Topic 1: Stressors in the Environment: Additional Studies

Question 1

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Glass & Singer: What was the aim of the experiment?

Answer 1

To manipulate different features of noise to try to isolate aspects which cause the most stress.

Question 2

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Glass & Singer: What did they give the participants, and list the 3 variables that they manipulated.

Answer 2

They gave participants simple cognitive tasks and were exposed to recordings that lasted 25 minutes. They manipulated:
1) Volume
2) Predictability
3) Perceived control

Question 3

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Glass & Singer: Describe the manipulated variable ‘volume’.

Answer 3

56 or 108 decibels.

Question 4

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Glass & Singer: Describe the manipulated variable ‘predictability’.

Answer 4

9-second bursts at regular intervals or unpredictable bursts of irregular lengths.

Question 5

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Glass & Singer: Describe the manipulated variable ‘perceived control’.

Answer 5

Some people were shown a switch & told they could stop the noise by pressing it, others were not.

Question 6

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Glass & Singer: Describe the 2nd stage (what did they measure).

Answer 6

In the 2nd stage, the noise was stopped & the participants were given 2 further tasks (this was to measure their tolerance for frustration)

Question 7

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Glass & Singer: What did the results show?

Answer 7

That unpredictability and perceived control had a greater effect than volume/loudness on task performance.

Question 8

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Kenrick & MacFarlane: What did this experiment investigate?

Answer 8

How drivers responded in different temperatures when they were trapped behind a stationary car.

Question 9

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Kenrick & MacFarlane: What was the temperature range?

Answer 9

31-46°C

Question 10

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Kenrick & MacFarlane: Where did this experiment take place?

Answer 10

Arizona.

Question 11

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Kenrick & MacFarlane: Describe the method used for this experiment.

Answer 11

A confederate positioned themselves at some traffic lights in their car and remained stationary throughout the 12 seconds the lights were on green. The participant was the person directly behind them.

Question 12

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Kenrick & MacFarlane: What did the observer do and where were they positioned?

Answer 12

An observer who was hidden counted the number & duration of horn honks.

Question 13

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Kenrick & MacFarlane: Results: What was the correlation made regarding temperature?

Answer 13

Higher temperatures were positively correlated with increased
likelihood of honking & amount of time leaning on the horn.

Question 14

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Kenrick & MacFarlane: What does this experiment provide evidence for?

Answer 14

This provides evidence that temperature can be an environmental stressor.

Question 15

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Lundberg: What was the independent variable for this experiment?

Answer 15

Low/high density of train and where the passengers got on.

Question 16

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Lundberg: What was the dependent variable for this experiment?

Answer 16

Adrenaline levels in the passengers’ urine and self-ratings of discomfort and perceived crowdedness.

Question 17

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Lundberg: Explain the results of this experiment.

Answer 17

Adrenaline is higher during more crowded conditions, but lower for those who got on at the first stop.

Question 18

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Lundberg: What was the conclusion of this experiment?

Answer 18

length of train journey is not a main indicator of stress, but rather social factors crowding, and level of control.

Question 19

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Lundberg: Describe the participants for this experiment.

Answer 19

All male.

Question 20

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Ellis: What is Rational Emotive Therapy (RET)?

Answer 20

RET is an active form of psychotherapy that helps clients manage self-defeating beliefs and develop more rational thoughts.

Question 21

(Topic 1: Additional Studies) Ellis: Describe the process of RET.

Answer 21

A – Activating event (the stressor)
B – Beliefs (about the stressor)
C – Consequences – (the actions to avoid stressor)
In therapy, the aim is to add D and E to this:
D – Disputing (questioning the irrational beliefs)
E – Effects (restructured thoughts hopefully helping the
person to cope with the stressor in future)