The document discusses the physiological response to stress, describing how acute stress triggers the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary pathway to prepare the body for fight or flight through reactions like increased heart rate, while chronic stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis over the long term through hormones like corticosteroids from the adrenal cortex. It also notes there are individual differences in what causes stress and how people physiologically respond.
2. Discussion
1. Describe an occasion when you‟ve felt
under stress
2. What type of emotions do we feel when
we‟re stressed?
3. What physiological changes are you
aware of when you‟re stressed?
4. Define stress
3. What is stress?
“When an imbalance or discrepancy exists
between perceived demands and perceived
coping resources, then a state of stress
exists”
Cox & Mackay (1978)
Individual Differences?
Do we all get stressed from the same things?
Why are there individual differences in stress?
4. Body response
How does your body respond when you‟re
stressed?
What changes are you aware of?
Increased Increased Increase in
HR? BR? energy?
Why do you think these changes occur?
5. Fight or Flight
• The stress response is „adaptive‟
(important for survival) because the
physiological changes are perfect for
fight or flight
• Basically, your physiology alters so you
can either fight the stressor or run
from it!
6. Fight or Flight
Stressor
Any event that causes a stress
reaction in the body. Stressors
include environmental
stressors (workplace/college)
and life events (divorce,
illness)
7. Nervous System
Central NS Peripheral NS
Brain Spinal Cord Somatic Autonomic
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
Conserve
Use Energy
Energy
8. Autonomic Nervous System
Sympathetic Parasympathetic
• When we’re stressed • When we’re relaxed
• Increase heart rate • Decrease heart rate
• Decrease stomach • Increase stomach
activity activity
• Pupils dilate • Pupils contract
• Glucose is released • Glucose is stored
Only one part of the ANS can be activated at any one time –
they work antagonistically
9. Stress response systems...
The hypothalamus is alerted whenever a
stressful situation is identified
There are 2 systems designed to help us
cope with stress:
1. Sympathetic-Adrenal-Medullary
Pathway (SAM) for acute stress
2. Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal
System (HPA) for chronic stress
10. Acute stress - SAM
Acute Stressor (e.g. Slipping on ice)
Hypothalamus activates the...
SNS which activates the...
Adrenal Medulla which releases...
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline which equips for...
Fight or Flight by causing
Physiological reactions such as increased BP, HR,
dilated pupils
11. Chronic Stress - HPA
Chronic Stressor (e.g. Exam worry/anxiety)
Hypothalamus releases...
CRF which stimulates the
Pituitary Gland which releases
ACTH stimulating the...
Adrenal Cortex which produces...
Corticosteroids which stimulates the...
Liver to release energy
(Immune system is suppressed)
This usually takes 20 minutes to take effect
12. Hypothalamus
Pituitary Gland Adrenal Medulla
HPA SAM
(Chronic) (Acute)
Adrenal Cortex Adrenaline
Corticosteroids Fight or Flight
Liver releases Physiological
energy Reactions
13. Poster activity – 20 minutes
• In pairs you are to draw an outline of a
person
• In one colour you are to map out the
physiological response to an acute
stressor (you will have 10 minutes for this)
• In another colour you are to map out
the physiological response to a chronic
stressor (you will have 10 minutes for this)
14. Mnemonics!
SAM - Acute HPAA - Chronic
A Always C Children
H Have H Have
C Crazy
S Some
P Parties
A Anaesthetic A Always
A Aside A Adding
N For C Clowns
P Pupils L Lots
I Italian
S Stallions
15. Evidence to support the role of the
adrenal glands in the stress response
For example, Tyrell & Baxter (1981) found that those
who cannot produce stress hormones have to be
supplemented to survive
This is positive because it shows that the release of
stress hormones is vital in the stress response,
supporting the biological evidence presented by SAM and
the HPA
16. The physiological account of stress can be
criticised for ignoring individual differences
For example, Mason (1975) compared reactions of stressors and
found that adrenaline and noradrenaline patterns varied between
participants
This is a weakness because it means that the physiological
explanations of stress is inadequate because not everyone
will respond to the same stress in the same way - what one
person finds extremely stressful another might find
enjoyable (e.g. Exams)
17. The physiological approach suggests that people
are passive in their stress response – ignoring
psychological factors
For example, Mason (1975) suggests that there is an active
process of psychological appraisal when people are confronted
with a stressor
This is a weakness because it indicates that how an individual
views the stressor will affect their bodily response – and
this is ignored by the physiological explanations of stress
18. TASK!
• You will be split into 2 groups, each group
will be give one response to stress (SAM or
HPA)
• In your groups you are to organise
yourselves and „act out‟ the response to
stress
• You have 15/20 minutes in which to do this
• This will all be filmed – make it a good‟un!