Biological Psychology: Stress

Biological psychology is concerned with explanations of behaviour that refer to the body systems — cells, muscles, blood, hormones, and the nervous system Psychologists often combine biological explanations with psychological and sociological ones — this is called the biopsychosocial approach Stress is a biopsychological topic

Biological psychology is concerned with explanations of behaviour that refer to the body systems — cells, muscles, blood, hormones, and the nervous system

Psychologists often combine biological explanations with psychological and sociological ones — this is called the biopsychosocial approach

Stress is a biopsychological topic

Stress as a Bodily Response Defining stress "The nonspecific response of the body to any demand" (Selye, 1950) Demands are called stressors A stress response is an innate, defensive, and adaptive reaction that promotes survival

Defining stress

"The nonspecific response of the body to any demand" (Selye, 1950)

Demands are called stressors

A stress response is an innate, defensive, and adaptive reaction that promotes survival

The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) (1) The nervous system is divided into two main sub-systems: Central nervous system (CNS): brain and spinal cord Peripheral nervous system (PNS): all of the other nerve cells in the body PNS is further divided into somatic and autonomic nervous system

The nervous system is divided into two main sub-systems:

Central nervous system (CNS): brain and spinal cord

Peripheral nervous system (PNS): all of the other nerve cells in the body

PNS is further divided into somatic and autonomic nervous system

The Role of the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) (2) ANS is a largely automatic, self-regulating system Sympathetic branch Activates internal organs ("fight or flight" response) Parasympathetic branch Conservation and storage of resources Endocrine system Glands that secrete hormones

ANS is a largely automatic, self-regulating system

Sympathetic branch

Activates internal organs ("fight or flight" response)

Parasympathetic branch

Conservation and storage of resources

Endocrine system

Glands that secrete hormones

Homeostasis: A Steady Internal State (1) Homeostasis: A steady internal state

Homeostasis: A steady internal state

General Adaptation Syndrome 3 stages (Selye 1936, 1950)

3 stages (Selye 1936, 1950)

Stress and Physical Illness Stress and hypertension (Cobb & Rose, 1973) Stress and heart attacks (Kario et al., 2003) Coronary heart disease (CHD) (Friedman & Rosenman, 1959) Stress and infections (Cohen et al., 1991) Stress and stomach ulcers (Brady, 1958; Weiner et al., 1957)

Stress and hypertension (Cobb & Rose, 1973)

Stress and heart attacks (Kario et al., 2003)

Coronary heart disease (CHD) (Friedman & Rosenman, 1959)

Stress and infections (Cohen et al., 1991)

Stress and stomach ulcers (Brady, 1958; Weiner et al., 1957)

Stress and the Immune System Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) Negative effects (Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 1984) No effects (Bachen et al., 1997) Positive effects (Robles et al., 2005) Different effects of short- and long-term stressors (Segerstrom and Miller, 2004)

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI)

Negative effects (Kiecolt-Glaser et al., 1984)

No effects (Bachen et al., 1997)

Positive effects (Robles et al., 2005)

Different effects of short- and long-term stressors (Segerstrom and Miller, 2004)

Sources of Stress (1) Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) Examined 5000 patient records and noted 43 life events that seemed to precede illness 400 people then rated these events Averaged each rating for each life change Used by asking participant to indicate which out of 43 life events has happened to them in the last 6 months, then add up the life change units for the event indicated

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Examined 5000 patient records and noted 43 life events that seemed to precede illness

400 people then rated these events

Averaged each rating for each life change

Used by asking participant to indicate which out of 43 life events has happened to them in the last 6 months, then add up the life change units for the event indicated

Sources of Stress (2) Holmes and Rahe (1967): 10 most stressful life events 1. Death of a spouse (100) 2. Divorce (73) 3. Marital separation (65) 4. Jail term (63) 5. Death of a close family member (63) 6. Personal injury/illness (53) 7. Marriage (50) 8. Lose job (47) 9. Marital reconciliation (45) 10. Retirement (43) Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) (life change units in brackets)

Holmes and Rahe (1967): 10 most stressful life events

1. Death of a spouse (100)

2. Divorce (73)

3. Marital separation (65)

4. Jail term (63)

5. Death of a close family member (63)

6. Personal injury/illness (53)

7. Marriage (50)

8. Lose job (47)

9. Marital reconciliation (45)

10. Retirement (43)

Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) (life change units in brackets)

