Introduction
One of the ideas learned in the chapter of Gross et al.’s Interactive Psychology: People in Perspective book is the representation of stress through the biological and psychological stages an individual faces. In addition, it shows the two systems of physiological reactivity axes, such as challenge and threat reactivity. It was known that stress is bad for the heart and the body, but there was less understanding of its direct effect.
New Information Learnt
In this sense, the given information about the Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) explains the consequences for people when confronted with chronic stress (Gross et al., 2020). As stress impairs the PNS, the body restores the necessary homeostasis, leaving the body vulnerable to new challenges. Overall, the given chapter on stress and its impact has changed the perception of its consequences from internal and external factors.
One surprising piece of information was that people sometimes engage in actions or behaviors that reduce the body’s stress response. Becoming addicted or feeling a constant emotional toll while pushing negative thoughts can reduce the body’s ability to cope with stress and leave it unprotected. It differs from my original understanding that only external factors affect stress. At the same time, an individual’s behavior cannot foster further health issues.
It also changed my perception of stress in the part of the chapter explaining that personality traits are an important factor (Gross et al., 2020). As there is evidence of having better health with a better personality, there are more chances of developing heart disease by being hot-tempered or more competitive.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the information in the chapter gives another perspective on stress and its impact on health. Besides the external factors affecting stress levels, I understand the internal factors more. Individual behavior is important when considering the likelihood of heart disease and the given personality traits. In this sense, the information in the chapter stands as a crucial knowledge base for stress and health.
References
Gross, J., Schmader, T., Hard, B. M., Anderson, A. K. (2020). Interactive Psychology: People in Perspective. W.W. Norton Incorporated.