Biological Explanation - Cortisol And Chronic Stess - Evaluation Flashcards
What are issues with establishing cause and effect with research on HPA ?
Establishing if stress is the cause of an issue is very difficult as stressed individuals are more likely to change their habbits
What is the evaluation of HPA in terms of stress helping the immune system?
Evans et al (1997) , found that chronic stress damages the immune system whilst SAM helps it
What is the evaulation of HPA in terms of stress not always raising cortisol levels?
Lewis et al (2007) found no difference in students’ cortisol levels in response to exam stress (before and after an exam had been announced)
What is evidence which supports the Immune system being weakened?
Marucha et al 1998 - punch biopsy , students cut before exam took 40% longer to heal , then those cut in summer holiday
What is the evaluation of low levels of cortisol causing health problems?
Some evidence suggests that low levels of cortisol is linked to PSTD and chronic fatigue by Christene Helm et al (2000)
What are the four areas of evaluation for the claimed effects of cortisol and chronic stress response on the immune system?
The effects of Low levels of cortisol on health , issues in research , stress not always beign negative for immune system , stress not always raising cortisol levels
What did Lopez-Duran et al find about variations of cortisol release?
Found that when children were confornted with a stressors , boys displayed greator cortisol activation , therfore this diffrence must be accounted for in studies
What does Lewis et al.’s (2007) research into the lack of change in cortisol levels when exposed to a stressor suggest?
It suggests that an increase in cortisol relies on other factors such as overall happiness or home life or on the perception of a stessor (challenge or threat)
What does Christene Helm et al (2000) findings on certain illnesses being linked to low levels of cortisol suggest?
That maintaining a balance of cortisol may be key to remaining healthy
