Psychology 2036A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Allostatic Load, Walter Bradford Cannon, Sympathetic Nervous System

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2036A/B
• Professor: Doug Hazelwood

Document Summary

Stress is a negative emotional experience accompanied by predictable biochemical, physiological, cognitive and behavioural changes that are directed either toward altering the stressful event or accommodating to its effects. How a potential stressor is perceived determines whether it will be experienced as stressful. T(cid:396)ess is the (cid:272)o(cid:374)se(cid:395)ue(cid:374)(cid:272)e of a pe(cid:396)so(cid:374)"s app(cid:396)aisal p(cid:396)o(cid:272)ess the assessment of whether personal resources are sufficient to meet the demands of the environment: stress is therefore determined by person-environment fit. Whe(cid:374) a pe(cid:396)so(cid:374)"s (cid:396)esou(cid:396)(cid:272)es a(cid:396)e (cid:373)o(cid:396)e tha(cid:374) ade(cid:395)uate to deal (cid:449)ith a diffi(cid:272)ult situatio(cid:374), he o(cid:396) she (cid:373)ay feel little st(cid:396)ess. When the individual perceives that his or her resources will probably be sufficient to deal with the event but only at the cost of great effort, he or she may feel a moderate amount of stress. It is when the individual perceives that his or her resources will not suffice to meet an environmental stressor that they may experience a great deal of stress.