PSY 172 - Stress & Stress Management

1. Distinguish key concepts, principles, and perspectives in the biopsychosocial approach to understanding stress.
   1. Describe the biological component of stress, its concepts and theories, including the physiological response to stress, the mind-body connection, and the effects of stress on health and the immune system.
   2. Describe the cognitive component of stress, its concepts and theories, including perception, cognitive appraisal and distortions, and emotions.
   3. Describe the social component of stress, its concepts and theories, including interpersonal sources of stress in relationships and environmental stressors.
2. Distinguish key concepts, principles, and perspectives in the biopsychosocial approach to stress management.
   1. Describe the biological perspective, its concepts and theories, including relaxation and its physiological benefits, environmental elements, and the role of exercise, nutrition, and sleep in a healthy lifestyle.
   2. Describe the cognitive perspective, its concepts and theories, including cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, and values.
   3. Describe the social perspective, its concepts and theories, including social support and communication.
3. Apply physiological, behavioral, and cognitive stress reduction techniques to prevent and manage the personal experience of stress.
   1. Experiment with relaxation techniques including breathing exercises, meditation, yoga, and other selected methods to alter the personal experience of stress.
   2. Use cognitive techniques including mindfulness, cognitive restructuring, values clarification, and time and money management strategies to prevent and manage the personal experience of stress.
   3. Develop behavioral strategies including exercise, nutrition, sleep, and communication to manage the personal experience of stress.
4. Demonstrate experiential and self-directed learning.
   1. Describe your experience with stress reduction and relaxation activities.
   2. Show self-directed learning in regard to techniques for stress reduction and relaxation.
5. Develop competence in writing and/or verbal communication skills.
   1. State ideas in written formats that reflect basic concepts and principles in stress and stress management.
   2. Construct questions about content in stress and stress management.
6. Apply stress management content to personal, academic, and career goals.
   1. Describe how stress management content applies to home, educational, and workplace settings.
   2. Assess the symptoms, causes and effects of personal stressors at home, school, and work.
   3. Use content to create a personal plan for daily living habits in stress management to help prevent and manage the personal experience of stress.