Ch. 11: Stress

Question 1

The biological mechanisms that underlie a stress response

Answer 1

A stressor activates two systems: a fast acting sympathetic nervous system response and a slower-acting response resulting from a complex system of biological events known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Question 2

Stress response sequence of events

Answer 2

Stressful event is perceived in the brain, which sends various signals to various brain areas and to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus first activates the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the adrenal glands –located at the top of the kidneys– to release epinephrine and norepinephrine, which increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Meanwhile, in the HPA axis, the hypothalamus sends a signal to the pituitary gland that sends a hormone into the blood stream that eventually reaches the adrenal glands. The adrenals then secrete cortisol.

Question 3

Cortisol

Answer 3

Hormone secreted during HPA axis stress response by adrenal glands. It travels through the bloodstream, especially at the hypothalamus, hippocampus, and amygdala. In turn, cortisol increases the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. May be linked with the development of heart disease through chronic/high stress.

Question 4

Effects of excessive stress

Answer 4

Because stress activates hormones, which stay in the blood stream longer than the length of the stressful events, chronic stress begins to damage organs. Also, excessive stress disrupts working memory. Chronic stress has also been associated with memory impairments; excessive cortisol from the HPA stress response damages the hippocampus, which is important for storing long term memories.

Question 5

Daily hassles

Answer 5

Small, day-to-day irritations and annoyances that are stressful, and their combined effects can be comparable to the effects of major life changes.

Question 6

Eustress

Answer 6

Stress from positive events

Question 7

Distress

Answer 7

Stress from negative events

Question 8

General Adaptation Syndrome 3 stages

Answer 8

alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

Question 9

Fight or flight response

Answer 9

the physical reaction includes increased heart rate, redistribution of the blood supply away from skin and digestive organs and to muscles and brain, deepening of respiration, dilation of pupils, inhibition of gastric secretions, and an increase in glucose released from the liver.

Question 10

Tend and befriend response

Answer 10

Females respond to stress by protecting and caring for their offspring, as well as by forming alliances with social groups to reduce risks to individuals, including themselves. Stressed women are more attentive to children than stressed men are.

Question 11

Oxytocin

Answer 11

a hormone important for mothers bonding with newborns, is produced in the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. Research shows that oxytocin is high for women, but not men, who are socially distressed. It exists naturally in both women and men, but women’s stress response seems to rely on it more. Also, influences someone to be trustful

Question 12

T/F: A less active immune system can lead to stomach ulcers

Answer 12

True

Question 13

T/F: short term stress damages the immune system

Answer 13

False; short term stress helps the immune system, while chronic stress damages it.

Question 14

lymphocytes

Answer 14

the three types of white blood cells in the immune system

Question 15

B cells

Answer 15

Produce antibodies, which are protein agents that attach themselves to foreign agents and mark them for destruction. Some type of B cells are able to remember specific invaders, allowing you to build up immunities

Question 16

T cells

Answer 16

Involved with attacking the intruders directly and also with increasing the strength of the immune system’s response. They are the cells affected by HIV.

Question 17

natural killer cells

Answer 17

Especially potent for killing viruses and also help attack tumors.

Question 18

T/F: the body heals slower when under stress

Answer 18

True. This is partly due to decreased lymphocyte production, caused by long term stress.

Question 19

T/F: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in the industrialized world

Answer 19

True

Question 20

T/F: Passive behavior increases the chances of developing Coronary heart disease

Answer 20

False, it is aggressive “type A” behavior that increases these chances, meanwhile passive, “type B” behavior lowers chances. Specifically, it is aggressiveness as a “type A” character trait that is very highly correlated with the development of heart disease.

Question 21

Primary appraisals

Answer 21

What people do to determine if an even is worth getting stressed out over.

Question 22

Secondary appraisals

Answer 22

What people do to evaluate response options and determine coping behaviors.

Question 23

Anticipatory coping

Answer 23

coping that happens before a stressful event

Question 24

Emotion focused coping

Answer 24

tries to suppress stress/ avoid it, or engages in behaviors such as eating or drinking. Usually, strategies that are emotion-focused are only effective in the short run.

Question 25

Problem focused coping

Answer 25

Focusing on resolving problem that is causing stress. These are only useful when it is in fact possible to resolve the problem

Question 26

Positive Reappraisal

Answer 26

coping by focusing on the silver lining of a situation

Question 27

Downward comparison

Answer 27

coping by comparing oneself to those worse off

Question 28

Creation of positive events

Answer 28

coping by giving positive meaning to ordinary events.

Question 29

Stress resistant people

Answer 29

People capable to adapting to stressful events by viewing them constructively. As a personality trait, called “hardiness”

Question 30

Hardiness’s 3 components

Answer 30

commitment, challenge, and control. Committed to triumphing over obstacles. Viewing obstacles as challenges. And lastly, an overall viewpoint that they are in control of their own destinies.

Question 31

Broaden and build theory

Answer 31

positive emotions cause people to consider novel solutions to their problems. Thus, resilient people tend to draw on their positive emotions when dealing with stress.

Question 32

Happiness’s 3 components

Answer 32

1) positive emotion and pleasure, 2) engagement in life, 3) a meaningful life

Question 33

the buffering hypothesis

Answer 33

the idea that when people such as friends lend their emotional support, they help you cope with stressful events

Question 34

T/F: trust and more friends are correlated with longer life

Answer 34

True