RESPONSE ORIENTED

APPROACH TO STRESS
AMITY SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE & PLANNING
BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE
(BEH2451)
BY : AAKANKSHA DOGRA (B. ARCH)
AMAN PATEL (B. ARCH)

ANUSKA NAYAK (B. ARCH)

KAVYA RANJIT (BID)

KHUSHI GAONKAR (B. ARCH)

NIKHITHA SWAPNA (B. ARCH)

RABIYA ANSARI (B.ID)

 INTRODUCTION – STRESS
1. WHAT IS STRESS?

1. Triggers a particular biological response.

2. To perceive a threat or a major challenge.

3. Triggers your fight-or-flight response.

2. WHAT TO BE DONE IN STRESS?

1. Relax

2. Daily exercise

3. Good time- management

3. EFFECT OF STRESS

1. Negative effects on health.

2. Affects numerous other systems within us.

 INTRODUCTION – STRESS TYPES

ACUTE STRESS EPISODIC ACUTE CHRONIC STRESS

STRESS
1. Frequent episodes of acute
1. Body’s immediate reaction to a new 1. High-stress levels.
stress.
and challenging situation. 
2. Anxious and worried 2. Can also lead to frequent
2. It’s the kind of thrilling feeling. ailments & problems.
3. Feeling of chaotic in life.
3. Acute stress can also come out of
something that you enjoy.
  An ability to choose rapidly between
RESPONSE alternative movement patterns.
 Response orientation is apparently related
ORIENTATION to the ability to select a correct
movement under choice reaction time
situations.
 STRESS AS STIMULUS
• The theory of stress as a stimulus was introduced in the 1960s and viewed stress as a significant life event or
change that demands response, adjustment, or adaptation. 
• Holmes and Rahe (1967) created the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) consisting of 42 life events scored
according to the estimated degree of adjustment they would each demand of the person experiencing them
(e.g., marriage, divorce, relocation, change or loss of job, loss of loved one).
• Holmes and Rahe theorized that stress was an independent variable in the health-stress-coping
equation — the cause of an experience rather than the experience itself. While some correlations
emerged between SRRS scores and illness (Rahe, Mahan, & Arthur, 1970; Johnson & Sarason, 1979), there were
problems with the stress as stimulus theory. 
• The stress as stimulus theory assumes:
• Change is inherently stressful.
• Life events demand the same levels of adjustment across the population.
• There is a common threshold of adjustment beyond which illness will result.
• Rahe and Holmes initially viewed the human subject as a passive recipient of stress, one who played no role in
determining the degree, intensity, or valence of the stressor.
• Later, Rahe introduced the concept of interpretation into his research (Rahe & Arthur, 1978), suggesting that a
change or life event could be interpreted as a positive or negative experience based on cognitive and
emotional factors.
• However, the stress as stimulus model still ignored important variables such as prior learning, environment,
support networks, personality, and life experience.
 STRESS AS STIMULUS
What are the
example of stress as
stimulus?
 A stressor is the stimulus (or
threat) that causes stress, e.g.,
exam, divorce, death of loved
one, moving, loss of job.
 Sudden and severe stress
generally produces: Increase
in heart rate.
    Can stress stimuli
be external?
 Specialists now define stress as
any external stimulus that
threatens homeostasis — the
normal equilibrium of body
function. 
 Stress also can be induced by the
belief that homeostasis might soon
be disrupted.
 STRESS AS RESPONSE
1. Stress as a response model, initially introduced by Hans Selye (1956),
describes stress as a physiological response pattern and was captured
within his general adaptation syndrome (GAS) model . 
2. This model describes stress as a dependent variable and includes three
concepts:

a. Stress is a defensive mechanism.

b. Stress follows the three stages of alarm,

resistance, and exhaustion.

