Define stress. Include a discussion of the four types of stress discussed in the text

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Stress is defined broadly as any negative emotional experience that is accompanied by biochemical, physiological, cognitive, and behavioral responses that attempt to change or adjust to the stressor. The four types of stress that are discussed in the text are acute stress, chronic stress, daily hassles, and major life events. Acute stress occurs when a potentially threatening event and the associated reaction last for only a brief time (e.g., a burglary). Chronic stress develops when a threatening event continues over time, as with chronic illness, excessive work demands, or long-term poverty, and/or when a person consistently feels inadequate to deal with ongoing negative outcomes. Daily hassles, or minor aversive events that occur day-to-day, can accumulate to create stress. Finally, major life events that affect the way a person lives, such as starting college, marriage, divorce, job change, or home relocation, or diagnosis of a major illness, can produce stress.