Chapter 5

Question 1

What is the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

Answer 1

A generalized model of physical stress response that includes the alarm stage, the resistance stage, and (if stress continues) the exhaustion stage

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a theory developed by Canadian physiologist Hans Selye in 1936.

Question 2

What is a stressor?

Answer 2

A challenge or demand requiring adjustment by an organism

Stressors are external events or circumstances that place a demand on an individual.

Question 3

What is the Autonomic Nervous System?

Answer 3

Portion of the nervous system that controls the functioning of many internal bodily processes, such as heart rate, digestive processes, and so on

The Autonomic Nervous System is responsible for regulating involuntary bodily functions.

Question 4

What is the sympathetic nervous system?

Answer 4

Division of the autonomic nervous system primarily involved in stress or emergency reactions that, for example, produce an increase in heart rate and blood pressure

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response.

Question 5

What is the parasympathetic nervous system?

Answer 5

Division of the autonomic nervous system primarily involved in conservation of energy, such as increasing digestive processes

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for calming the body and conserving energy.

Question 6

What is homeostasis?

Answer 6

State of equilibrium or balance in a dynamic system

Homeostasis is the body’s ability to maintain internal stability despite external changes.

Question 7

What does the parasympathetic division do?

Answer 7

The parasympathetic division functions to conserve and restore bodily resources.

The parasympathetic division often affects the same organ in the opposite way as the sympathetic system.

Question 8

How is the autonomic nervous system regulated? (3 parts)

Answer 8

The autonomic nervous system is regulated largely by the hypothalamus—posterior for sympathetic activation, and anterior for parasympathetic activation.

At the beginning of a sympathetic reaction, the anterior part of the hypothalamus is inhibited to reduce parasympathetic activation and vice versa for the start of parasympathetic arousal.

This is called reciprocal inhibition (or positive feedback loop), which amplifies the effects of the system being aroused.

Increased levels of cortisol can damage the hypothalamus and impair its stress response.

Question 9

How do chronic, uncontrollable, and unpredictable stressors affect individuals? (3 + 2)

Answer 9

Chronic, uncontrollable, and unpredictable stressors produce more damaging effects on mood, health, and behavior.

Trauma is an intense stressor.

Early, severe traumas can have long-lasting effects, increasing midlife risk of cardiovascular disease, lung cancer, and psychiatric disorder.

Women who experienced sexual or emotional abuse during childhood had increased risk of developing multiple sclerosis as adults.

Up to 84% of individuals who experienced physical abuse during childhood later met criteria for at least one psychiatric disorder.

Question 10

What is the triadic design used for?

Answer 10

The triadic design is a research method used for assessing the importance of stressor predictability.

Three groups are compared:
- Experimental or “master” subjects receive some warning signal or information predicting the delivery of the stressor.
- Yoked subjects receive exactly the same intensity, frequency, and duration of the stressor as the experimental subjects, but do not have any prior warning.
- Control subjects are present in the experimental setting but do not experience the specific stressor.

If yoked subjects experience more severe outcomes than experimental subjects, the difference can be attributed to the unpredictable nature of stressor delivery rather than its intensity, frequency, or duration.

Question 11

What is the impact of stress on cardiovascular health?

Answer 11

Stress response has been linked to coronary heart disease, hypertension, and reduced cardiovascular health, including arthrosclerosis.

Type A is at greater risk of coronary heart disease, particularly on the dimensions of anger, impatience, and hostility.

Anger and hostility of Type A might be most damaging.

Type D (distressed) includes social inhibition and negative affectivity, and has been linked to cardiovascular disease mortality.

Question 12

How does stress affect immune functioning?

Answer 12

Prolonged or chronic stress can suppress immune response.

Previously neutral stimuli can acquire immunosuppressive properties, which strongly implies that individual learning history and environmental context can play a significant role in the effects of stress on physical health.

Stressful psychological events paired with illness suppress normal immune system functioning.

