PSYC 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 24: Hans Selye, Coronary Artery Disease, Autonomic Nervous System

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jordan Poppenk

Document Summary

Stress: a psychological and physiological reaction that occurs when perceived demands exceed existing resources to meet those demands. Refers to both events (stressors) and experiences in response to these events (stress response). Stressors vary widely and can be acute or chronic. Chronic stress in a person"s life can increase his or her risk of coronary heart disease, cancer, impaired immune system functioning, and high blood pressure. Hans selye described the general adaptation syndrome (gas), which is a useful framework for understanding an animal"s physiological response to stressors. Selye proposed a universal response made up of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Long-term psychological stress also puts us through these stages and can lead to breakdowns in body functioning, including high blood pressure and lower immune functioning, among others. As we cope with chronic stress, we really might be stuck in the exhaustion stage of gas, causing our bodies to continue to utilize functions that can cause health issues.