Emotions and Stress Management
What this domain tests
This domain tests emotion concepts, the stress response, eustress versus distress, models such as general adaptation syndrome, coping strategies and relaxation. Expect application to exam or family situations.
Core rules and concepts
- Emotions are brief responses involving appraisal, physiological arousal, expression and action tendency. Basic emotions include fear, anger, sadness, happiness, surprise and disgust.
- Stress is the body's response to demands perceived as exceeding resources. Eustress is motivating and short-lived; distress is prolonged or overwhelming.
- Acute stress activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight) and cortisol via the HPA axis.
- General adaptation syndrome (Selye): alarm → resistance → exhaustion. Chronic stress depletes resources and affects immunity, sleep and mood.
- Coping: problem-focused (plan, seek information, change situation) and emotion-focused (reappraisal, relaxation, support). Avoidant coping (substance use, denial) often worsens problems.
- Cognitive appraisal matters: the same event can be threat or challenge.
Worked example
Before a practical exam, a student's heart races and they think 'I will fail'. Reasoning: the arousal is normal; the thought is a threat appraisal. A plan: slow breathing (physiological down-regulation), replace 'I will fail' with 'I have prepared two experiments; I will start with the one I know', and schedule revision. This combines emotion-focused and problem-focused coping.
Traps that cost marks
- Saying all stress is harmful.
- Confusing eustress with distress.
- Describing GAS stages out of order.
- Treating suppression as coping.
- Recommending alcohol or unhealthy release.
Key takeaway: appraise, regulate, then act; match coping to the controllable parts.