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Chapter 4 of 8
Syllabus

Stress and Stress Management

ICSE · Class 12 · Psychology

Complete topic list for Stress and Stress Management in ICSE Class 12 Psychology. Key concepts, sub-topics, and what to focus on for board exams.

45 questions42 flashcards5 concepts

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4 Topics · ICSE Class 12 Psychology

Topics in Stress and Stress Management

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.

Key Concepts

Central concept: Stress and stress management as a process, its causes, effects, and coping methods

Meaning of stressStress as a processStressorsStress modelsGeneral Adaptation SyndromeCognitive Appraisal ModelCauses of stressEffects of stress on health

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 Visual representation of the relationship between stress levels and performance outcomes, Flowchart showing stress as a cyclical process with multiple stages, Mind map categorizing different types of stressors affecting individuals. These are the concepts ICSE Class 12 examiners draw on most — study them first, then practise related questions.
How to score full marks in Stress and Stress Management — ICSE Class 12 Psychology?
Understand the core concepts first, then work through the 45 practice questions available for this chapter. Revise formulas and 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.

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