c. If the stress is prolonged or severe, it could result in diseases of

adaptation or even death.
3. The response model of stress incorporates coping within the model itself.
The idea of adaptation or coping is inherent to the GAS model at both the
alarm and resistance stages. When confronted with a negative stimulus,
the alarm response initiates the sympathetic nervous system to combat or
avoid the stressor (i.e., increased heart rate, temperature, adrenaline, and General Adaptation to Stress (GAS) Model
glucose levels). 
4. In 1983, Selye introduced the idea that the stress response could result in
positive or negative outcomes based on cognitive interpretations of the
physical symptoms or physiological experience. 
 STRESS AS RESPONSE
1. The stress as response, or “fight or flight” response is the emergency
reaction system of the body. It is there to keep you safe in emergencies.
2. The stress response includes physical and thought responses to your
perception of various situations. FIGHT OR FLIGHT
3. When the stress response is turned on, your body may release substances
like adrenaline and cortisol. Your organs are programmed to respond in
certain ways to situations that are viewed as challenging or threatening. 
4. The parasympathetic nervous system in your body is designed to turn on
your body’s relaxation response. Your behaviours and thinking can keep
your body’s natural relaxation response from operating at its best.
5. Getting your body to relax on a daily basis for at least brief periods can help
decrease unpleasant stress responses. 
6. Learning to relax your body, through specific breathing and relaxation
exercises as well as by minimizing stressful thinking, can help your body’s
natural relaxation system be more effective.
 COPING WITH STRESS
● There are many ways that people strive to cope with
stressors and feelings of stress in their lives. 
● A host of literature, both popular and academic, extols the
practice of stress management and whole industries are
devoted to it. 
● Many techniques are available to help individuals cope
with the stresses that life brings.
●  “Stress Management Techniques,”  induce a lower than
usual stress level temporarily to compensate the biological
tissues involved; others face the stressor at a higher level of
abstraction. 
● Stress management techniques are more general and range
from cognitive (mindfulness, cognitive therapy,
meditation) to physical (yoga, art, natural medicine, deep
breathing) to environmental (spa visits, music, pets,
nature).
STRATEGIES OF COPING WITH STRESS
 STRESS RESPONSE

Physical Responses  Emotional and Behavioral 

Thought Response Responses
1. Muscle aches 1. Restlessness 1. Increased Alcohol
2. Increased Heart rate  2. Agitation  use 
3. Weight Gain 3. Worthlessness  2. Increased Eating
4. Constipation 4. Depression 3. Rapid Walking
5. Muscle Twitching 5. Guilt 4. Teeth Clenching 
6. Low Energy 6. Anger
7. Tight Chest 7. Nightmares
8. Dizziness 8. Sensitivity
9. Stomach Cramps  9. Numbness
STRESS RESPONSE
 ACCEPTANCE ORIENTED RESPONSE
1. Practicing mindful meditation

Mindful meditation involves being in the present moment and paying

attention to thoughts, feelings, and physical sensations, accepting them,
and then letting them go.

2. Eating a well-balanced diet

The stress hormone cortisol can cause fat and sugar cravings but eating
too much fat and sugar has a negative impact on physical health. 

3. Engaging in physical activity

Physical activity can reduce perceived stress and also lessen some
negative effects of stress, such as its effect on the immune system.
 ACCEPTANCE ORIENTED RESPONSE
4. Getting enough sleep

A lack of adequate sleep can negatively affect thinking and mood.

Practicing good sleep hygiene can improve sleep quality, even during
stressful situations.

5. Talking about it

Speaking with a friend or family member may not change a stressful

situation, but it may help with processing thoughts and feelings.
Receiving support from others can also increase resilience to stress.

6. Seeking help when needed

A counselor or therapist can help with acceptance-based stress

management. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a specific
form of cognitive behavioral therapy that helps developing new and
flexible ways to respond to challenges.
 1. The response model of stress incorporates coping within the model itself. 
2. The idea of adaptation or coping is inherent to the GAS model at both the
alarm and resistance stages.
3. Imp-Acceptance-oriented approaches to manage stress not only help
during a specific stressful situation but also build resilience to stress over time. 

CONCLUSION 4. An acceptance-oriented approach can also be combined with an action-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=BIfK0L8xDP0
oriented or emotion-oriented approach to further reduce stress.
5. Speaking with a friend or family member may not change a stressful situation,
but it may help with processing thoughts and feelings. 
6. Receiving support from others can also increase resilience to stress.
7. An acceptance-oriented approach centres on accepting thoughts and
feelings, as well as taking care of the mind and body during stressful situations.
8. Meditation and Mindfulness-Based leads to stress reduction.