emotions and stress

Question 1

What does the James-Lange Theory propose about the relationship between physiological arousal and emotion?

Answer 1

The experience of an emotion follows physiological arousal.

Question 2

What is the facial feedback hypothesis?

Answer 2

Facial expressions associated with specific emotions initiate physiological changes consistent with those emotions.

Question 3

What is the main idea of the Cannon-Bard Theory?

Answer 3

The experience of an emotion and physiological arousal occur simultaneously.

Question 4

According to the Cannon-Bard Theory, what role does the thalamus play in emotional response?

Answer 4

The thalamus sends signals to the cerebral cortex and the sympathetic nervous system simultaneously.

Question 5

What does Schachter and Singer’s Two-Factor Theory describe?

Answer 5

The experience of emotion results from physiological arousal followed by a cognitive label for that arousal.

Question 6

What is misattribution of arousal?

Answer 6

The tendency to mislabel arousal when its cause is unknown or ambiguous.

Question 7

What is excitation transfer theory?

Answer 7

Physical arousal from one event can intensify arousal from a later unrelated event.

Question 8

List the three assumptions of excitation transfer theory.

Answer 8

• Physical arousal decays slowly
• Residual arousal can intensify subsequent arousal
• People often misattribute the source of their arousal

Question 9

What is the main premise of Lazarus’s Cognitive Appraisal Theory?

Answer 9

Differences in emotional reactions are due to different appraisals of events.

Question 10

Define primary appraisal according to Lazarus’s theory.

Answer 10

Evaluating an event to determine if it is irrelevant, benign-positive, or stressful.

Question 11

What occurs during secondary appraisal?

Answer 11

Identifying coping options and the likelihood they will adequately deal with a stressful event.

Question 12

What is reappraisal in Lazarus’s Cognitive Appraisal Theory?

Answer 12

Monitoring the situation and changing primary or secondary appraisals as appropriate.

Question 13

What is LeDoux’s Two-System Theory focused on?

Answer 13

The interaction of two systems that respond to threatening stimuli, particularly in fear.

Question 14

What does the subcortical system in LeDoux’s theory do?

Answer 14

Reacts quickly and automatically to threatening stimuli with physiological and defensive responses.

Question 15

What is the role of the cortical system in LeDoux’s Two-System Theory?

Answer 15

Processes sensory information and generates the conscious feeling of fear.

Question 16

True or False: According to the James-Lange Theory, emotions precede physiological reactions.

Answer 16

False

Question 17

Fill in the blank: Zillman’s excitation transfer theory explains how physical arousal from one event can be transferred to _______.

Answer 17

[a later unrelated event]

Question 18

Who was among the first to link emotions to specific areas of the brain?

Answer 18

Papez

Papez proposed the Papez circuit in 1937.

Question 19

What structures are included in the Papez circuit?

Answer 19

• Hippocampus
• Mammillary bodies
• Thalamus
• Cingulate gyrus

Question 20

What has subsequent research clarified about the Papez circuit?

Answer 20

It is involved more with memory than emotion.

Question 21

What role does the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex play in emotion?

Answer 21

Mediates happiness and other positive emotions.

Question 22

What is produced by damage to the left hemisphere of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 22

Catastrophic reaction involving depression, anxiety, fear, and paranoia.

Question 23

What role does the right hemisphere of the cerebral cortex play in emotion?

Answer 23

Mediates sadness and other negative emotions.

Question 24

What is produced by damage to the right hemisphere of the cerebral cortex?

Answer 24

Indifference reaction involving inappropriate indifference and/or euphoria.

Question 25

What is the primary function of the amygdala?

Answer 25

Recognizing fear in facial expressions and attaching emotions to memories.

Question 26

What type of response can electrical stimulation of the amygdala produce?

Answer 26

Fear or rage response.

Question 27

What happens when there are bilateral lesions in the amygdala?

Answer 27

Loss of the fear response without a loss of other emotional responses.

Question 28

What does the hypothalamus regulate in relation to emotions?

Answer 28

Physical signs of emotion through communication with the autonomic nervous system and pituitary gland.

Question 29

What can bilateral lesions in certain areas of the hypothalamus produce?

Answer 29

Rage.

Question 30

What is Selye’s model of stress called?

Answer 30

General adaptation syndrome.

Question 31

What are the three stages of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 31

• Alarm reaction stage
• Resistance stage
• Exhaustion stage

Question 32

What occurs during the alarm reaction stage of stress?

Answer 32

Increased activity of the sympathetic nervous system.

Question 33

What happens during the resistance stage of stress?

Answer 33

Physiological functions return to normal while cortisol circulates at an elevated level.

Question 34

What characterizes the exhaustion stage of stress?

Answer 34

Physiological processes begin to break down.

Question 35

What model challenges Selye’s general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 35

McEwen’s allostatic load model.

Question 36

What is allostasis in relation to stress?

Answer 36

Processes that allow the body to achieve stability by adapting to change.

Question 37

What is allostatic load?

Answer 37

Wear-and-tear on the body and brain due to chronic stress or repeated episodes of acute stress.

Question 38

What can prolonged allostatic load lead to?

Answer 38

Allostatic overload.

Question 39

What are some potential consequences of allostatic overload?

Answer 39

• Dysregulation of the immune system
• PTSD
• Major depressive disorder
• Substance use disorder
• Other stress-related psychiatric disorder

Question 40

What factors can influence the nature of allostasis and consequences of allostatic load?

Answer 40

• Genetic makeup
• Resilience
• Perceptions about the controllability of the stressor