Hassles and Uplifts Rather than focus on major life events, daily stressors (hassles) may better predict illness (DeLongis et al., 1982) Hassles include: concerns about overcrowding, weight, rising prices, home maintenance, losing things, crime, and physical appearance Uplifts include: recreation, relations with friends, good weather, job promotion

Rather than focus on major life events, daily stressors (hassles) may better predict illness (DeLongis et al., 1982)

Hassles include: concerns about overcrowding, weight, rising prices, home maintenance, losing things, crime, and physical appearance

Uplifts include: recreation, relations with friends, good weather, job promotion

Work-related Stress Workplace Stressors Johansson et al. (1978) Physiological coping resources Marmot et al. (1997) Control at work Kuper et al. (2002) Effort-reward imbalance

Workplace Stressors

Johansson et al. (1978)

Physiological coping resources

Marmot et al. (1997)

Control at work

Kuper et al. (2002)

Effort-reward imbalance

Individual Differences Personality Type A (competitive, ambitious, impatient) Type B (generally more relaxed) Type C (pleasant, industrious, conventional, but react to stress with a sense of helplessness) Hardiness Commitment Challenge Control

Personality

Type A (competitive, ambitious, impatient)

Type B (generally more relaxed)

Type C (pleasant, industrious, conventional, but react to stress with a sense of helplessness)

Hardiness

Commitment

Challenge

Control

Approaches to Coping with Stress Coping Behavioural and psychological efforts Reduce, master, or tolerate stressful events Emotion-focused Efforts to reduce stress-related negative emotions (Monat & Lazarus, 1991) Problem-focused Action to change the situation (Folkman et al., 1986)

Coping

Behavioural and psychological efforts

Reduce, master, or tolerate stressful events

Emotion-focused

Efforts to reduce stress-related negative emotions (Monat & Lazarus, 1991)

Problem-focused

Action to change the situation (Folkman et al., 1986)

Stress Management Physiological approaches to stress management Beta blockers Anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., Valium) Psychological approaches to stress management CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)

Physiological approaches to stress management

Beta blockers

Anti-anxiety drugs (e.g., Valium)

Psychological approaches to stress management

CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy)

Drugs Beta blockers Decrease heart rate and lower blood pressure Reduce performance anxiety and enhance performance Do not work for social phobias Anti anxiety drugs Valium and Librium Few side effects in short-term use Rapid action, but drowsiness and risk of dependence Buspirone Effective for anxiety No sedative effects Risk of headaches and depression

Beta blockers

Decrease heart rate and lower blood pressure

Reduce performance anxiety and enhance performance

Do not work for social phobias

Anti anxiety drugs

Valium and Librium

Few side effects in short-term use

Rapid action, but drowsiness and risk of dependence

Buspirone

Effective for anxiety

No sedative effects

Risk of headaches and depression

Cognitive Therapies (1): Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) Challenges maladaptive thoughts and beliefs Substitutes positive and rational ones Leading to changes in behaviour, which reduces the power of stressors and stress Stress inoculation is based on CBT

Challenges maladaptive thoughts and beliefs

Substitutes positive and rational ones

Leading to changes in behaviour, which reduces the power of stressors and stress

Stress inoculation is based on CBT

Cognitive Therapies (2) Stress inoculation training: involves three stages

Stress inoculation training: involves three stages

Cognitive Therapies (3): Stress Inoculation Research Stress inoculation training Generalises to new stressors (Meichenbaum, 1977) Reduces stress hormone (cortisol) levels in seriously ill patients (Antoni et al., 2000) Reduces cortisol levels in healthy but acutely stressed individuals (Gaab et al., 2003) Sometimes produces smaller gains than other therapies (Foa et al., 1999; Lee et al., 2002)

Stress inoculation training

Generalises to new stressors (Meichenbaum, 1977)

Reduces stress hormone (cortisol) levels in seriously ill patients (Antoni et al., 2000)

Reduces cortisol levels in healthy but acutely stressed individuals (Gaab et al., 2003)

Sometimes produces smaller gains than other therapies (Foa et al., 1999; Lee et al., 2002)