Module 21
Psychology 1: General Psychology
J. Marie Hicks,Ph.D. Adjunct Psychology [email protected]
1
INTRODUCTION
Stress
anxious or threatening feeling that comes when we interpret or appraise as being more than our psychological resources can adequately handle
Panic Disorder
Panic Attack
SYMPTOMS
Stress
anxious or threatening feeling that comes when we interpret or appraise as being more than our psychological resources can adequately handle
Panic Disorder
recurrent and unexpected panic attacks
person becomes so worried about having another panic attack that this intense worrying interferes with normal psychological functioning
Panic Attack
period of intense fear or discomfort in which four or more of the following symptoms are present:
pounding heart; sweating
trembling; shortness of breath
feelings of choking; chest pain
nausea; dizziness
fear of losing control or dying
2
APPRAISAL
Primary appraisals
refers to our initial, subjective evaluation of a situation
Three different primary appraisals (examples)
Irrelevant
Positive
stressful
Harm/loss appraisal
Threat appraisal
Challenge appraisal
Galvanic skin response
Same situation, different
appraisals
Primary appraisals
refers to our initial, subjective evaluation of a situation, in which we balance the demands of a potentially stressful situation against our ability to meet these demands
Three different primary appraisals (examples)
irrelevant: mostly nonstressful
positive: mostly nonstressful because it makes you feel good
stressful: overtaxes your emotional and psychological recourses
Harm/loss appraisal
means that you have already sustained some damage or injury
elicits negative emotions, such as fear, depression, fright, and anxiety
feel stressed
more stressful, the more overwhelming the situation will seem
Threat appraisal
means that the harm/loss has not yet taken place but you know it will happen in the near future
elicits negative emotions, such as fear, anxiety, and anger
event or situation seems especially stressful
Challenge appraisal
means that you have the potential for gain or personal growth
need to mobilize your physical energy and psychological resources to meet the challenging situation
elicits positive emotions, such as eagerness or excitement
usually less stressful than harm/loss or a threat appraisal
Galvanic skin response
measure of how much a persons hand sweats due to physiological arousal and not to normal temperature changes
Same situation, different appraisals
people do not agree on which situations are stressful
level of stress depends not only on the kind of situation but also on the kind of primary appraisal one makes
3
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES
Fight-flight response
Sequence for activation of the fight-flight response
appraisal
hypothalamus
sympathetic division
fight-flight response
Fight-flight response
directs great resources of energy to the muscles and the brain
can be triggered by either physical stimuli that threaten our survival or psychological situations that are novel, threatening, or challenging
involves numerous physiological responses that arouse and prepare the body for action
fight or flight
Sequence for activation of the fight-flight response
appraisal
physically or psychologically threatening stimuli can trigger the fight-flight response and negative emotional feelings
fear, rage
hypothalamus
simultaneously activates two stress-related responses: it triggers the pituitary gland to release a stress fighting hormone called ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone)
activates the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system
sympathetic division
activated by hypothalamus
triggers a number of physiological responses
Parasympathetic division
activated by the hypothalamus
returns the body to a more relaxed, calm state
fight-flight response
increases heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, secretion of excitatory hormones, and many other responses
prepares body to deal with impending threat
4
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES
Psychosomatic symptoms
real, sometimes painful, physical symptoms, headaches, muscle pains, stomach problems, and increased susceptibility to colds and flu, caused by worry, stress, and anxiety
psychosomatic is derived from: psyche meaning mind & soma meaning body
Development of symptoms
Genetic predisposition
Lifestyles
Threat appraisals
General adaptation syndrome
Alarm stage
Resistance stage
Exhaustion stage
Psychosomatic symptoms
real, sometimes painful, physical symptoms
headaches, muscle pains, stomach problems, and increased susceptibility to colds and flu
cause, by worry, stress, and anxiety
psychosomatic is derived from:
psyche meaning mind
soma meaning body
Development of symptoms
Genetic predisposition
most of us inherit a tendency that targets a particular organ or bodily system for weakening or breaking down
heart, blood vessels, stomach lining, or immune system
different individuals who are in similar stressful situations experience different kinds of psychosomatic symptoms
Lifestyles
smoking, being overweight, not exercising, or taking little time for relaxing
Threat appraisals
some of us are more likely to appraise situations as threatening
elicit negative emotions
trigger fight-flight response
psychosomatic symptoms
poor lifestyles and too many threat appraisals
can damage or break down body organs that may have already been weakened
General adaptation syndrome
GAS, refers to the bodys reaction to stressful situations during which it goes through a series of three stages (gradually increase the chances of developing psychosomatic symptoms
Alarm stage
initial reaction to stress and is marked by activation of the fight-flight response
causes physiological arousal
Resistance stage
the bodys reaction to continued stress during which most of the physiological responses return to normal levels but the body uses up great stores of energy
Exhaustion stage
the bodys reaction to long-term, continuous stress, marked by actual breakdown in internal organs or weakening of the infection-fighting immune system
5
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES (CONT.)
