Stressors In The Environment Additional Studies

Question 1

Glass and singer- reasons why noise is stressful

Answer 1

Participants were given several tasks to do (spellings, insolvable puzzles) whilst listening to noises present in urban environments for 25 minutes. Noise was manipulated in terms of volume, predictability and perceived control.
Results:
Strongest effect on participant performance (correcting a spelling task) came from:
-noise being unpredictable
-perceiving the noise as something they could not control
These factors could cause the greatest stress.

Question 2

Kenrick and macfarlane-temperature

Answer 2

-Confederate drivers frustrated 75 drivers from Phoenix, Arizona in April-August.
-Drivers stuck behind a car seemingly not paying attention at a traffic light on a hot day.
-During the 12 second period while the green light was on, they measured:
The number of horn honks, the duration of each honk, the latency of the honk (how long it took to start honking).
-The confederate drives off when light turns red.

• There was a positive correlation between temperature and time pressing the horn. At temp over 100 degrees fahrenheit.
• It was made sure the car didn’t have air conditioning as their window was open.

Question 3

Lundberg- overcrowding on commuter trains

Answer 3

Location: Stockholm
Urine was collected from male passengers on a train in high or low density conditions.
He found that the more crowded train had higher levels of adrenaline (fight or flight response) in the urine.
People who boarded the train at the start of the 72 minute journey (in low density conditions) had lower levels of adrenaline than people who boarded half way through. This was because the first passengers could choose where and whome to sit next to.

Question 4

Ellis- Rational Emotive Therapy

Answer 4

Could be used as a strategy for managing environmental stress.

Problem focused strategies- changing the situation that is causing the problem.
Emotion focused strategies- managing an individuals distress rather than changing the situation.

A- the activating experience that is causing the distress (e.g. noise from outside).
B- Beliefs that an individual might have about this experience (rational and irrational).
C- Relates to the consequences arising from these beliefs.
D- (where psychologists can help) disputing the beliefs and replacing the irrational beliefs with rational ones.
E- The effects of the therapy- involve a new set of beliefs about the activating experience, enabling the individual to cope should the stressor recur in the future.