Glossary

alarm reaction

first stage of the general adaptation syndrome; characterized as the body’s immediate physiological reaction to a threatening situation or some other emergency; analogous to the fight-or-flight response

cortisol

stress hormone released by the adrenal glands when encountering a stressor; helps to provide a boost of energy, thereby preparing the individual to take action

distress

bad form of stress; usually high in intensity; often leads to exhaustion, fatigue, feeling burned out; associated with erosions in performance and healthe

eustress

good form of stress; low to moderate in intensity; associated with positive feelings, as well as optimal health and performance

fight-or-flight response

set of physiological reactions (increases in blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and sweat) that occur when an individual encounters a perceived threat; these reactions are produced by activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system

general adaptation syndrome

Hans Selye’s three-stage model of the body’s physiological reactions to stress and the process of stress adaptation: alarm reaction, stage of resistance, and stage of exhaustion

health psychology

subfield of psychology devoted to studying psychological influences on health, illness, and how people respond when they become ill

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

set of structures found in both the limbic system (hypothalamus) and the endocrine system (pituitary gland and adrenal glands) that regulate many of the body’s physiological reactions to stress through the release of hormones

primary appraisal

judgment about the degree of potential harm or threat to well-being that a stressor might entail

secondary appraisal

judgment of options available to cope with a stressor and their potential effectiveness

stage of exhaustion

third stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body’s ability to resist stress becomes depleted; illness, disease, and even death may occur

stage of resistance

second stage of the general adaptation syndrome; the body adapts to a stressor for a period of time

stress

process whereby an individual perceives and responds to events that one appraises as overwhelming or threatening to one’s well-being

stressors

environmental events that may be judged as threatening or demanding; stimuli that initiate the stress process