Psychoneuroimmunology studies the neural effects of psychological events on the immune system.

Question 13

What are some other stress-health relationships?

Answer 13

Stressful life experiences can increase the risk of HIV, colds, asthma, and more.

Ways of coping with stress can be helpful in healthcare.

Several effective coping strategies include progressive relaxation, stress inoculation, meditation, learned optimism, guided imagery, prayer, and physical exercise.

Question 14

What was COVID-19 linked to in terms of mental health?

Answer 14

Increased rates of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders

From the pre-COVID to peri-COVID era.

Question 15

What are some effective coping techniques for stress?

Answer 15

Progressive relaxation, stress inoculation, meditation, learned optimism, guided imagery, prayer, and physical exercise

These are effective coping techniques.

Question 16

What factors influence the impact of a stressor on an individual?

Answer 16

Biological, genetic, and psychological variables

The influence of a stressor depends on these variables.

Question 17

What are some examples of trauma- and stressor-related disorders in the DSM-5-TR?

Answer 17

Adjustment disorders, PTSD, and acute stress disorder

These are trauma- and stressor-related disorders in the DSM-5-TR.

Question 18

What is the main difference between PTSD and acute stress disorder (ASD)?

Answer 18

Duration of symptoms: ASD lasts more than 3 days but less than 1 month, while PTSD lasts longer than 1 month

If symptoms last longer than 1 month, ASD is changed to PTSD.

Question 19

What are some common treatments for severe stress reactions?

Answer 19

Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), and pharmacological interventions

These are common treatments for severe stress reactions.

Question 20

Discuss the actions of the autonomic nervous system. Which part of the system is active during stressful situations? How does the arousal abate?

Answer 20

The autonomic nervous system can be divided into two subdivisions, the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. In a stressful situation, the sympathetic subdivision prepares the body for action. Heart rate and blood pressure increase. After the stressful situation has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system brings the body back to normal.

Answer: The autonomic nervous system can be divided into two subdivisions, the parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems. In a stressful situation, the sympathetic subdivision prepares the body for action. Heart rate and blood pressure increase. After the stressful situation has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system brings the body back to normal.

Question 21

Explain how the triadic design can be useful in exploring the stress response.

Answer 21

The triadic design is a research method used for assessing the importance of stressor predictability. In this design, three groups are compared. The experimental group receives a warning signal that aids them in predicting when a stressor will occur. The token (yoked) group receives the same stressor as the experimental group but are not given any warning. The control group does not receive a stressor. If the yoked group experiences more severe outcomes than the experimental group, then researchers conclude that the difference can be attributed to the unpredictable nature of the stressor rather than its intensity, frequency, or duration.

Answer: The triadic design is a research method used for assessing the importance of stressor predictability. In this design, three groups are compared. The experimental group receives a warning signal that aids them in predicting when a stressor will occur. The token (yoked) group receives the same stressor as the experimental group but are not given any warning. The control group does not receive a stressor. If the yoked group experiences more severe outcomes than the experimental group, then researchers conclude that the difference can be attributed to the unpredictable nature of the stressor rather than its intensity, frequency, or duration.

Question 22

Describe two ways that psychological stress can affect physical health.

Answer 22

Prolonged or chronic stress can affect how the immune system functions. When a person experiences stress, the stress hormone cortisol is released, which also suppresses immune system responses that could lead to illness. Unpredictable or uncontrollable stressors have negatively impact the immune system more than predictable stressors. Additionally, illness paired with a stressful event further suppresses immune system functioning.

Answer: Prolonged or chronic stress can affect how the immune system functions. When a person experiences stress, the stress hormone cortisol is released, which also suppresses immune system responses that could lead to illness. Unpredictable or uncontrollable stressors have negatively impact the immune system more than predictable stressors. Additionally, illness paired with a stressful event further suppresses immune system functioning.

Question 23

What is psychoneuroimmunology, and how might it be relevant to mental disorders?

