Skip to main content
Chapter 4 of 8
Revision Notes

Stress and Stress Management — Revision Notes

ICSE · Class 12 · Psychology

Stress and Stress Management revision notes for ICSE Class 12 Psychology: 4 topics in quick points. Part of the ICSE Class 12 Psychology syllabus.

45 questions42 flashcards5 concepts

Interactive on Super Tutor

Studying Stress and Stress Management? Get the full interactive chapter.

Quizzes, flashcards, AI doubt-solver and a step-by-step study plan — built for revision notes and more.

Free trial, no card needed.

An infographic explaining key ego defense mechanisms: Repression, Projection, Denial, Reaction Formation, and Rationalization, with simple examples.
Super Tutor

One of 8 illustrations for Stress and Stress Management in Super Tutor — alongside flashcards, concept maps and practice questions.

Key Topics to Revise

1

Meaning of Stress

  • The word stress is derived from the Latin word stringere, meaning to draw out tight.
  • Hans Selye used the term stress in 1936 and defined it as the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change.
  • Stress is a process in which a person faces a demand, judges personal ability, responds physically and psychologically, and then performance may improve or decline.
2

Stress Models

  • Hans Selye proposed the General Adaptation Syndrome, or GAS, with three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion.
  • In the alarm stage, the sympathetic nervous system becomes active and prepares the body for action.
  • In the resistance stage, the body tries to cope with the stressor and maintain normality.
3

Causes of Stress

  • Stressors are classified into physiological, environmental, social, and psychological groups.
  • Physiological stressors include excessive exercise, lack of rest and sleep, chronic pain, physical injury, and disease.
  • Environmental stressors include pollution, excessive humidity, extreme temperature, lack of proper illumination, radioactive substances, crowding, isolation, and excessive noise.
4

Effects of Stress on Health

  • Stress disturbs homeostasis and affects both mind and body.
  • During stress, sympathetic nervous system activity outpaces parasympathetic nervous system activity, so stress continues.
  • Stress is estimated as one of the major reasons for almost 50-70% of life-threatening ailments like ulcers, cardiac diseases, and diabetes.

Get complete notes with diagrams and examples

Full Notes

Key Concepts

Stress is the nonEustress is the optimal and beneficialDistress is harmful stress that reducesNeustress is neutral stress that hasHans Selye proposed three stages

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the important topics in Stress and Stress Management for ICSE Class 12 Psychology?
Key topics in Stress and Stress Management include Meaning of Stress, Stress Models, Causes of Stress, Effects of Stress on Health. Study these first, then practise questions on each for the ICSE Class 12 board exam.
How should I revise Stress and Stress Management for the ICSE Class 12 board exam?
Learn the core ideas first, then work through the 45 practice questions on Stress and Stress Management. Revise definitions regularly and use flashcards for quick recall before the exam.

Sources & Official References

Content is aligned to the official syllabus. Refer to the board website for the latest curriculum.

For serious students

Get the full Stress and Stress Management chapter — start free.

Quizzes, flashcards, an AI doubt solver and a study plan for ICSE Class 12 Psychology. Free to start, no card needed.