Problem
It is almost impossible to live without the presence of some stress in our lives. In fact, it is possible that a little stress may be what keeps us motivated and able to perform under pressure. Whether it is good stress or not, too much stress can be harmful to one's health, relationships, and enjoyment of life. This program explores the definitions, origins, and effects of stress.
A stressor is something in one's environment that provokes stress and can be a minor annoyance to a cataclysmic event. Our responses to stressors vary depending on our perception of the seriousness of the event and whether we have or believe we have, the resources to meet the challenge. That is the idea of appraisal theory-our emotional and physical responses to an event are based on our appraisal of that event. Appraisals are broken up into two categories: primary and secondary appraisals. Primary appraisals inquire about motivations, whereas secondary appraisals deal with evaluating our resources.
When we experience stress, our bodies trigger the fight-or-flight response, which is an automatic, inborn response that prepares the body to react to the perceived threat. When the fight-or-flight response is activated, chemicals like adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol enter the bloodstream. The release of these chemicals causes the body and brain to undergo a series of changes. One such response, as Joseph LeDoux points out, is that we become more attentive and alert. But, over time the overload of cortisol becomes too much and that is when we begin to see health deteriorate.
Do our genes influence how we respond to stress? What are the evolutionary origins of the stress response? Is the idea of "good stress" a myth? Is it possible to live a stress-free life? What are some ways that chronic stress affects health? Do males and females respond to stress differently?