What traumatic event does Zitkala-Sa describe at the school?

The forcible cutting of her long hair

Why was the cutting of her hair so humiliating to Zitkala-Sa?

Among her people, shingled hair was worn by cowards and mourners

What is stress and how does eustress differ from distress?

Stress is the body's pattern of responses to events that disturb its equilibrium; eustress is the helpful, energising form while distress is harmful, excessive stress.

Explain primary and secondary appraisal.

Primary appraisal judges whether an event is positive, neutral or stressful; secondary appraisal assesses whether one has the resources and ability to cope with it.

Name the main types and sources of stress.

Physical and environmental stress, psychological stress (frustration, conflict, internal and social pressures) and social stress.

Describe the three stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome.

The alarm reaction mobilises the body, the resistance stage sustains coping, and continued stress leads to the exhaustion stage with depleted resources and possible illness.

How does stress affect the immune system?

Prolonged stress raises stress hormones that suppress immune cells, lowering resistance to illness.

It is the state of physical, mental and emotional exhaustion that results from long-term, unrelieved stress, especially in demanding roles.

Differentiate problem-focused and emotion-focused coping.

Problem-focused (task-oriented) coping tackles the stressor directly, while emotion-focused coping manages the emotional distress it causes.

What factors promote positive health and well-being?

A balanced diet, exercise, positive attitude, social support, life skills and resilience all promote positive health and well-being.

CBSE · Senior secondary

CBSE Class 12 — Notes, Chapters & Practice Quizzes

Q: List some stress-management techniques.

Relaxation, meditation, biofeedback, creative visualisation, cognitive restructuring and regular exercise.

Q: What are life skills and why are they important?

They are abilities for positive behaviour, such as assertiveness, time management and rational thinking, that help people stay healthy and meet life's challenges.

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Chapter 3: Meeting Life Challenges — Class 12 Psychology

Psychology · 7 chapters

Summary, key terms, important questions and a practice quiz with AI diagnosis for each.

Chapter 3: Meeting Life Challenges

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The helpful, energising form of stress is called:

Summary

This chapter examines stress as a feature of life and how people cope with it. Stress is the pattern of responses an organism makes to events that disturb its equilibrium; mild stress (eustress) can energise, while excessive stress turns into distress. Lazarus stressed that the impact of an event depends on cognitive appraisal: primary appraisal judges whether the situation is positive, neutral or stressful, and secondary appraisal assesses one's coping resources. Sources and types of stress include physical and environmental, psychological (frustration, conflict, internal and social pressures) and social stress. Stress affects psychological functioning, leading to emotional, physiological, cognitive and behavioural effects, and prolonged stress damages health. Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome describes three stages of the body's response: alarm reaction, resistance and exhaustion. Stress weakens the immune system, and chronic stress can cause burnout. Lifestyle factors influence health. Coping, after Lazarus and Folkman, may be task-oriented (problem-focused), emotion-focused or avoidance-oriented. Stress-management techniques include relaxation, meditation, biofeedback, creative visualisation, cognitive restructuring and exercise. Positive health and well-being are promoted by life skills such as assertiveness, time management, rational thinking, improving relationships, self-care and overcoming unhelpful habits, along with social support, a balanced diet and resilience.

Nature and sources of stressAppraisal of stressEffects of stress on healthGeneral Adaptation SyndromeStress and immune systemLifestyleCoping with stressStress management techniquesLife skillsPromoting positive health

Key terms

Stress

The pattern of responses an organism makes to stimulus events that disturb its equilibrium and tax its ability to cope.

Appraisal

Lazarus's idea that stress depends on how a person interprets an event (primary appraisal) and their coping resources (secondary appraisal).

General Adaptation Syndrome

Selye's three-stage bodily response to prolonged stress: alarm reaction, resistance and exhaustion.

Burnout

A state of emotional, mental and physical exhaustion caused by chronic, prolonged stress.

Coping

A dynamic process of managing demands appraised as taxing, which may be problem-focused, emotion-focused or avoidance-oriented.

Life skills

Abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour such as assertiveness, time management and rational thinking that promote well-being.

Resilience

The dynamic capacity to bounce back from adversity and maintain or regain well-being.

Important questions

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The pattern of responses an organism makes to stimulus events that disturb its equilibrium and tax its ability to cope.

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Practice quiz · Meeting Life Challenges

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Meeting Life Challenges

Psychology 10 Qs · ~10 min