Emotions and Stress

Question 1

This theory proposes that exposure to an emotionally salient stimulus causes a physiological reaction which, in turn, is perceived as an emotion – e.g., when a person is faced with a growling bear while hiking in the woods, her heart begins to beat faster and she starts breathing more deeply, and she then feels afraid.

Answer 1

James-Lange theory

Question 2

A more recent explanation for emotion related to the James-Lange theory predicts that facial expressions associated with specific emotions initiate physiological changes that are consistent with those emotions.

Answer 2

facial feedback hypothesis

Question 3

This theory of emotion proposes that the experience of an emotion and physiological arousal occur together when an environmental stimulus causes the thalamus (which receives input from the senses) to simultaneously send signals to the cerebral cortex and the sympathetic nervous system.

Answer 3

Cannon-Bard theory

Question 4

This theory is also known as cognitive arousal theory and describes the experience of emotion as the result of physiological arousal followed by an attribution (“cognitive label”) for that arousal.

Answer 4

Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory

Question 5

According to Schachter and Singer’s two-factor theory, this is the tendency to mislabel arousal when its cause is unknown or ambiguous.

Answer 5

Misattribution of arousal

Question 6

Excitation transfer theory, which is often erroneously described as being synonymous with misattribution of arousal, is based on three assumptions:

Answer 6

(a) Physical arousal associated with emotions (e.g., elevated heart rate and blood pressure) decays slowly and can continue for some time following the event that elicited the arousal.
(b) Residual arousal caused by one event can intensify arousal caused by a subsequent unrelated event.
(c) People often have limited insight into the causes of their physical arousal and, consequently, can misattribute their intense arousal solely to the subsequent unrelated event.

Question 7

This theory proposes that differences in emotional reactions to events are due to different appraisals of those events. In other words, two people can experience the same event but respond with different emotions because they appraise the situation differently. It also assumes, in contrast to other theories, that physiological arousal follows cognitive appraisal.

Answer 7

Lazarus’s cognitive appraisal theory

Question 8

In Lazarus’s cognitive appraisal theory, this type of appraisal involves evaluating the event to determine if it’s irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful. When the person decides the event is stressful, he/she then determines if it involves a threat, a challenge, or harm/loss.

Answer 8

Primary appraisal

Question 9

In Lazarus’s cognitive appraisal theory, this type of appraisal occurs when the person determines that the event is stressful and involves identifying his/her coping options and the likelihood that the options will adequately deal with the event.

Answer 9

Secondary appraisal

Question 10

In Lazarus’s cognitive appraisal theory, this type of appraisal occurs when the person monitors the situation and, as appropriate, changes his/her primary and/or secondary appraisal.

Answer 10

Reappraisal

Question 11

This reconceptualization of the stress response is based on the assumption that “the brain is the key organ of stress … because it determines what is threatening and therefore stressful, and also determines the physiological and behavioral responses [to stress]” (McEwen, 2006, p. 367).

Answer 11

Allostatic load model

Question 12

Selye’s (1976) general adaptation syndrome proposes that the body’s response to all types of stress is the same and involves three stages:

Answer 12

Alarm
Resistance
Exhaustion

Question 13

Selye’s (1976) general adaptation syndrome proposes that, in this stage, increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system provides the body with the energy it needs to respond to the stressor with a fight-or-flight reaction.

Answer 13

Alarm

Question 14

Selye’s (1976) general adaptation syndrome proposes that, in this stage, some physiological functions return to normal while cortisol (a stress hormone) continues to circulate at an elevated level to help the body maintain a high energy level and cope with the stressor.

Answer 14

Resistance

Question 15

Selye’s (1976) general adaptation syndrome proposes that, in this stage, physiological processes begin to break down due to stress continuing.

Answer 15

Exhaustion

Question 16

In McEwen’s allostatic load model, this refers to processes that allow the body to achieve stability by adapting to change.

Answer 16

Allostasis

According to McEwen, the nature of allostasis and consequences of allostatic load vary from person to person due to several factors, including differences in genetic makeup, resilience, and perceptions about the controllability of the stressor.

Question 17

In McEwen’s allostatic load model, elevated blood pressure and cortisol level may be necessary to adapt to a stressful event. These processes can be maintained for a limited period of time without having adverse consequences. This is known as _____?

Answer 17

Allostatic state

Question 18

In McEwen’s allostatic load model, extended allostatic state due to chronic stress or repeated episodes of acute stress can produce wear-and-tear on the body and brain. This is referred to as _____.

Answer 18

Allostatic load.

If it continues, it can cause allostatic overload.

Question 19

This brain structure regulates the physical signs of emotion through its communication with the autonomic nervous system and pituitary gland.

Answer 19

Hypothalamus

Question 20

This brain structure responsible for recognizing fear in facial expressions, attaching emotions to memories, and evaluating incoming information to determine its emotional significance and then mediating the emotional reaction to it.

Answer 20

Amygdala

Question 21

Areas in the _____ hemisphere mediate sadness and other negative emotions, and damage to these areas produces an “indifference reaction” that involves inappropriate indifference and/or euphoria.

Answer 21

Right (nondominant)

Question 22

Areas in the _____ hemisphere mediate happiness and other positive emotions, and damage to these areas produces a “catastrophic reaction” that involves depression, anxiety, fear, and paranoia.

Answer 22

Left (dominant)