Glossary
Alarm (stage)
The first stage of GAS, where the body's sympathetic nervous system is activated, preparing for immediate action against a stressor.
Example:
Upon realizing you overslept and missed your alarm, your body enters the alarm stage, causing a sudden jolt of adrenaline.
Approach-Approach (conflict)
A motivational conflict where an individual must choose between two equally attractive and desirable options.
Example:
Choosing between going to your favorite band's concert or attending a fun party on the same night is an approach-approach conflict.
Approach-Avoidance (conflict)
A motivational conflict where a single option has both attractive and unattractive features, creating mixed feelings.
Example:
Considering a delicious but unhealthy dessert presents an approach-avoidance conflict because you want the taste but fear the health consequences.
Avoidance-Avoidance (conflict)
A motivational conflict where an individual must choose between two equally undesirable or threatening options.
Example:
Having to choose between doing a chore you hate or facing a punishment for not doing it is an avoidance-avoidance conflict.
Catastrophes
Large-scale, unpredictable, and uncontrollable events that cause widespread stress and trauma.
Example:
Experiencing a major earthquake and losing your home would be classified as a catastrophe due to its overwhelming and uncontrollable nature.
Cortisol
A primary stress hormone released by the adrenal glands, which helps the body respond to stress but can be detrimental in prolonged high levels.
Example:
During a stressful exam, your body releases cortisol to help you stay alert, but consistently high levels can suppress your immune system.
Daily Hassles
Minor, everyday annoyances and frustrations that can accumulate and contribute to overall stress levels.
Example:
Getting stuck in heavy traffic on your way to school or dealing with a slow internet connection are common daily hassles.
Exhaustion (stage)
The final stage of GAS, where prolonged stress depletes the body's resources, leading to increased vulnerability to illness and physical breakdown.
Example:
After months of intense work without a break, feeling constantly sick and drained indicates you've reached the exhaustion stage of stress.
Fight-or-Flight Response
The body's rapid, automatic physiological reaction to perceived threats, preparing an individual to either confront or escape the danger.
Example:
When a sudden loud noise startles you, your heart pounds and you might tense up, activating your fight-or-flight response.
General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
Hans Selye's three-stage model describing the body's physiological response to prolonged stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
Example:
A student enduring chronic academic pressure might experience the stages of General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), eventually leading to burnout.
Lewin’s Motivational Conflict Theory
Kurt Lewin's theory describing different types of motivational conflicts individuals face when making decisions, involving choices between desirable and undesirable options.
Example:
Deciding between multiple job offers, each with pros and cons, exemplifies the complexities addressed by Lewin's Motivational Conflict Theory.
Multiple Approach-Avoidance (conflict)
A complex motivational conflict involving a choice between several options, each possessing both positive and negative aspects.
Example:
Deciding which college to attend, weighing factors like tuition cost, academic reputation, and social life for each, is a multiple approach-avoidance conflict.
Psychophysiological Illnesses
Physical ailments that are caused or exacerbated by psychological factors, particularly stress.
Example:
Chronic stress can contribute to the development of psychophysiological illnesses like high blood pressure or stomach ulcers.
Resistance (stage)
The second stage of GAS, where the body attempts to cope with the ongoing stressor, maintaining a heightened state of arousal but trying to adapt.
Example:
During a demanding exam week, you might feel constantly on edge but still manage to study and perform, demonstrating the resistance stage.
Significant Life Changes
Major transitions or events in an individual's life that require substantial adjustment and can be a source of stress.
Example:
Moving to a new city for college, even if exciting, is a significant life change that can bring considerable stress.
Stressors
Events or situations that individuals perceive as threatening or challenging, triggering a physical and emotional response in the body.
Example:
Forgetting your homework at home right before class can be a significant stressor that makes your heart race.
Sympathetic Nervous System
A division of the autonomic nervous system responsible for arousing the body in response to stress, initiating the fight-or-flight response.
Example:
The activation of your sympathetic nervous system is what causes your pupils to dilate and your breathing to quicken when you're startled.
Tend-and-Befriend
A stress response, more common in women, characterized by seeking social support and nurturing others in times of stress.
Example:
When facing a personal crisis, a person might call their friends and family for comfort and support, exhibiting the tend-and-befriend response.
Withdrawal
A coping mechanism for stress involving social isolation and disengagement from others or stressful situations.
Example:
After a particularly stressful day at school, a student might engage in withdrawal by staying in their room and avoiding all social interaction.
Yerkes-Dodson Law
This principle states that performance increases with physiological or mental arousal, but only up to a point, after which performance decreases.
Example:
A moderate amount of anxiety before a presentation can help you focus and perform optimally, illustrating the Yerkes-Dodson Law.