PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Pulmonary Heart Disease, Autonomic Nervous System, Sympathetic Nervous System

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Ingrid Johnsrude

Document Summary

Chronic stress: can increase risk of pulmonary heart disease, cancer, impaired immune system, and high blood pressure; more prone to engage in unhealthy behavior (drinking, smoking) Stress perceived by autonomic nervous system, sympathetic nervous system responses to stimuli. Adapts to continued exposure, and resistance to the stressor increases, autonomic system returns to normal. If exposure of the stressor is prolonged, the subject loses its ability to adapt, resistance falls. Stress appraisal: primary appraisal: we judge the new conditions as beneficial, neutral, or negative in consequence secondary appraisal: judging if our resources and abilities can handle the new conditions. Stress is the result of our subjective appraisal. Self-efficacy: believing that your resources and abilities can handle the new conditions. Problem-focused: reduced/eliminates the stressful condition; when stressor can be controlled. Emotion-focused: reducing emotional response to stressful conditions; adjusting the perception of stressors so they appear less threatening.