00:01
Okay, so let's take a look
at the effects of stress on
psychological function.
00:05
Now if you have small amounts
of low to moderate stress
like I said,
this can actually improve
psychological functioning.
00:11
So this is kind of a good thing.
00:13
Specially when it's acute
or in short periods.
00:15
So it can provide more energy.
00:17
Motivation for cognitive
activities.
00:19
You are very,very focused.
00:20
You are aroused.
00:21
And you are doing well
whatever you need to do.
00:23
Now the flip side is, if you
had a sub-optimal condition,
so this could be something
where it could be really,
really, low or unusually high.
00:33
So unusual levels of stress
aren't necessarily a bad thing
but they are not going to spark
your psychological function.
00:40
So if you're sitting completely
relaxed in your apartment,
fully rested, nothing to worry
about in the world,
psychologically you're not
as sharp as if I was to say,
"Things are looking pretty
good."
You have a full night to study.
00:56
And you have a small test tomorrow.
00:57
So the task is considered
not overly difficult.
01:01
So you are not stressed out.
01:02
But there's a little bit of
stress because it's
a three question quiz and you
have the full night to study.
01:07
That's a good situation
to be in.
01:10
The flip side is, I'm going to
give you 10 page exam
in one hour go,
your stressed out.
01:16
That be also sub-optimal
because you're above your normal
range of what you would consider
optimal, okay.
01:23
And situations like that it
actually lead to fatigue,
irritability, inability to
concentrate and even lead to
depression over time, okay.
01:30
Now, if stress is accompanied
by a lack of control,
and I mentioned that in
a couple, few moments ago,
overtime this can lead to
something called
"Learned helplessness."
So what are we referring
to here.
01:45
Learned helplessness is a sense
of exhaustion
and the lack of belief in one's
ability to manage situation.
01:49
So let's break that
down in English for you.
01:51
So what I'm saying is you are in
a situation that is extremely
stressful, and you have no
control over that situation,
that' fairly difficult on you.
02:00
You might feel helpless.
02:02
Okay, now when you say it's
learned helplessness,
you know that there's nothing
I can do that to myself
out of this situation.
02:09
And the people, individual,
yourself might feel like,
"Whoa, there's nothing I can
do about it."
I've no control.
02:15
I'm just going to
sit here and take it.
02:17
So as opposed to, if I say you
have a difficult task ahead
of you, you know your resources,
your appraise at something
that's manageable, you'll say,
"Okay, I'm not helpless
I have some control."
Versus, I'm going to say to you,
"You're going to like this exam,
This MCAT exam in 5 minutes
from now.
02:32
I'm going to actually tie
your hands.
02:34
You won't be able to study.
02:35
And I'm going to slap
your around for few minutes.
02:38
And there's nothing
you can do about it.
02:39
How are you going to feel?
You are going to
feel pretty helpless.
02:41
And at that point you say,
"I have no control over this."
"I have no lack in
my abilities."
"I have no belief in my abilities."
"I'm just going to deal with
it whatever happens, happens."
That's a pretty difficult
situation to be in
and we don't like to be
in those situations.
02:55
Now back to my example
of catastrophes,
those are situations where
you have very little control.
03:01
You don't know what's going on.
03:03
And there's nothing you can
do to remedial situation.
03:05
If bombs are going off and you
are stuck in the middle
of the city center
and you don't know where
the next bomb is going to be.
03:10
You don't know whether run.
03:11
You don't, we don't have any
of the equipment
or tools you need to deal
with that situation.
03:14
That's pretty helpless.
03:17
It's not a lot you can do there.