Mind-body connection
Mind-body therapy
Immune system
psychoneuroimmunology
study of the relationship among three factors
central nervous system
endocrine system
psychosocial factors
Mind-body connection
refers to how your thoughts, beliefs, and emotions can produce physiological changes that may be either beneficial or detrimental to your health and well-being
Mind-body therapy
based on the finding that thoughts and emotions can change physiological and immune responses
uses mental strategies, such as relaxation, meditation, and biofeedback
Immune system
bodys defense and surveillance network of cells and chemicals that fight off bacteria, viruses, and other foreign or toxic substances
psychoneuroimmunology
study of the relationship among three factors
central nervous system
endocrine system
psychosocial factors
6
STRESSFUL EXPERIENCES
Kinds of stress
Hassles
Uplifts
Major life events
Adjustment disorder
condition includes these
symptoms
emotional
behavioral
Kinds of stress
Hassles
small, irritating, frustrating events that we face daily and that we usually appraise or interpret as stressful experiences
Uplifts
small pleasurable, happy, and satisfying experiences that we have in our daily lives
Major life events
potentially disturbing, troubling, or disruptive situations, both positive and negative, that we appraise as having a significant impact on our lives
Adjustment disorder
condition in which a person is unable to cope with or adjust to a major life change
condition includes these symptoms
emotional (feeling depressed, overwhelmed)
behavioral (avoiding social interaction, performing poorly at school or work, making reckless decisions)
7
STRESSFUL EXPERIENCES (CONT.)
Situational stress
Frustration
Burnout
Violence
posttraumatic stress disorder
Conflict
Approach-approach conflict
Avoidance-avoidance conflict
Situational stress
Frustration
the awful feeling that results when your attempts to reach some goal are blocked
Burnout
refers to being physically overwhelmed and exhausted, finding the job unrewarding and becoming cynical or detached, and developing a strong sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment in this particular job
Violence
posttraumatic stress disorder
a disabling condition that results from personally experiencing an event that involves actual or threatened death or serious injury, or from witnessing such an event, or hearing of such an event happening to a family member or close friend
number of psychological symptoms
recurring and disturbing memories
terrible nightmares
intense fear and anxiety
Conflict
the feeling you experience when you must choose between two or more incompatible possibilities or options
Approach-approach conflict
involves choosing between two situations that both have pleasurable consequences
Avoidance-avoidance conflict
involves choosing between two situations that both have disagreeable consequences
8
STRESSFUL EXPERIENCES (CONT.)
Conflict
Five styles of dealing with conflict
Avoidance
Accommodation
Domination
Compromise
Integration
Conflict
Five styles of dealing with conflict
Avoidance
by avoiding or ignoring conflict, it will disappear or magically go away
Accommodation
hate conflicts and tend to please people and worry about approval
Domination
go to any lengths to win, even if it means being aggressive and manipulative
Compromise
recognize that others have different needs and try to solve conflicts through compromise
Integration
try to resolve conflicts by finding solutions to please both partners
9
STRESSFUL EXPERIENCES (CONT.)
