The Nature of Stress

Question 1

Define: general adaptation syndrome

Answer 1

according to Hans Selye…

-a physiological reaction occuring in 3 stages: alarm, resistance, exhaustion

Question 2

Define: alarm phase

Answer 2

• “fight or flight” response

- body activates sympathetic nervous system to meet immediate threat

Question 3

Define: resistance phase

Answer 3

• physiological reactions continue, increased vulnerability to stressors
• body tries to resist or cope with the unavoidable stressor

Question 4

Define: exhaustion phase

Answer 4

• persistent stress depletes body of energy
• vulnerability increased for illness
• long-range responses are unhealthy

Question 5

Biological changes that are adaptive in the short run, are _______ in the long run.

Answer 5

-hazardous

Question 6

Under stress, _______ sends messages to ________ along 2 pathways.

Answer 6

• hypothalamus

- endocrine glands

Question 7

1- activates ________, releasing ______ and _______ from the inner (_____) adrenal glands.

Answer 7

• sympathetic nervous system
• epinephrine
• norepinephrine
• medulla

Question 8

2- hypothalamus initiates activity along ________.

Answer 8

-HPA Axis (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal cortex)

Question 9

Define: HPA Axis

Answer 9

system activated to energize body to respond to stressors
-hypothalamus sends messages to pituitary, which prompts adrenal cortex (outer) to produce cortisol and other stress hormones

Question 10

People’s response to stress vary according to…

Answer 10

• learning history
• gender
• preexisting health problems
• genetic predispositions

Question 11

Health Psychology investigates…

Answer 11

-aspects of how mind-body affect eachother to preserve wellness to cause illness

Question 12

Explain and interdisciplinary specialty, (PNI) psychoneuroimmunology.

Answer 12

studies the relationship between…

• psychology
• nervous system and endocrine system
• immune system

Question 13

_______ cells are important in tumor detection and rejection, and also protection against the spread of cancer cells and viruses.

Answer 13

-natural killer

Question 14

______ cells enhance and regulate immune response. They are primary target of HIV virus.

Answer 14

-helper t

Question 15

Every time a cell divides, enzymes take away a piece of the _____. When it is reduced to almost nothing….

Answer 15

• telomere

- the cell stops dividing and dies

Question 16

________ appears to shorten telomeres.

Answer 16

-chronic stress, especially beginning in childhood

Question 17

A way to better a pessimist’s outlook is to tell him…

Answer 17

“count your blessings instead of your burdens”

Question 18

_______ is better for your health and well-being than _____ is.

Answer 18

• optimism

- pessimism

Question 19

Define: locus of control

Answer 19

-a general expectation about whether the results of your actions are under your control (internal locus) or beyond your control (external locus)

Question 20

Most people tolerate stressors if they can ____ or _____ them.

Answer 20

• predict

- control

Question 21

_______ is elevated when people feel they are being judged negatively or have no control over the task at hand.

Answer 21

-cortisol

Question 22

The greatest threat to our well-being occurs when…

Answer 22

-people feel that they are stuck in a situation that has no foreseeable end

Question 23

Those with ___ locus of control are more likely to take action to improve their health when necessary.

Answer 23

-internal

Question 24

Western cultures celebrate _____ control.

Answer 24

-primary control

Question 25

Define: primary control

Answer 25

effort to MODIFY reality by changing...
-other people
-the situation
-or events
"fighting back" philosophy

Question 26

Eastern cultures emphasize ____ control.

Answer 26

-secondary

Question 27

Define: secondary control

Answer 27

effort to ACCEPT reality as it is by changing...
-your attitudes
-your emotions
-your goals
"learn to live with it philosophy"

Question 28

An important part of coping includes all aspects of ______ control.

Answer 28

-secondary control