The document summarizes key aspects of stress, including: 1. Stress occurs when there is a perceived mismatch between demands placed on an individual and their ability to cope. 2. There are two main pathways by which stress responses occur in the body - the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex pathway and the hypothalamic-autonomic nervous system-adrenal medulla pathway. 3. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal cortex pathway involves the hypothalamus signaling the pituitary gland to release ACTH, activating the adrenal cortex to secrete corticosteroids into the bloodstream, producing physiological effects like increased heart rate.

1. Stress #@*#*

2. Activity: With the person next to you… Look at the three pictures on p77 of Psychology for AS-level. Discuss how these images make you feel Discuss… -What causes you personally to feel stressed; how stress affects you physically and emotionally; and how you cope with it Come up with your own definition of stress

3. What is stress? The engineering/ physics model How much stress is the toy resilient to before the suspended grip snaps his neck?! Stressor

4. Stress occurs when there is a mis-match between the perceived demands being made on an individual, and their perceived ability to cope with these demands. Transactional Model of Stress

5. Activity: Make notes on the psychological definition of stress incorporating the words: Stress and Stressor

6. The three main areas you will need to know: Stress as a Bodily Response The two pathways of stress response Selye’s general adaptation syndrome (GAS) Stress and illness Sources of Stress Work place stress Life events Individual Differences in Stress Critical Issue: Stress Management: Physical methods of managing stress Psychological methods of managing stress

7. The Physiological Model: 2 Pathways Hypothalamus Hypothalamus Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) Pituitary Adrenal Cortex Adrenal Medulla

8. Use Psychology for AS-Level, pages 78 and 79, to make your own notes on the … Hypothalamic – pituitary – adrenal cortex pathway Key words to incorporate into the explanation Hormones ACTH Corticosteroids Hypothalamus Adrenal Cortex

9. Hypothalamus is alerted Hypothalamus alerts the Pituitary gland Pituitary gland secretes ACTH ACTH arrives at the adrenal cortex The Adrenal Cortex secretes Corticosteroids (Stress Hormones) Physiological response: (raise in body temperature, increased heart rate etc). Stressor  Summary

10. Use Psychology for AS-Level, page 79, to make your own notes on the … The hypothalamic – autonomic nervous system – adrenal medulla pathway

11. Hypothalamus Brainstem Autonomic Nervous System Via nerves Adrenal Medulla Releases adrenaline (also known as epinephrine) and noradrenaline Summary

12. Recap What is the autonomic nervous system? What is the role of the autonomic nervous system? What are the two subdivisions of the ANS called? Explain how each subdivision behaves when it is activated. What controls the adrenal medulla? What happens when sympathetic activation stimulates the adrenal medulla? Using p.79 of your AS Text Book for help answer the questions below on bodily responses: