PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Explanation of behaviour that refer to the body systems cells, muscles, blood, hormones and the nervous system.

PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY

Physiological Psychology

STRESS

Section 1 Stress as a bodily response Section 3 Critical Issues: Stress management

Section 2 Sources of stress

What is stress?
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Pressures, demands (stressors), exert force on the body, stress is the bodys response to this.
A stress response is an innate, defensive and adaptive reaction

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Stress levels also depend on whether the person feels that they can cope with demands placed on them or not
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Stress Definition
Stress is a state of psychological and physical tension produced when an individual perceives that they are unable to cope with the demands imposed on them by a stressor. The consequent state of tension can be adaptive (eustress) or maladaptive (distress)

Effects of stress

STRESSORS

Family Relations Disagreements FLIGHT Money Worries RETURN TO NORMAL

Need to Succeed Exams Friends COPING

Decisions RELAXATION New Situations NOT COPING

POOR DIET NO EXERCISE NEGATIVE THOUGHT

POSSIBLE DISEASE OR MENTAL ILLNESS

IRRITABILITY

EXHAUSTION

The Biology Of Stress

PHYSIOLOGICAL AROUSAL :
Walter Cannon(1932) The response to

stress Stress and the nervous system

Neurons
Neurotransmitters

AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Automatically responds to stressor Sympathetic Parasympathetic

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM

GLANDS

HORMONES

Contrasting Communication Systems

Nervous
Consists of nerve cells Acts by transmitting nerve impulses

Endocrine
Consists of ductless glands Acts by releasing hormones

Acts rapidly
Direct control Specified localised effects of neurotransmitters

Acts slowly
Indirect control Hormones spread around body Hormones remain in blood for some time

Short lived effects

Homeostasis
The process of maintaining a reasonable constant internal environment in the body.

98.6 F
37 C

or

-Hypothalamic -Pituitary -Adrenal - axis

Sympathetic Adrenal Medullary System

SAM
HPA

Work together to control stress response

Effects of SAM activity

Heightened activity of SAM prepares us for Fight or Flight. Increase in energy Increased alertness Increased blood flow to the muscles Increased heart and respiration rate Reduced activity in digestive system Increased release of clotting factors in the blood Adrenaline and Noradrenaline increase the output of the heart ,which can cause increase in Blood Pressure.

Effects of HPA activity

+ Cortisol is important for coping with long term stress,it maintains a steady supply of fuel. +Glucocorticoids conserve glucos for neural tissues, elevate or stabilise blood glucose levels,mobilise protein reserves, conserve salts and water. +Cortisol helps reverse bodies initial stress responses and helps body to revert to a stable state.

Effects of HPA activity

- The blood has elevated levels of glucose (for energy) and hormones (ACTH and adrenaline) so the body continues to use its resources fast. - The anti inflammatory action of glucocorticoids slows wound healing - Glucocorticoids suppress the immune system which protects the body against viruses and bacteria.(so we are more likely to pick up infection.)

General Adaptation Syndrome G.A.S

Hans Selye(1936) STRESS research PIONEER

Rats showed same symptoms in response to all of Stimuli. General state of stress

STAGE 1 . ALARM:

STAGE 2. RESISTANCE

STAGE 3. EXHAUSTION

Evaluation of GAS
+ Pioneering research into stress + Alerted medicine to the importance of stress in disease - Not much attention paid to SAM , the relationship between SAM and HPA not fully appreciated - Stress does not always produce the same physiological patterns. Mason (1975)different patterns of adrenaline/noradrenaline and cortisol for different stressors. - Criticised for use of non human animals - Suggestion that people respond in a passive way to stress. Mason.

How does stress cause physical illness?

DIRECTLY
SUPPRESSING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM Leucocytes (white blood cells) Lymphocytes (B Cells or T Cells) Anti bodies Natural killer cells Endorphins CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS Hypertension CHD Strokes

INDIRECTLY
Changes in health practices that will increase risk of illness
Smoking Drinking Drugs Sleeplessness Exercise less

What sorts of illness does stress cause?

Monkey
CHD Friedman & Rosenman

Air Traffic Controller

Ulcers Brady

Hypertension
Cobb & Rose

Business Man

Sources of Stress
Lesson objectives: Identifying sources of stress Theory-Assessing own stress levels using SRRS, a way of identifying a link with life events, sources of stress and illness. Evidence for SRRS Evaluating this approach Checking knowledge.

SOURCES OF STRESS Transactional Model Cox (1978)

LIFE EVENTS as stressors Social Readjustment Rating Scale Holmes and Rahe Key Study : Rahe et al stress of life events Correlation stress related illness

De Longis et al
DAILY HASSLES & UPLIFTS

e.g.

rising prices home maintenance crime physical appearance (bad hair day?) recreation weight
relations with friends / family good weather job promotion

Work Place Stress

Pressures of work

Work environment

BURNOUT

Key Study : Marmot et al Workplace Stressors

NOISE (Glass et al)

Predictability

Controllability

Higher Stress?

Control

Lack of Control

Langer and Rodin Old Peoples Homes

Individual Differences
Can be innate or learned Personality Friedman & Rosenman
Gender Culture Taylor Franken Houser Hastrup et al Ogden Gyton & Hall

Hardiness - Kobasa

Weg Anderson Cooper et al Bailey & Dua

STRESS !
Critical Issue

STRESS MANAGEMENT

STRESS MANAGEMENT
Physiological Approaches Psychological Approaches

Bio feedback

Cognitive therapies .Stress inoculation

training

Anti Anxiety Drugs Beta Blockers Benzodiazepines

.Hardiness training
Social Support

MULTIDIMENTIONAL COPING INVENTORY

Coping strategies that different people use to handle stressful situation

Task orientated strategy Emotional orientated strategy Avoidance orientated strategy