Anxiety
unpleasant state characterized by feelings of uneasiness and apprehension as well as increased physiological arousal, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure
Conditioned emotional response
Observational learning
Anxiety (according to Freud)
Positive, desirable, healthful stress
Eustress
Hardiness
combination of the three personal strengths of:
Control
Commitment
Challenge
Anxiety
unpleasant state characterized by feelings of uneasiness and apprehension as well as increased physiological arousal, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure
Conditioned emotional response
results when an emotional response (fear or anxiety) is classically conditioned to a previously neutral stimulus
Observational learning
form of cognitive learning
results from watching and modeling
does not require the observer to perform any observable behavior or receive a reinforcer
Anxiety (according to Freud)
when there is an unconscious conflict between the ids and superegos desires regarding how to satisfy a need (ego caught in the middle)
egos solution: create a feeling of anxiety
Positive stress
Eustress
pleasant
desirable
stress that is healthful and keeps us engaged in situations
Hardiness
combination of three personality traits:
control
commitment
challenge
10
PERSONALITY & SOCIAL FACTORS
Locus of control
a continuum
Optimism Versus Pessimism
Optimism
Pessimism
Positive Psychology
scientific study of optimal human functioning
Locus of control
a continuum
one end is the belief that you are basically in control of lifes events
what you do influences the situation
belief is called an internal locus of control
other end is the belief that chance and luck mostly determine what happens
you do not have much influence
belief is called an external locus of control
Optimism Versus Pessimism
Optimism
relatively stable personality trait that leads to believing and expecting that good things will happen
Pessimism
relatively stable personality trait that leads to believing and expecting that bad things will happen
Positive Psychology
scientific study of optimal human functioning
focuses on the strengths and virtues that enable individuals and communities to thrive
aims to better understand the positive, adaptive, and fulfilling aspects of human life
11
PERSONALITY & SOCIAL FACTORS
Type A Behavior 1970s (impatient, hostile, workaholic)
Type A
Type B
Type A Behavior 1980s-1990s
Type A
defined in the 1980s as
defined in the 1990s as
Type D Behavior
negative affectivity
social inhibition
Type A Behavior 1970s (impatient, hostile, workaholic)
Type A
refers to a combination of personality traits that include and overly competitive and aggressive drive to achieve
hostile attitude when frustrated
habitual sense of time urgency
rapid and explosive pattern of speaking
being a workaholic
Type B
characterized as being easygoing, calm, relaxed, and patient
Type A Behavior 1980s-1990s
Type A
defined in the 1980s as
being depressed
easily frustrated
anxious
angry
some combination of these traits
defined in the 1990s
specifies an individual who feels angry and hostile much of the time
may or may not express these emotions publicly
Type D Behavior
defined as chronic distress in terms of two emotional states
negative affectivity
worry
irritability
gloom
social inhibition
shy and reserved
lacking self-assurance
12
PERSONALITY & SOCIAL FACTORS, COPING
Social Support
refers to three factors:
network
exchange helpful resources
feeling, or making appraisals
Appraisal
Secondary appraisal
Problem focused
Emotion focused
Social Support
refers to three factors:
having a group or network of family or friends who provide strong social attachments
being able to exchange helpful resources among family or friends
feeling, or making appraisals, that we have supportive relationships and behaviors
Appraisal
Secondary appraisal
deciding to deal with a potentially stressful situation by using one or both of two different coping patterns
Problem focused
means we try to decrease stress by solving the problem through seeking information
changing our own behavior
taking whatever action is needed to resolve the difficulty
Emotion focused
means we do things primarily to deal with our emotional distress
seeking support and sympathy
avoiding or denying the situation
13
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