Stress
Define stress.
Stress is the body's response to any demand or threat.
Provide an example of a situation in which it would be most appropriate to use emotion focused coping.
- Loss of a loved one
- Serious Illness
Anything you can't change
This hormone is released during the stress response.
What is cortisol?
Provide two examples of how gratitude can be practiced.
- Gratitude Journal
- Savoring the moment
- Thank you letters
- Verbal Appreciation
What is well-being?
a state of happiness and contentment, with low levels of distress, overall good physical and mental health and outlook, or good quality of life
What happens to the body during the exhaustion stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, and why is this stage considered dangerous to long-term health?
During exhaustion, the body's resources become depleted after prolonged stress exposure. The immune system weakens, stress hormone levels drop, and the body becomes vulnerable to illness and disease.
Provide an example of a situation in which it would be most appropriate to use problem focused coping.
- Academic Stress
- Performance Stress (musical, athletic)
Anything you can help control
This brain region is responsible for the typical stress response.
What is the amygdala? (fight or flight)
Name two of the 6 signature strengths.
wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, and transcendence
What is the most common way happiness is measured by psychologists?
Self-report surveys
Distinguish between distress and eustress with one example of each.
- Distress is negative stress that impairs functioning (example: anxiety before a difficult exam you're unprepared for).
- Eustress is positive stress that motivates and enhances performance (example: excitement and nervous energy before performing in a school play).
Provide two examples of emotion-focused coping strategies that someone might use after experiencing a disappointing event.
- Talking with friends or family members about feelings to gain emotional support and perspective
- Engaging in relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or exercise to manage negative emotions.
This is what the body strives to return to after experiencing a stress response.
What is homeostasis?
Explain the benefits of practicing gratitude and describe how gratitude contributes to overall well-being according to positive psychology research.
Gratitude involves appreciating the good things in one's life. Benefits include increased happiness, improved relationships, better physical health, and enhanced resilience. Gratitude shifts focus from what's lacking to what's present and valued, promoting a more positive mindset. Regular gratitude practice increases positive emotions and life satisfaction.
Why did Martin Seligman want to study positive psychology?
He felt psychologists had focused on disordered behavior for much of the discipline's history and wanted to study the habits of those with high subjective well beings.
According to Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome, what are the three stages a person experiences when facing a prolonged stressor?
(1) Alarm stage, (2) Resistance stage, and (3) Exhaustion stage.
Provide two examples of how a student might use a problem focused coping strategy when facing academic stress.
- A student creates a study schedule and breaks down material into manageable sections to prepare for an exam
- A student meets with a teacher to discuss difficult concepts and ask for tutoring resources.
What biological measures can scientists use to measure happiness/well-being?
higher activation in the left prefrontal lobe, increased levels of dopamine, serotonin and endorphin, and changes in hormonal levels
Define signature strengths and explain why identifying and using your signature strengths can enhance life satisfaction.
Signature strengths are the character strengths that feel most essential to who you are and come naturally to you. Using signature strengths in daily life increases engagement, motivation, and authenticity. When people build their lives around their signature strengths, they experience greater life satisfaction, improved performance, and a stronger sense of purpose and identity.
Who is known as the "father" of positive psychology?
Martin Seligman
During the alarm stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, what physiological changes occur in the body as the sympathetic nervous system activates?
The sympathetic nervous system triggers the "fight-or-flight" response, causing increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, dilated pupils, increased respiration, release of adrenaline and cortisol, decreased digestion, and heightened alertness and muscle tension.
Define emotion-focused coping and explain how it differs from problem-focused coping in addressing stress.
Emotion-focused coping involves managing the emotional response to stress rather than addressing the stressor itself. While problem-focused coping targets the source of stress directly, emotion-focused coping helps regulate feelings about the stressor. Both strategies are valuable; problem-focused coping works best for controllable stressors, while emotion-focused coping is useful when the stressor cannot be changed.
Provide two major effects that chronic stress can have on physical health.
Weakened immune system
Hypertension
Define posttraumatic growth and provide one example of how someone might experience positive psychological change following a traumatic event.
Posttraumatic growth is positive psychological change experienced as a result of struggling with a highly challenging life circumstance. Example: After surviving a serious illness, someone might develop deeper relationships, gain a renewed appreciation for life, discover inner strength they didn't know they had, or find new purpose in helping others facing similar challenges.
According to the tend-and-befriend theory, how do females typically respond to stress differently than the traditional "fight-or-flight" response?
The tend-and-befriend theory suggests that females often respond to stress by tending to their young and affiliating with others for support (tend-and-befriend response) rather than fighting or fleeing. This response involves nurturing behaviors and seeking social connection to manage stress