Psychology / Unit 8: Motivation and Emotion
8.5 Stress
Notes
Stress is the body's response to events seen as challenging or threatening. A stressor is the trigger.
- Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome: alarm (fight or flight), resistance (body fights the stressor), exhaustion (resources run low).
- Lazarus and Folkman: stress depends on appraisal of the stressor and of your ability to cope.
- Types: eustress (positive, motivating) and distress (negative).
- Long-term stress can affect sleep, mood, the immune system and heart health.
- Stress hormones: adrenaline and cortisol, released by the adrenal glands.
- Example: a student feels the alarm stage before a big game, then settles into resistance during the season.
Practice
During the alarm stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome, a person typically experiences:
Alarm is the initial reaction.
Which is an example of eustress?
Positive, motivating stress is eustress.
Long-term stress that drains the body's resources is the _____ stage of the GAS.
Exhaustion occurs when prolonged stress depletes resources.
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