Week 1

Question 1

Define “Stressor”

Answer 1

A stressor is : every possible threat to the attainment of psychobiological goals.

Question 2

Define “Stress Response”

Answer 2

A stress response is : an adaptive psychobiological reaction to a stressor.

Question 3

Provisional working definiton of a “Stress-response”

Answer 3

A negative emotional response, which is psychobiological in nature.

Question 4

What are Sapolsky’s simple working definitions of “stressor” & “stress-response” and their 2 ambiguities?

Answer 4

Stressor: Anything in the outside world that knock’s you out of homeostatic balance

Ambiguity 1: internal stressors exist

Stress-response: What your body does to re-establish homeostasis.

Ambiguity 2: Homeostasis contradicts
allostasis
(body’s attempt to adapt internal state to changing internal/external demands)

Question 5

Define “Subjective complaints”

Answer 5

Somatic complaints or symptoms that have no medical explanation.

Question 6

Explain and Indirect vs. direct route of stress to disease

Answer 6

1. Indirect: Stress - unhealthy behaviour increases / starts (e.g. drinking) - liver damage
2. Direct: stress - atherosclerosis build up - risk of stroke

Question 7

Explain the terms:
1. Primary appraisal
2. Acute stress response
3. Chronic stress response
4. Secondary appraisal

Answer 7

1. Identifying a stressor (threat to your biopsychological goal) - automatic/unconscious realization
2. The immediate stress response (short)
3. Ongoing stress, when the stressor cannot be immediately resolved
4. Coping options

Question 8

Old biological routes of stress response means what?

Answer 8

quantitatively different, qualitatively the same.

Question 9

What are three 3 Basal Psychological Stress Factors?

Answer 9

1. Adversity: nature of the threat
2. Uncontrollability + unpredictability
3. Duration of response

Question 10

What are the 2 response patterns?

Answer 10

1. Defence ; gaining control of the situation by ‘fight or flight’
2. Defeat ; withdraw

Question 11

Why is the stress response also called the exercise response?

Answer 11

When stressed, the body physiologically reacts in the same way as it does whilst exercising because it is anticipating/preparing for physical action.

• heart beat increases
• sweating
• blood pressure increase
• heavier/faster breathing.

Question 12

If the body develops chronic stress, what might likely increase in the cardiovascular system?

Answer 12

Peripheral vascular resistance : CVR
- constriction of the blood vessels: vasoconstriction increasing blood pressure

Question 13

Main message 1: what is the difference between brief stress & prolonged / frequent stress response ?

Answer 13

• Brief stress: Good
  + Emergency response thus functional
• Prolonged / frequent stress: Bad
  + Not functional may lead to disease
  + Chronic stress is a recent invention of mankind

Question 14

Main message 2 : How do we describe (specific term) the stress response as being the same for all animals and humans?

Answer 14

• Stress reponse is Phylogenetically old

Question 15

Main message 3: What is the psychological core of stressors?

Answer 15

Their unpredictability & uncontrollability

Question 16

Main message 4: Name the 3 functions of the biological stress response (flight or fight);

Answer 16

1. Transport more oxygen
2. Save fuel and building material by suppressing other bodily activity
3. Limiting damage and negative sensations

Note: nearly all organ tissues are affected

Question 17

Main message 5: What is the stress response specifically for humans?

Answer 17

‘preparation’ without ‘action’

Question 18

What are Biological vulnerabilities?

Answer 18

• Heritable factors
• Acquired bodily conditions
• Disease agents and other direct disease triggers

Question 19

What are Physical vulnerabilites?

Answer 19

• Physical stressors : ex. extreme temperatures/activities, dangerous environments, violence, accidents, malnourishment

Question 21

Psychological vulnerabilities

Answer 21

• Psychological stressors
• Health cognitions: symptom perception/illness bias of bodily signals, beliefs about risks
• Health behaviour: alcohol, drugs, smoking ect.

Question 22

What are the 4 difference types of stressors:

Answer 22

1. Psychological trauma’s
2. Life change units/life events
3. Daily hassles
4. Chronic stressors/worry, rumination

Question 23

What is a modulator?

Answer 23

A(stressor) - B (Psychophysiological responses) - C(disease)

modulate: something that exerts a controlling influence on.

Question 24

What is a medater?

Answer 24

Causual chain :
A (stressor) - C (effect/disease)

Mediate: to result in

Question 25

What are the 4 modulators Sapolsky discusses ?

Answer 25

Uncontrollability / unpredictability
1. Social support
2. Appraisal

Hostility
3. Outlet for frustration
4. Personality