Clinical Psychology

model of stress is depicted in Figure 17-1. These and
other psychosocial stimuli may contribute to a stress
process that can then directly affect the hormonal sys-
tem, the autonomic system, and the immune system.
The physiological effect of stress on the body
involves a complex chain of events (Brannon &
Feist, 2010), illustrated in Figure 17-2. The percep-
tion of stress causes thesympathetic nervous system,

a system responsible for mobilizing body resources

in urgent situations, to stimulate the adrenal medulla

of the adrenal gland. This results in the production of

the catecholamines epinephrine (adrenaline) and

norepinephrine, whose effects on the body include

increased heart rate, respiration, blood flow, and

muscle strength. Stress also causes the pituitary

gland (a structure connected to the hypothalamus

Environmental

and

social context

Potential

stressor

Negative emotional

responses

Physiological responses

Behavioral and cognitive

coping responses

Manipulation of

stressor or context

Reappraisal,

palliation,

seeking information

Wear and tear

Increased risk for

psychiatric and

physical disease

The Stress Process

Appraisal of

demands and of

adaptive capacities

Events

perceived as

benign

Events perceived

as threatening,

harmful, or

challenging

F I G U R E 17-1 The stress process: An interactionist view

SOURCE: Rice, P. L. (1998).Health psychology. Pacific Grove, CA: Brooks/Cole, Page 177. Used with permission.

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