Environmental Psychology - Topic 1

Question 1

What are 3 situational factors that cause stress in your everyday life? and what impact do these factors have on biological responses?

Answer 1

College (workload) -> lack of sleep/fatigue
Revision (effectiveness) -> cortisol release/not eating
Time Keeping -> heart rate increases

Question 2

What behavioural impacts do environmental stressors cause?

Answer 2

lack of motivation

not making an effort

Question 3

What social impacts do environmental stressors cause?

Answer 3

withdraw from interaction with others

Question 4

What cognitive impact do environmental stressors cause?

Answer 4

lack of concentration
struggles with language
mind blanks

Question 5

Why do people find noise stressful?

Answer 5

sensory overload
struggle to focus
having no control over noise

Question 6

What research shows that people find noise stressful?

Answer 6

Glass and Singer

the study shows that the unpredictability of noise is what causes stress

Question 7

Why do people find temperature stressful?

Answer 7

lack of concentration/focus in hot temperatures
lack of motivation in cold temperatures
lack of control
physical illness

Question 8

What research shows that people find temperature stressful?

Answer 8

Kenrick and McFarlane
tested how people responded in traffic
heat increased hostility
higher the temp the more times the horn was used

Question 9

Why do people find crowding stressful?

Answer 9

claustrophobia
struggles with breathing
increased heart rate
fight/flight response

Question 10

What research shows that people find crowding stressful?

Answer 10

Christian et al
when deer were overpopulated 60% of them died
sika deer had enlarged adrenal gland which made them more stressed

Question 11

How does stress affect the respiratory system?

Answer 11

asthma attacks for those who suffer from it
breathing hard and fast
hyperventilation

Question 12

How does stress affect the cardiovascular system?

Answer 12

increased heart rate
increased blood pressure
heart attacks and strokes in severe cases

Question 13

How does stress affect the musculoskeletal system?

Answer 13

muscle contractions lead to headaches
chronic pain
migraines

Question 14

How do ECG’s measure stress? and what are the strengths and weaknesses?

Answer 14

through measuring your heart rate
quick, reliable measures
can be manipulated and has to be done in stressful situations such as the hospital/doctors

Question 15

How do blood tests measure stress? and what are the strengths and weaknesses?

Answer 15

looking at hormone levels in your blood such as glucose, high levels indicate stress
accurate, objective, scientific
results take a long time and a doctor is required

Question 16

How do blood pressure tests measure stress? and what are the strengths and weaknesses?

Answer 16

high blood pressure is common in people when stressed
you can do the test at home which is much quicker
may need to repeat for validity, and could have natural high blood pressure