Answer 23

Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the neural effects of psychological events on the immune system. It is relevant to mental disorders because it helps to understand the complex interplay between psychosocial factors, the immune system, and the central nervous system. Individuals with mental disorders may be experiencing reduced immune system activity due to long-term drug treatment or other impacts which can then endanger overall health.

Answer: Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of the neural effects of psychological events on the immune system. It is relevant to mental disorders because it helps to understand the complex interplay between psychosocial factors, the immune system, and the central nervous system. Individuals with mental disorders may be experiencing reduced immune system activity due to long-term drug treatment or other impacts which can then endanger overall health.

Question 24

Describe two effective treatments for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Answer 24

Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been found to be effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder. In this treatment, individuals are also taught stress management and how to handle re-exposure to the stressor. Prolonged exposure to the stressor has been shown to be effective. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing has also been shown to be effective. Eye movement tasks served to temporarily deactivate the amygdala by altering the connectivity between it and the dorsal frontoparietal network, and between the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, thought to be involved in cognitive regulation of emotion. Pharmacological treatments are also possible for PTSD. Tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs have been shown to be quite effective.

Answer: Cognitive-behavioral therapy has been found to be effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder. In this treatment, individuals are also taught stress management and how to handle re-exposure to the stressor. Prolonged exposure to the stressor has been shown to be effective. Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing has also been shown to be effective. Eye movement tasks served to temporarily deactivate the amygdala by altering the connectivity between it and the dorsal frontoparietal network, and between the amygdala and the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, thought to be involved in cognitive regulation of emotion. Pharmacological treatments are also possible for PTSD. Tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs have been shown to be quite effective.

Question 25

Pharmacological treatments are also possible for PTSD.

Answer 25

Tricyclic antidepressants and SSRIs have been shown to be quite effective.

Question 26

During the _____ stage of the general adaptation syndrome, coping responses to the ongoing challenge are depleted.

Answer 26

Exhaustion

End-of-Chapter Pop Quiz

Question 27

Arousal of the sympathetic nervous system triggers reduction in parasympathetic activity. This relationship is called _____.

Answer 27

Reciprocal inhibition

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Question 28

If you hear strange noises in the middle of the night and believe there is a burglar in your home, this stress would activate which division of the autonomic nervous system?

Answer 28

Sympathetic nervous system

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Question 29

The _____ is the division of the autonomic nervous system that functions to conserve and restore, rather than expend, energy.

Answer 29

Parasympathetic nervous system

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Question 30

The _____ gland is often referred to as the master gland.

Answer 30

Pituitary

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Question 31

Maintaining _____ is a general term referring to equilibrium in a dynamic system.

Answer 31

Homeostasis

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Question 32

The “Type D personality” behavior pattern predominantly involves _____.

Answer 32

Social inhibition and negative affectivity

End-of-Chapter Pop Quiz

Question 33

______ is not one of the chronic stressors cited in this text.

Answer 33

Pending surgery

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Question 34

In the triadic research design, the yoked subjects _____.

Answer 34

Receive exactly the same intensity, frequency, and duration of the stressor as other subjects, but do not have any prior warning

End-of-Chapter Pop Quiz

Question 35

One effect of the stress hormone _____ is to suppress immune response.

Answer 35

Cortisol

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Question 36

Ader and Cohen’s (1975) study of conditioned immunosuppression showed which of the following?

Answer 36

Susceptibility to illness may be influenced by learning history.

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Question 37

In the _____ of mental disorders, the predisposition for a particular disorder is considered to be biological, genetic, or psychological in origin.

Answer 37

Diathesis-stress model

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Question 38

All of the following could lead to PTSD except _____.

Answer 38

Bankruptcy

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Question 39

Posttraumatic stress disorder differs from acute stress disorder in that _____.

Answer 39

PTSD onset can be delayed for more than 6 months after the trauma

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Question 40

EMDR stands for _____ and is used to treat _____.

Answer 40

Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing; PTSD

End-of-Chapter Pop Quiz