zuai-logo

Stress and Coping

William Hill

William Hill

9 min read

Listen to this study note

Study Guide Overview

This AP Psychology study guide covers stress and health, focusing on stressors, responses to stress, and stress-related illnesses. Key concepts include the Yerkes-Dodson Law, types of stressors (catastrophes, significant life changes, daily hassles), the fight-or-flight response, the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), Lewin's Motivational Conflict Theory, and the impact of cortisol. The guide also provides practice questions and exam tips.

AP Psychology: Stress & Health - Your Ultimate Study Guide 🚀

Hey there, future AP Psych pro! Let's break down stress in a way that's not stressful at all. This guide is designed to be your go-to resource, especially the night before the exam. We'll make sure everything clicks and you feel totally confident! Let's dive in!

What is Stress?

Stress isn't just a feeling; it's our body's reaction to stressors—events we perceive as threatening or challenging. It's a mix of physical and emotional responses.

Key Concept

Not all stress is bad! Short-term or challenging stressors can actually boost performance. Think about that pre-exam buzz – it's the Yerkes-Dodson Law in action! Moderate stress = optimal performance. 💡

Types of Stressors

There are three main categories of stressors:

  1. Catastrophes: Unpredictable, large-scale events like natural disasters (floods 🌊, earthquakes 🌋, tornadoes 🌪️) or war. These are often beyond our control.

  2. Significant Life Changes: Major life transitions, such as moving, marriage, divorce, or job changes. Humans generally dislike change, making these events stressful.

  3. Daily Hassles: The everyday annoyances like traffic, deadlines, or a messy room. These can accumulate and cause significant stress if not managed well.

Understanding how these stressors impact us is key for both multiple-choice and FRQs. Remember that stress can be detrimental to your health, so self-care is crucial! 🛀💅

How We Respond to Stress

Fight-or-Flight Response

This is your body's immediate reaction to stress, triggered by the sympathetic nervous system. It prepares you to either confront the threat (fight) or escape it (flight). Think adrenaline rush!

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Hans Selye's GAS describes how our body responds to prolonged stress in three stages:

  1. Alarm: 🚨 Your sympathetic nervous system kicks in, preparing your body to face the stressor.
  2. Resistance: 🏃 Your body attempts to cope with the stressor. You're on high alert, and stress hormones are released.
  3. Exhaustion: 😴 Your body can't stay in high alert forever. Resources are depleted, making you vulnerable to illness.

markdown-image

Memory Aid

A.R.E. you ready for the stress? Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion. Think of it like a race: the start (alarm), the run (resistance), and finally collapsing at the finish line (exhaustion).

Image Courtesy of Sanesco.

Dealing with Stress

There are different ways people manage stress:

  1. Withdrawal: Isolating oneself from society. Not always the healthiest response.
  2. Tend-and-Befriend: 😍 Seeking social support and bonding with others. Women often engage in this due to higher oxytocin levels. Men tend to respond more aggressively.

Lewin’s Motivational Conflict Theory

Kurt Lewin expanded on the fight-or-flight concept and described different types of conflicts:

  1. Approach-Approach: 👍👍 Choosing between two desirable options. (e.g., choosing between two great colleges)

  2. Avoidance-Avoidance: 👎👎 Choosing between two undesirable options. (e.g., choosing between two bad chores)

  3. Approach-Avoidance: 👍👎 One option has both attractive and unattractive aspects. (e.g., eating a delicious but unhealthy cake)

  4. Multiple Approach-Avoidance: 🤷 Choosing between multiple options, each with pros and cons. (e.g., choosing a job with good pay but long hours vs. a job with low pay but flexible hours)

Memory Aid

Think of Approach as going After something and Avoidance as Avoiding something. The number of symbols (👍 or 👎) indicates how many choices you have in each scenario.

Stress-Related Illnesses

Long-term stress can lead to psychophysiological illnesses like heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lung disease.

Quick Fact

Cortisol is a key stress hormone. Short-term boosts are beneficial, but prolonged exposure can cause serious health issues.

Unhealthy Behaviors

Stress can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as smoking 🚬, excessive drinking 🍹, and drug use.

Common Mistake

Remember, stress isn't just a mental state; it has real physical consequences. Don't forget to link the psychological concepts to physiological responses.

Final Exam Focus

Okay, let's get down to business. Here’s what you absolutely need to nail:

  • GAS: Know each stage inside and out. Be ready to apply it to scenarios.
  • Stressors: Understand the three main categories and how they affect people differently.
  • Cortisol: Know its role in the stress response and its long-term effects.
  • Coping Mechanisms: Be familiar with both healthy and unhealthy ways people deal with stress.
  • Lewin's theory: Know the different types of conflicts and how they impact decision-making
Exam Tip

Time management is key! Don't get bogged down on one question. If you're stuck, move on and come back later. Remember to read the FRQ prompts carefully and address each part of the question. Use the scoring guidelines to your advantage and aim for those specific points.

