Final answer:
Slow movements challenge the body's control system and can result in increased stress, leading to greater cognitive and affective flexibility. The perception of control plays a major role in stress response and overall well-being, with physical fitness being a contributing factor to stress resilience.
Step-by-step explanation:
Slow movements exert a significant challenge to the control system of the body, resulting in greater stress. When the control system is stressed, it can lead to increased activation of the prefrontal cortex. Subsequently, this activation provides restraint over stress responses and the sympathetic nervous system, enhancing cognitive and affective flexibility.
The concept of perceived control is pivotal in determining the intensity and adaptation to stress: when individuals perceive a higher level of control over their lives, they tend to experience less stress, better health, and greater psychological well-being. Conversely, a lack of perceived control can heighten the stress response, potentially leading to health issues. Health studies have found a connection between physical fitness and resilience to stress, indicating that a fit individual usually experiences less stress than someone who is less physically fit. In addition to overall health, the control system affects physiological functions like heart rate and muscle contraction speed, underscoring the importance of maintaining a balance between sympathetic and parasympathetic input in different body systems.