Ch 12 - Stress

Question 1

Emotion

Answer 1

State of arousal involving facial and bodily changes, brain activation, cognitive appraisals, subjective feelings, and tendencies toward action

Question 2

3 Functions of emotion

Answer 2

• provides rapid response to environmental stimuli
• communication of intent to others
• Influences social behaviours and responses

Question 3

2 routes of emotions in the brain

Answer 3

Fast route: skips visual cortex and goes straight to amygdala for instant emotional reaction

Slow route: sensory input is routed to cortex for analysis and then transmission to the amygdala

Question 4

Amygdala

Answer 4

Brain structure involved in arousal and regulation of emotion and initial emotional response to sensory information

• becomes activated during perception of arousing or aversive/fear-inducing stimuli (loud noises, noxious odors, bad taste, etc.)

Question 5

Prefrontal cortex

Answer 5

most forward part of the frontal lobes of the brain
- Associated with emotional experience and emotional regulation; modifying and controlling what we feel

• Left prefrontal cortex: the most forward part of the frontal lobes of the brain
• Right prefrontal cortex: more tuned to unpleasant emotions

Question 6

Autonomic Nervous System

Answer 6

A control system that acts largely unconsciously and regulates bodily functions such as the heart rate, digestion, etc.

Question 7

2 Theories of emotion

Answer 7

James-Lange Theory: emotions caused by bodily sensations, and arousal leads to emotion (heart races leading to fear)
- Issue: physical experience of arousal is not uniquely distinct for each emotion

Cannon-Bard Theory: Emotions and arousal co-occur, and stimulus activates bodily arousal, and the stimulation activates the cortex
-

Question 8

Reward Smiles -
Affiliative Smiles -
Dominance Smiles -

Answer 8

> displayed to communicate positive experiences or intentions
create and maintain social bonds and signal appeasement
signal status

Question 9

Body language

Answer 9

nonverbal signals of movement, posture, gesture, and gaze

Question 10

Primary emotions

Answer 10

emotions considered universal and biologically based
- Ex. fear, anger, sadness, joy, disgust, and contempt

Question 11

Secondary emotions

Answer 11

emotions that developed with cognitive maturity and vary across individuals/cultures
- some ppl don’t experience them

Question 12

Display rules

Answer 12

Social and cultural rules regulating when, how, and where a person may express (or suppress) emotions

Question 13

Emotional dialects

Answer 13

Variations across cultures in how common emotions are expressed

Question 14

Health Psychology

Answer 14

Brand of psych concerned with promotion of health and prevention of illness

Question 15

Placebo effect

Answer 15

perception that one has received an intervention improves one’s symptoms

Question 16

Nocebo effect

Answer 16

an intervention that is expected to cause harm or side effects creates those effects

Question 17

Stress

Answer 17

psychological and physiological reaction that occurs when perceived demands exceed existing resources to meet those demands

Question 18

Stressors

Answer 18

an event, item, or experience that causes a stress response
- stress response helps living things deal w stressors

Question 19

Short term stress pattern

Answer 19

• Fight-or-flight
• physiological changes occuring in response to psychological or physical threat

Question 20

Long term stress pattern

Answer 20

• General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)
• Theory of stress responses involving stages of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion

Question 21

General Adaptation Syndrome

Answer 21

Alarm - recognition of threat
- increase in blood pressure, muscle tension, heart rate, adrenaline
- fight or flight

Resistance - body attempts to cope with stressor
- uses physical/mental resources to respond

Exhaustion - stressful experience depletes resources and physiological stress response declines

Question 22

Acute stress

Answer 22

• Enhances immunity (except allergies)
• Increase number of lymphocytes and macrophages
• Dependent on adrenal secretion (lasts 2-5 days)

Question 23

Chronic stress

Answer 23

• Suppresses immunity
• Reduces number of lymphocytes and macrophages
• Increases severity of common illnesses

Question 24

Common sources of stress:

Answer 24

• Frustration: blocked goal
• Pressure: expectations to behave certain way
• Change: having to adapt

Question 25

Common stressors

Answer 25

• Financial: lack money, unpaid bills
• Work/school: exams, project deadlines, traffic
• Physiological: lack of sleep, unhealthy eating, smoking/drinking
• Psychological: personal relationships, conflict, bullying
• Societal: racism, poverty, powerlessness

Question 26

Personalities and stress

Answer 26

Type A:
- are organized but impatient
- worry about time
- ambitious
- motivated
- competitive but easily angered

Type B:
- are laid back
- patient
- easygoing
- relaxed

Question 27

Microstressors

Answer 27

Cumulative effects of stress

Question 28

Locus of control

Answer 28

A general expectation about whether the results of your actions are under your own control (internal locus) or beyond your control (external locus)

Question 29

Transactional Model

Answer 29

Model by Richard Lazarus, stating that the amount of stress people experience is based on 2 factors:
- Assessment of stressors (primary appraisal)
- Assessment of resources they have to cope (secondary appraisal)

Question 30

Problem-focused coping

Answer 30

Attempting to reduce stress directly by changing stressor or way we interact with it

Question 31

Emotion-focused coping

Answer 31

Trying to find ways of reducing effects of negative emotions

Question 32

Coping strategies

Answer 32

1. deal w microstressors in life that you can control
2. Intentionally participate in activities taht put you in positive mood
3. Add optimistic outlook
4. Relaxation
5. Religious involvement
6. Forgiveness
7. Confession
8. Spend time outdoors
9. Exercise

Question 33

Positive psychology

Answer 33

Examines how positive emotions and personality traits enhance well-being and health

Question 34

Optimism

Answer 34

General expectation that things will go well despite setbacks

Question 35

Pessimism

Answer 35

Tendency to have negative perception of life and expect negative outcomes

Question 36

Why does higher self-esteem result in fewer health problems?

Answer 36

Because of lower social stress and more friends