Research Paper: Stress and Perception of Emotional Stimuli ...
Outline 1. Stress – definition 2. 3 components of stress Frustration Conflict Pressure 3. 4...
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Transcript of Outline 1. Stress – definition 2. 3 components of stress Frustration Conflict Pressure 3. 4...
Outline
1. Stress – definition
2. 3 components of stress Frustration Conflict Pressure
3. 4 important factors Nature of the stress Perception of the stress Stress tolerance External resources
Outline
5. Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
6. Stress and Anxiety Incidence Assessment
7. Test Anxiety
Stress - definitions
Stress A response to situations that involve demands, constraints, or opportunities
Stress - definitions
Stress Stressor
Anything which requires a person to adapt to changing conditions
Stress - definitions
Stress Stressor Coping strategy
The strategy adopted to manage the stress and the stressor
Stress - definitions
Stress Stressor Coping strategy Eustress
Stress produced as part of positive life experiences
Eu- same beginning as the words Eutopia and evangelist
Stress - definitions
Stress Stressor Coping strategy Eustress Dystress (distress)
Stress produced as part of negative life experiences
3 Components of Stress
Frustration When attainment of goal is blocked
Or when goal itself is missing
3 Components of Stress
Frustration Conflict
Conflict – forced choice between two or more important goals
Approach – avoidance Approach – approach Avoidance – avoidance
3 Components of Stress
Frustration Conflict Pressure
Pressure – a constraint that works to shape your behavior in a certain way
Can be internally-imposed or externally-imposed
Stress – 4 important factors
Nature of the stress Severity Duration Imminence Other simultaneous
stressors
Stress – 4 important factors
Nature of the stress Perception of the
stressor
Is minor setback seen as serious challenge?
Is serious challenge seen as minor setback?
Stress – 4 important factors
Nature of the stress Perception of the
stressor Stress-tolerance
Two people could have similar perceptions of a stressor, but respond very differently to it
Biologically-based, but can be learned to some extent
Stress – 4 important factors
Nature of the stress Perception of the
stressor Stress-tolerance External resources
E.g., money, social support
Chandrasena et al. (1991) – study of suicide cases: no immigrants in sample had acquired a social support network after arriving in Canada
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
Hans Selye – Canadian endocrinologist
Born in Hungary, studied in Prague and at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
McGill 1932-1976 Founded Canadian
Institute of Stress 1979
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
Selye first suggested that humans have a general reaction to stressors
His GAS model indicates three stages of response to stress: Alarm Resistance Exhaustion
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
Alarm Recruits energy and attention
Stops non-essential processes
Improves perception within a narrow focus
Produces analgesia Inhibits growth & the
immune system
Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome
Alarm Resistance Exhaustion
Resources depleted Cognitive function
compromised Person tires easily Blood pressure
increases, producing heart disease and stroke
Immune system depressed
Anxiety
Anxiety – an emotional state caused by stress
Anxiety disorders: a set of internalizing disorders with physical & mental effects (e.g., rumination)
Marked by worry, apprehension, tension
Physical effects include bodily tension, elevated heart rate, sweaty palms
Anxiety
Fight-or-flight response evolved to deal with emergencies – but a person should not be in that state over a long period of time.
Negative mood, worry about future being unpredictable & uncontrollable
Chronic over-arousal, tendency to avoid anxiety-provoking situations
Anxiety - Incidence
Common disorder – e.g., in U.S., 23 million affected each year – costs US $42.3 billion/year
Most common type of disorder for women (30%)
Second most common type of disorder for men (19%)
Co-morbidity common with other depression, other anxiety disorders
Anxiety
Six primary types of anxiety disorder:
Phobic Disorders (Specific and Social) Panic Disorder (with and w/o Agoraphobia) Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Acute Stress Disorder (ASD)
Some common specific phobias
Phobia Target
Acrophobia HeightsAlgophobia PainAstraphobia Thunderstorms & lightningClaustrophobia Enclosed placesHydrophobia WaterMonophobia Being aloneMysophobia Contamination or germsNyctophobia DarknessOchlophobia CrowdsPathophobia DiseasePyrophobia FireZoophobia Animals, or some particular animal
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
Excessive anxiety and worry occurring more days than not for a period of at least 6 months, about a number of events or activities
The individual finds it difficult to control the worry
Generalized Anxiety Disorder
3 of these 6 symptoms: Restless, keyed up, on edge
Easily fatigued Difficulty concentrating Irritability Muscle tension Sleep disturbance
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
State: anxiety level varies from one situation to another
Trait: enduring personality characteristic
STAI – 40 items (20 state, 20 trait); responses on 4 point scale indicate agreement with each item
Groups or individuals; no time limit and takes about 15 minutes; 5-6th grade reading level
Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
Good reliability for Trait: .73 to .86 (Test-retest)
Low reliability for State – which is expected
Good concurrent validity – STAI-Trait correlates well with other measures of anxiety
Good discriminant validity – e.g., STAI-State gave different scores within subjects tested before and after successful major surgery
Beck Anxiety Inventory
21-item, self-report, paper and pencil
Reliability = Alpha .92 Validity = good on
content, criterion, and construct
Check for anxiety Support findings on a
broader measure like the MMPI-2 (BAI is a more specific, so more sensitive, test)
Test Anxiety
Mandler & Sarason (1952) Test anxiety is an
emotional state in response to being tested (either formally or informally)
Eysenck’s theory worry uses up Working
Memory, leaving little capacity left for task performance
Mandler & Sarason (1952)
Task relevant responses – aimed at accomplishing task at hand
Positive response to test situation
Task irrelevant responses – thinking about things other than task at hand
Negative response to test situation
Test Anxiety Questionnaire
Mandler & Sarason (1952)
TAQ assesses pre-disposition to think or act in ways that interfere with completion of a task
Highly reliable Some evidence for
validity Focus on situation –
TAQ measures state anxiety