Ch. 4 Stress Across Cultures

Question 1

homeostasis

Answer 1

ideal level of bodily functions

Question 2

stress

Answer 2

defined in a variety of ways

an upsetting of homeostasis

a state caused when the perceived demands of the organism exceeded the resources to meet those demands

Question 3

fight-or-flight theory

Answer 3

(Cannon)

Question 4

sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) activation

Answer 4

(Cannon)

produces epinephrine & norepinephrine
- changes in heart rate

Question 5

tend-and-befriend

Answer 5

(Shelly Taylor)

theory that suggests how women when faced with a stressor may either tend to infants or others and befriend other females and cultivate female bonds as opposed to fighting or fleeing

Question 6

hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis

Answer 6

(Selye & Cannon)

activates the pituitary gland that then activates the adrenal gland

Question 7

general adaptation syndrome

Answer 7

(Hans Selye)

organisms have a general way of responding to all stressors
- when faced with a stressor, the body first goes into a state of alarm, then attempts to cope during a period of resistance, and finally breaks down in a state of exhaustion

Question 8

appraisal

Answer 8

way of potentially stressful event is interpreted

- significant component of Lazarus’ psychological explanation why we get stressed

Question 9

primary appraisal

Answer 9

first stage of Lazarus’ cognitive appraisal model of stress

we determine the nature of an event, whether harmful, damaging, or challenging

Question 10

secondary appraisal

Answer 10

second stage of Lazarus’ cognitive appraisal model of stress

we determine whether we have the resources to manage an event
- relates to primary appraisal

Question 11

positive valence

Answer 11

attractiveness of an event

(ie) pleasantness, relaxation, or joy

high arousal is seen as positive or useful

Question 12

spillover

Answer 12

transmission of stress from one domain of an individual’s life into other domains of life

Question 13

ecological theory

Answer 13

(Bronfrenbrenner)

a way of examining behavior which identifies different levels or systems in which the individual acts rather than just focusing on the individual

Question 14

microsystem

Answer 14

includes the activities and roles the individual takes on in a particular setting

(ie) work and home

Question 15

mesosystem

Answer 15

contains the relationships & interactions between microsystems at a specific point in time

Question 16

role theory

Answer 16

a role is the set of behaviors to be performed and is determined by one’s own perceptions and the expectation of others

• as an individual accumulates roles, the quantity and incompatibility of role demands increase
• an individual experiences role strain that results in increased role conflict and ambiguity

Question 17

role ambiguity

Answer 17

degree to which required information regarding role expectations are available, clear, and communicated to the individual playing the role

(ie) an employee

Question 18

role conflict

Answer 18

incompatibility of expectations for a given role and between different roles

Question 19

background stressor

Answer 19

environmental stressor

crowding & noise, together with air pollution and chemical pollution

Question 20

natural disaster stressor

Answer 20

environmental stressor

short-term stressors that are often more severe than long-term stressors

(ie) flooding, earthquakes, and hurricanes

Question 21

techno-political stressor

Answer 21

environmental stressor

directly linked to technological or political causes

(ie) nuclear reactor accidents, chemical plant accidents, dam-related flooding, wars & acts of terrorism

Question 22

allostasis

Answer 22

the ability to achieve stability through change

Question 23

steps in general adaptation syndrome

Answer 23

when faced with a stressor

1) body first goes into a state of alarm
2) body attempts to cope during a period of resistance
3) body finally breaks down in a state of exhaustion

Question 24

negative valence

Answer 24

aversion of an event

(ie) sadness, fear or anger

high arousal is seen as negative

Question 25

cognitive appraisal model

Answer 25

(Richard Lazarus) theory of why we get stressed imbalance between the demands placed on the individual and that individual's resources to cope

Question 26

microaggression

Answer 26

every day insults, indignities & demeaning messages sent to people of color by well-intentioned White people who are unaware of the hidden messages they are sending

Question 27

reciprocity

Answer 27

(Bronfrenbrenner) recognition that systems are not independent of one another but are in constant interaction

Question 28

Stress is best defined as a. negative events that tax the body b. challenges to the body systems c. the perception of strain d. upsetting of homeostasis

Answer 28

d. upsetting of homeostasis

Question 29

The earliest theory of stress suggests our current response is a remnant of our evolutionary past and was developed by: a. Walter Cannon b. Hans Selye c. Richard Lazarus d. Rene Descartes

Answer 29

a. Walter Cannon

Question 30

During the fight-or-flight response, epinephrine does which of the following? a. increases heart rate and blood pressure b. energizes the muscles c. converts fat into energy d. gets oxygen into the bloodstream

Answer 30

a. increases heart rate and blood pressure

Question 31

According to Hans Selye, the ________ phase of the stress response is responsible for the physiological damage related to stress. a. alarm b. resistance c. threat d. exhaustion

Answer 31

d. exhaustion

Question 32

According to Lazarus' cognitive appraisal model, in primary appraisal, people assess whether an event involves each of the following except: a. fear b. harm c. threat d. challenge

Answer 32

a. fear

Question 33

When a close friend is undergoing a lot of stress, we tend to feel stressed as well. We are not as affected by events taking place far off lands and to strangers. The main dimensions of stress varying in this example is: a. duration b. valence c. definition d. centrality

Answer 33

d. centrality

Question 34

Not having money to cover basic needs, divorce, living in a high crime area, being fired, having housing problems and long-term medical problems are all examples of which of the following? a. environmental stressors b. chronic burden c. acute stressors d. unpredictable stressors

Answer 34

b. chronic burden

Question 35

As someone gets stressed, heart rate increases and there will be a slight increase in perspiration. This can be seen best by measuring: a. galvanic skin response b. temperature c. blood pressure d. electroencephalograms

Answer 35

a. galvanic skin response

Question 36

Workers with boring, repetitive jobs sometimes show symptoms of nausea, headaches, muscle weakness, and blurry vision without any physical basis. This is known as: a. deprivational stress b. assembly-line hysteria c. cognitive load d. ambiguity disorder

Answer 36

b. assembly-line hysteria

Question 37

Chronic stress over time can cause wear and tear on the body. This can have serious physical and psychological consequences and is called: a. exhaustion b. allostasis c. contagion d. fatigue

Answer 37

b. allostasis