Stress and Illness

Question 1

Indirect effect model

Answer 1

stress leads to unhealthy behaviors in attempt to cope with stress

Question 2

Direct effect model

Answer 2

stress leads to physiological reactions that lead to disease

• Canon’s fight-or-flight
• Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome

Question 3

Fight-or-flight (Walter Cannon)

Answer 3

when animals perceive threatening situations, respond with physiological reaction to prepare for fighting or running away

Question 4

What is Selye’s general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 4

body responds to threatening stimuli by arousal of system of defenses

Question 5

3 stages of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome?

Answer 5

Alarm – body mobilizes to respond to stress
Resistance – efforts to take action to overcome stress
Exhaustion – physical resources are depleted in the process of trying to overcome or adjust to threat

Vulnerability to illness

Question 6

What was found in Cohen et al.’s (1993) study on stress and the immune system?

Answer 6

Stress -> adrenal glands release epinephrine, norepinephrine -> impaired immune functioning

-Cohen, Tyrrell, & Smith, 1993
-Measured stress
-Gave cold virus
Direct Effect Model

Question 7

What are Type A behavior patterns?

Answer 7

• Type A behavior pattern (Type A personality): competitive, hostile, tense
• Friedman and Rosenman
• Link between “Type A” behavior pattern and heart disease
• Toxic aspect of Type A: hostility

Question 8

What are Type B behavior patterns?

Answer 8

relaxed, less competitive