What are some theories about stress?
- The Approach-Approach Conflict
- The Avoidance-Avoidance Conflict
- The Approach-Avoidance Conflict
- The Double Approach-Avoidance Conflict Let’s take a quick look at each of these now. ...
- Cognitive effects
- Physiological effects
- Behavioral effects Let’s take a quick look at each of these now. ...
- The James-Lange Theory
- The Cannon-Bard Theory
What is Lazarus and Folkman theory of stress and coping?
The most influential theory of stress and coping was developed by Lazarus and Folkman (1984) who defined stress as resulting from an imbalance between perceived external or internal demands and the perceived personal and social resources to deal with them. People also ask, what is Lazarus theory of stress?
What is cognitive appraisal theory of stress?
In this theory, cognitive appraisal is defined as the way in which an individual responds to and interprets stressors in life. People also ask, what is the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion? In simple terms, a cognitive appraisal is an assessment of an emotional situation wherein a person evaluates how the event will affect them, interprets the various aspects of the event, and arrives at a response based on that interpretation.
What is psychological stress theory?
What Is Psychological Stress? Stress is something everybody experiences throughout life. It is how the body and brain react to any need or demand that it sees as a challenge or obstacle. However, it is not necessarily a negative, as some people see short-term stress as motivating, as with an exam or job interview. 1
Why is CBT so effective?
Because CBT focuses on symptoms experienced in the here and now, and because stress is just such a symptom, it ( CBT) is a very effective method of treating stress with a strong evidence base to support this (it is also cost effective and efficient in terms of time).
Why is CBT helpful?
CBT is useful in treating stress because it challenges the core assumptions we make (our maladaptive thinking) that contribute or even create our experience of stress, or our interpretation of an event as stressful or not . In the above case study, Nicks belief that he requires control in the workplace, or that controlling his work environment is an achievable goal could be challenged. His homework would include different approaches to his working day such as ensuring he takes regular breaks and he would ‘see for himself’ the cognitive errors that have resulted in the maladaptive thinking that you have to be on the go all the time at work to succeed etc. Because CBT focuses on symptoms experienced in the here and now, and because stress is just such a symptom, it (CBT) is a very effective method of treating stress with a strong evidence base to support this (it is also cost effective and efficient in terms of time).
What happens during the alarm stage?
During the alarm stage the body reacts to the stressor with a ‘fight or flight’ response in which the parasympathetic nervous system is activated and hormones (e.g. adrenalin and noradrenaline) are released from the adrenal medulla (Richard Gross, 2010). If the stressor remains, the body then goes into the resistance stage during which it may outwardly appear to be functioning normally, however levels of blood glucose, cortisol (stimulated by adrenocorticotrophic hormones known as ACTH) and adrenaline remain higher than normal and the individual’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing will be higher than normal. The individual may appear calm but they are physically and mentally at ‘action stations’ (currentnursing.com, 2014). During the final, exhaustion stage the further release of ACTH is inhibited by the hormones it has already stimulated and the levels of ACTH itself circulating in the blood. At this point the body begins to use up its energy reserves or resources and the body cannot function adequately. Blood sugar levels drop and the individual becomes vulnerable to disease and death. As Nicky Hayes (1994, p450) states ‘This [final stage] produces an immediate and strong – sometimes excessive – reaction to even mild sources of additional stress’.
What is the cognitive appraisal theory of stress?
Unlike the GAS model of stress, the Cognitive Appraisal Theory of stress focuses on an individual’s cognition of a stressor which informs their emotional response. It is ‘a theory of emotion which implicates peoples personal interpretation of an event in determining their emotional reaction’ (psychcentral, 2014).
What is the Selye's general adaptation syndrome?
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome of Stress is a model that analyses an individual’s response to long term stress which is broken down into three main stages, the initial alarm stage, the interim resistance stage and finally the exhaustion stage (Nicky Hayes, 1994). If the stressor persists the individual will progress through each of the stages, and in some cases disease and even death can result.
Why did Nick's GP prescribe Benzodiazepine?
Nick’s GP prescribed the anti-anxiety drug Benzodiazepine to help him cope with stress symptoms.
What is CBT therapy?
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a practical therapy which focuses on problems in the present, rather than issues from an individual’s past.
Why did Selye create the word "stressor"?
Because it was apparent that most people viewed stress as some unpleasant threat, Selye subsequently had to create a new word, stressor, to distinguish stimulus from response . Stress was generally considered as being synonymous with distress and dictionaries defined it as “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension” or “a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.” Thus, stress was put in a negative light and its positive effects ignored. However, stress can be helpful and good when it motivates people to accomplish more.
Why is the roller coaster analogy useful?
The roller coaster analogy is useful in explaining why the same stressor can differ so much for each of us. What distinguished the passengers in the back from those up front was the sense of control they had over the event. While neither group had any more or less control their perceptions and expectations were quite different. Many times we create our own stress because of faulty perceptions you can learn to correct. You can teach people to move from the back of the roller coaster to the front, and, as Eleanor Roosevelt noted, nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent. While everyone can’t agree on a definition of stress, all of our experimental and clinical research confirms that the sense of having little or no control is always distressful – and that’s what stress is all about.
What does Selye mean by stress?
In attempting to extrapolate his animal studies to humans so that people would understand what he meant, he redefined stress as “The rate of wear and tear on the body”. This is actually a pretty good description of biological aging so it is not surprising that increased stress can accelerate many aspects of the aging process. In his later years, when asked to define stress, he told reporters, “Everyone knows what stress is, but nobody really knows.”
Why is stress so hard to define?
As noted, stress is difficult to define because it is so different for each of us. A good example is afforded by observing passengers on a steep roller coaster ride. Some are hunched down in the back seats, eyes shut, jaws clenched and white knuckled with an iron grip on the retaining bar. They can’t wait for the ride in the torture chamber to end so they can get back on solid ground and scamper away. But up front are the wide-eyed thrill seekers, yelling and relishing each steep plunge who race to get on the very next ride. And in between you may find a few with an air of nonchalance that borders on boredom. So, was the roller coaster ride stressful?
What did Selye observe in his experiments?
Selye had noted in numerous experiments that laboratory animals subjected to acute but different noxious physical and emotional stimuli (blaring light, deafening noise, extremes of heat or cold, perpetual frustration) all exhibited the same pathologic changes of stomach ulcerations, shrinkage of lymphoid tissue and enlargement of the adrenals.
Why is stress not a useful term for scientists?
What is Stress? Stress is not a useful term for scientists because it is such a highly subjective phenomenon that it defies definition. And if you can’t define stress, how can you possibly measure it?
What was Selye's idea of tuberculosis?
Tuberculosis was due to the tubercle bacillus, anthrax by the anthrax bacillus, syphilis by a spirochete, etc. What Selye proposed was just the opposite, namely that many different insults could cause the same disease, not only in animals, but in humans as well.
