1. Lesson 5: Physiological & psychological
characteristics of responses to stress

2. Lesson 4 The biopsychosoical model
exam question
taken from - 2011 exam

3. Model response

4. Lesson 5: Physiological & psychological
characteristics of responses to stress

5. Outcomes (What you need to know and be
able to do)
Apply a biopsychosocial framework to
understanding the relationship between
stress and physical and mental wellbeing:
- Explain the physiological and
psychological characteristics of
responses to stress including fight-flight
response, eustress and distress
- Explain strengths and limitations of
Selyes’ General Adaptation Syndrome

6. Stress and Health
Exposure to stressful situations and events is a common human
experience. From losing your locker key to losing your job – these events
can produce stress.
Stressor = any person, situation or
event that produces stress.
Virtually anything can be a stressor
and therefore a cause of stress to an
individual.
Stress =A state of physiological and
psychological arousal produced by
internal or external stressors that are
perceived by the individual as
challenging or exceeding their ability
to cope.

7. Biopsychosocial approach to stress

8. Responses to Stress
Stress affects different people in different
ways – depending on severity, duration
and the individual.
A Stress Response = physiological (bodily)
and psychological (mental) changes
experienced when confronted by a
stressor.
Stress&can&be&classified&as&MILD,&ACUTE&or&
CHRONIC.&
Mild&stress&&?&can&be&s@mula@ng&–&low&levels&
of&arousal&can&enhance&performance.&
Acute&–&sudden&high&arousal&level.&
Chronic&–&long&term&–&can&be&damaging.&&

9. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
• 2"main"physiological"models"for"explaining"the"physiological"responses"to"
stress."The"fight%flight(response(and"the(General(Adapta4on(Syndrome.!
1.!Fight'Flight!Response!
FIGHT'FLIGHT!
RESPONSE!="an"
involuntary"reac:on"
resul:ng"in"a"state"of"
physiological"readiness"
to"deal"with"a"sudden"
and"immediate"threat"
by"either"confron:ng"it"
(fight)"or"running"to"
safety"(flight)."""
Developed"by"Walter"
Cannon."

10. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
1. Fight-Flight Response
1. Involves*sympathe1c*Nervous*System*and*Endocrine*(hormone)*system.!
2. Hypothalamus*is*ac1vated*–*s1mulates*pituitary*gland*which*releases*
ACTH*(a*type*of*hormone)*which*then*s1mulates*the*adrenal*glands.**
3. This*chain*between*the*Hypothalamus,*the*Pituitary*Gland*and*the*
Adrenal*Glands*is*called*the*HPA!Axis.**
4. When*the*adrenal*glands*are*s1mulated*they*release*stress*hormones*like*
adrenaline*and*noradrenaline.*These*boost*the*sympathe1c*nervous*
system.**
5. This!causes!Physiological!changes!to!occur*such*as:*increased*heart*rate,*
increased*blood*flow*to*muscles*(from*skin*and*intes1nes),*increased*
respira1on,*dila1on*of*pupils,*suppression*of*nonOessen1al*func1ons*to*
conserve*energy.**
6. A*racing*heart*is*explained*by*the*surge*of*stress*hormones*in*the*body.**
7. Once*the*threat*has*passed,*the*parasympathe1c*Nervous*System*calms*
and*restores*normal*func1oning,*usually*within*20O60*minutes.**

12. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
1. Fight-Flight Response
• The$surge$of$hormones$can$ensure$our$survival$when$faced$with$a$life$
threatening$situa5on$by$giving$us$great$strength$or$confidence.$$
$eg.$We$see$someone$with$a$knife$on$a$deserted$street$at$night.$
• If$the$exposure$to$the$threat$is$prolonged$–$the$physical$arousal$will$also$
be$prolonged.$This$is$believed$to$be$harmful$to$our$health.$$
• For$example,$if$stress$hormones$like$adrenaline,$noradrenaline$and$
cor5cal$remain$high$in$our$bloodstream,$then$our$body’s$func5oning$
deteriorates$and$our$immune$system$becomes$less$effec5ve$D$Open$to$
disease.$$$
• Other$bodily$reac5ons$to$prolonged$stress:$Dizziness,$aches$and$pains,$
muscle$tension,$heart$palpita5ons,$skin$rashes,$fa5gue,$cold$and$flue,$
stomach$ulcers,$indiges5on$issues$etc.$$

15. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
• The$second$model$which$addresses$the$physiological$responses$to$stress$is$$
the$General$Adapta-on$Syndrome.!
2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#
General'Adapta,on'
Syndrome'=''
A"three"stage"
physiological"stress"
response"that"occurs"
regardless"of"the"
stressor"that"is"
encountered."There"
are"three"stages"in"the"
GAS"–"Alarm"Reac;on,"
Resistance"and"
Exhaus;on.""
Research"by"Hans"
Selye.""

16. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#
• Cannon’s'belief'that'prolonged'stress'is'harmful'was'confirmed'by'Selye.''
• Most'of'Selye’s'stress'studies'used'rats'who'were'exposed'to'a'variety'of'
stressors.'(eg.'Tail'pulling,'electric'shocks'etc).'
• Regardless'of'the'stressor,'the'results'were'relaDvely'similar'–'enlarged'
adrenal'glands,'weight'loss,'stomach'ulcers'and'depleted'immune'system'
etc.''
• He'then'concluded'that'stress'is'nonGspecific.''
• Humans'reacted'in'much'the'same'way'to'stress.''
• Based'on'his'studies,'Selye'develop'the'three'stage'
• 'GENERAL'ADAPTATION'SYNDROME.''

17. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#
There%are%three%stages%in%the%GAS.%
Stage%One:%Alarm%Reac6on:%!
Occurs!when!the!person/animal!is!first!exposed!to!the!stressor.!!
• Body!goes!into!temporary!state!of!‘shock’!–!body!temp!and!blood!pressure!
drop.!!
• The!body!then!quickly!rebounds!from!this!during!what!is!called!
‘countershock’.!
• SympatheCc!NS!is!acCvated!and!a!reacCon!like!that!of!the!flightGflight!
response!occurs.!Arousal!is!produced!by!the!release!of!hormones!by!the!
endocrine!system:!the!pituitary!glands!secrete!ACTH,!which!causes!a!
heightened!release!of!adrenaline,!noradrenaline,!and!corCsol!by!the!adrenal!
glands!into!the!bloodstream.!!
• Organism!is!alert!and!ready.!%
The body cannot stay in this state for long without
serious consequences. Some organisms in a continuous
state of alarm have died within hours or days

18. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#
There%are%three%stages%in%the%GAS.%
Stage%Two:%Resistance:%%
• If#the#reac*on#con*nues#and#is#not#strong#enough#to#cause#death#the#
physiological#reac*on#enters#the#stage#of#resistance.##
• The#body#tries#to#adapt#to#the#stressor.#Physiological#arousal#declines#but#
remains#higher#than#normal#and#the#body#replenishes#the#hormones#
released#by#the#adrenal#glands.##
• The#organism#may#show#few#outward#signs#of#stress.#However,#the#body#
may#not#be#able#to#resist#new#stressors.##
• The#body#becomes#increasingly#vulnerable#to#health#problems.#These#health#
problems#include#ulcers,#high#blood#pressure,#asthma,#and#illnesses#that#
result#from#impaired#immune#func*on.#

19. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#
There%are%three%stages%in%the%GAS.%
Stage%Three:%Exhaus4on:%%
• Severe%long*term%or%repeated%stress%will%cause%the%organism%to%enter%the%
third%stage,%the%stage%of%exhaus9on.%%
• The%immune%system%and%the%body's%energy%reserves%are%weakened%un9l%
resistance%is%very%limited.%%
• If%the%stress%con9nues,%disease%and%physiological%damage%become%
increasingly%likely%and%death%may%result.%

20. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#

21. Physiological (Bodily) Responses to Stress
2.#General#Adapta.on#Syndrome#(GAS)#
Strengths)and)Limita/ons)of)the)GAS.))
+ Further(developed(awareness(and(understanding(of(links(between(
stress(and(disease.(
+ Has(helped(to(understand(detrimental(effects(of(stress.(
– Assumes(that(everyone(has(the(same,(predictable(physiological(
responses(to(any(kind(of(stressor.((
– Overlooks(the(roles(of(the(other(bodily(systems(and(ignores(
psychological(response(to(stressors.((Eg.(Individual(interpretaCons.(
– Not(all(people(respond(to(chronic(stress(in(the(same(way.(Eg.(Some(get(
ulcers,(some(heart(disease(etc.((
– (CriCcism(that(Selye’s(research(focused(too(much(on(stress(within(
animals((and(has(limited(relevance(to(humans.((