Stress Psychology: Life Changes

Question 1

Who created the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

Answer 1

Holmes and Rahe

Question 2

Name a classic study into life changes

Answer 2

Rahe et al. (1970)

Question 3

What did Rahe do?

Answer 3

He created a military version for the SRRS and used it for men aboard 3 navy cruisers. They were also to fill in a questionnaire they were noting all the life events experienced over the previous 6 months.

Question 4

What did Rahe find?

Answer 4

He found a correlation between Life Change Units Score and illnesses.

Question 5

Define Life Changes

Answer 5

Life changes are events in peoples lives that require a significant amount of readjustment and be big sources of stress.

Question 6

Name 2 Weaknesses of these findings

Answer 6

> The SRRS does not take into account individual differences, everyone has a different look on certain life events
The results are correlational, so we cannot establish cause and effect between the two variables.

Question 7

Name a Strengths of these findings

Answer 7

> Research using the SRRS has shown that there can be some damage inflicted by life changes due to the scale of significant readjustment