationships; consistent efforts to examine and modify negative mental habits of appraisal and emotional processing-Practicing seeing events as challenges, and the self as capable of managing ability to cope, reduce stress-Psychotherapy and meditation target re-appraisal of our experiences, along with developing new coping skills-Therapy and stress-management target positive emotional modulation-So, stress-management targets the positive modulation of personality dispositions-Remember: personality dispositions were defined earlier as "individual's distinct and relatively enduring pattern of thoughts, feelings, motives, and behaviors"-Appraisal modulates stress thru "thoughts" (andemotions)-Coping modulates stress through "behaviors" (and emotions)-Can happiness be developed? Sukha-Suhka: a state of flourishing that arises from mental balance and insight into the nature of reality. Rather than a fleeting emotion or mood aroused by sensory and conceptual stimuli, suhka is an enduring trait that arised from a mind in a state of equilibrium andentails a conceptually unstructured and unfiltered awareness of the true nature of reality. Many Buddhist contemplatives claim to have experiences sukha, which increases as a result of sustained training.-The ideal here is not simply to achieve one's own individual happiness in isolation from others, but to incorporate the recognition of one's deep kinship with all beings, who share the same yearning to be free of suffering and to find a lasting state of well-being.-The target is: afflictive emotions and personality-Craving-Hatred-Delusions of independent selfhood (ego?)-What builds the trait of enduring happiness?-Attending to states of afflictive emotion-Of pleasure and unpleasure-Developing equanimity and compassion-Decreasing neuroticism and