Psychology 1000 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Social Isolation, Anterior Pituitary, Corticosteroid

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 1000
• Professor: James Miller

Document Summary

1/3 of canadian adults show symptoms of chronic stress. Stress is viewed in 3 ways: stimulus, stressors: events that place strong demands on an individual. In cases where its difficult to verify people"s life events, researchers must rely on self-reports. Early theorists believed any life event (positive or negative) that requires adaptation, is a stressor. Modern researchers today define stress in terms of negative life changes only: but positive life events do sometimes counter or cancel out negative impact of negative events. We respond to situations as we perceive them. Starting point for stress response = our appraisal of the situation and its implications for us. Primary appraisal: see situation as benign, neutral, or threatening and its significance for your well-being. Secondary appraisal: coping resources for the situation. Include knowledge, abilities, verbal skills, and social resources (people who give you emotional support) In appraisal, if you believe the demands of the interview exceed your resources, you will experience stress.