3- Psychological Factors In Stress

Question 1

Explain what happened in the Schachter and Singer study in 1950s, where they injected people with adrenaline and then they went either into a party or an exam. What does it show ?

Answer 1

Injected with adrenaline, control group
With adrenaline: perceived party as way more fun, perceived test as way more stressful.

Shows that it is not just arousal that determined how people react, but also the environment.
We look to our body for feedback, and the brain will trigger based on what the body is feeling- if HR increased, we think “this must be a fun party”

Question 2

What is Lazarus and Folkman’s Stress Appraisal Model ?

Answer 2

When exposed to an event:

• Primary Appraisal
  irrelevant, benign or positive, stressful
• Secondary Appraisal
  coping possibilities, control

Question 3

What are the 5 moderators of stress appraisal ?

Answer 3

1) coping style
2) locus of control
3) personality
4) social support
5) beliefs

Question 4

What are the two coping styles used by Lazarus and Folkman ?

Answer 4

problem-focused and emotion-focused

Question 5

What is problem-focused coping ?

Answer 5

Used in situations perceived to be controllable
to help figure out a solution.

eg planning, problem solving
eg cancelling plans to study for a test

Question 6

What is emotion-focused coping ?

Answer 6

not how you solve the problem, more about emotional support.
used in situations where the situation is perceived as uncontrollable

eg emotional social support

eg avoidance (denial, drug use)

Question 7

what is an issue with emotion-focused coping ?

Answer 7

can lead to avoidance

Question 8

which coping mechanism is better, problem- or emotion-focused ?

Answer 8

both can be good, it depends.

Question 9

in a catastrophic diagnostic, which coping mechanism is better ?

Answer 9

emotion-based
avoidance can be good while brain gets used to the idea
then you go to problem-focused

Question 10

it has been argued that coping mechanisms should come in what order ?

Answer 10

emotion

then problem

Question 11

is it better to have an internal or external locus of control ?

Answer 11

internal

Question 12

what are the three categories of psychological responses to stress ?

Answer 12

emotional, cognitive, behavioral

Question 13

what are the three categories of psychological consequences to stress ?

Answer 13

personal, interpersonal, performance

Question 14

taking into account the human performance curve, what can you say about the amount of stress we should have ?

Answer 14

(looks like a hill)

we need a bit of stress, an optimal amount