Practice AP Questions

Ready to test your knowledge? Here are some practice questions based on past AP exams. Remember, these questions often combine multiple concepts, so think holistically!

Practice Question

Alarm Stage

Multiple Choice Question:

  1. Which of the following physiological responses is most likely to occur during the alarm stage of the general adaptation syndrome? (A) Decreased heart rate (B) Increased release of cortisol (C) Decreased blood sugar levels (D) Increased parasympathetic nervous system activity (E) Reduced muscle tension

  2. A sudden loud noise causes a person to jump and their heart rate to increase. According to the general adaptation syndrome, this reaction is characteristic of which stage? (A) Resistance (B) Exhaustion (C) Alarm (D) Homeostasis (E) Adaptation

Free Response Question (FRQ):

Chandler and Alex were transferred to a new city and needed to find a new home. They carefully considered every house within their price range and finally purchased one that met all their criteria. One month before the move, Chandler and Alex asked friends to help them organize and pack their belongings. One week before the scheduled moving day, they learned that they needed to move out within 48 hours, so they quickly finished packing.

  • Explain how the alarm stage of the general adaptation syndrome could be related to their moving process. (2 points)

Scoring Guidelines:

  • Point 1: The student must explain that the alarm stage involves the initial reaction to a stressor, such as the sudden need to move quickly. This could include a description of the activation of the sympathetic nervous system.
  • Point 2: The student must explain how the alarm stage would manifest in Chandler and Alex's situation, such as increased heart rate, heightened senses, or a surge of adrenaline due to the unexpected change in moving time.

Resistance Stage

Multiple Choice Question:

  1. During the resistance stage of the general adaptation syndrome, an individual is most likely to experience which of the following? (A) A decrease in the release of stress hormones (B) A return to normal physiological functioning (C) An increase in susceptibility to illness (D) A sustained effort to cope with the stressor (E) A complete shutdown of the sympathetic nervous system

  2. An individual who is consistently working overtime and experiencing high levels of stress is most likely in which stage of the general adaptation syndrome? (A) Alarm (B) Exhaustion (C) Resistance (D) Recovery (E) Adaptation

Free Response Question (FRQ):

Sachio traveled to a prestigious college to audition for a music scholarship. After he arrived, he learned that his audition had been rescheduled for late in the day. Sachio was required to play several difficult pieces on his saxophone and interview with the judges. Just before leaving campus, he was offered a full scholarship to the college.

  • Explain how the resistance phase of the general adaptation syndrome contributed to the success of Sachio's visit. (2 points)

Scoring Guidelines:

  • Point 1: The student must explain that the resistance stage involves the body's attempt to cope with a stressor over a prolonged period. This could include sustained release of stress hormones.
  • Point 2: The student must explain how the resistance stage would manifest in Sachio's situation, such as his ability to perform well despite the stress of the audition, which could include sustained focus, heightened awareness, or the ability to maintain composure despite the pressure.

Exhaustion Stage

Multiple Choice Question:

  1. Which of the following is a characteristic of the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome? (A) Increased resistance to stress (B) Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system (C) Depletion of the body's resources (D) Enhanced immune function (E) Decreased cortisol levels

  2. Chronic stress and prolonged exposure to stressors can lead to which stage of the general adaptation syndrome? (A) Alarm (B) Resistance (C) Exhaustion (D) Adaptation (E) Homeostasis

Free Response Question (FRQ):

A survey was conducted to determine the state of the physical and psychological health of high school students. Some of the survey questions related to student stress levels and student absences due to illness. The data on these variables are displayed below.

markdown-image

  1. What is the most appropriate conclusion that can be drawn based on the figure above? (1 point)
  2. Explain how the data depicted in the graph are consistent with the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome. (2 points)
  3. A researcher wants to conduct another study using the same variables but wants to set it up as an experiment. Explain one reason that an institutional review board (IRB) might not approve this new study. (1 point)

Scoring Guidelines:

  • Point 1: The student must make a conclusion based on the graph that there is a positive correlation between student stress levels and student absences due to illness.
  • Point 2: The student must explain that the exhaustion stage involves the depletion of the body's resources due to prolonged stress. This could include a description of how chronic stress can weaken the immune system, leading to increased illness and absences.
  • Point 3: The student must explain one reason that an IRB might not approve the new study. This could include ethical concerns about intentionally inducing stress in students, or the potential harm that could be caused to participants. An IRB might also be concerned about the lack of informed consent or the inability to debrief participants appropriately.

You've got this! Remember to stay calm, trust your preparation, and apply these concepts. You're ready to ace this exam! 🎉

Previous Topic - Theories of EmotionNext Topic - Introduction to Personality

Question 1 of 12

What is the term for events that we perceive as threatening or challenging? 🤔

Reactions

Stressors

Conflicts

Hassles