AQA PSYCHOLOGY STRESS EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
GRADED A++
Sympathomedullary Pathway
Sympathetic Nervous System
Alerted as soon as a stressor is perceived
Adrenal Medulla
Signal is sent via central nervous system to the Adrenal Medulla which releases adrenaline and
noradrenaline into the blood stream
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline
affects target organs e.g. heart, muscles, heart rate ↑, blood pressure ↑, pupils dilate
When the threat has passed, the parasympathetic NS dampens the stress response down and turns the
body to its normal state
Hypothalamic Pituitary-Adrenal System
H - Hypothalamus
- releases CRF into the bloodstream
,P - Pituitary glands
- releases ACTH into the blood stream once CRF is detected
A - Adrenal Cortex
Stimulated to release cortisol
Negative feedback of cortisol levels
Negative feedback: receptors will pick up high levels of cortisol and respond by lowering the levels by
stopping CRF from being released
Cortisol effects on the body
↓ sensitivity to pain,
↑ heart rate,
burst of energy
↓immune response
General Adaption Syndrome
Alarm reaction
threat or stressor has been recognised
Hypothalamus in the brain triggers the production of adrenaline/noradrenaline from the adrenal glands
2) Resistance
If stress continues, the body needs to find a way to cope.
Resources are gradually depleting. The body appears to be coping
, 3) Exhaustion
Body systems can no longer maintain normal functioning.
Symptoms of adrenaline reappear e.g. sweating, ↑ blood pressure/heart rate
Adrenal glands potentially damaged, immune system can't cope, potential stress related illness
AO3 of short term stress response
It misses out the freeze stage of the fight or flight response where individuals freeze to analyse the
situation and make the best decision
Tend and Befriend
Oxytocin - women tend and befriend rather than fight or flight due to oxytocin
Testosterone in men dampens down the effects of oxytocin
Used to be different stressors e.g. fighting (physical) and now mental stress (jobs) so may not be
applicable anymore
AO3 of general adaption response
Observation with human patients
They all shared common symptoms no matter what was wrong with them
Rats - no matter which substance when they were injected with (stressor)
It always led to the same response (common cold)
Sheridan and Radmacher
AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS
GRADED A++
Sympathomedullary Pathway
Sympathetic Nervous System
Alerted as soon as a stressor is perceived
Adrenal Medulla
Signal is sent via central nervous system to the Adrenal Medulla which releases adrenaline and
noradrenaline into the blood stream
Adrenaline and Noradrenaline
affects target organs e.g. heart, muscles, heart rate ↑, blood pressure ↑, pupils dilate
When the threat has passed, the parasympathetic NS dampens the stress response down and turns the
body to its normal state
Hypothalamic Pituitary-Adrenal System
H - Hypothalamus
- releases CRF into the bloodstream
,P - Pituitary glands
- releases ACTH into the blood stream once CRF is detected
A - Adrenal Cortex
Stimulated to release cortisol
Negative feedback of cortisol levels
Negative feedback: receptors will pick up high levels of cortisol and respond by lowering the levels by
stopping CRF from being released
Cortisol effects on the body
↓ sensitivity to pain,
↑ heart rate,
burst of energy
↓immune response
General Adaption Syndrome
Alarm reaction
threat or stressor has been recognised
Hypothalamus in the brain triggers the production of adrenaline/noradrenaline from the adrenal glands
2) Resistance
If stress continues, the body needs to find a way to cope.
Resources are gradually depleting. The body appears to be coping
, 3) Exhaustion
Body systems can no longer maintain normal functioning.
Symptoms of adrenaline reappear e.g. sweating, ↑ blood pressure/heart rate
Adrenal glands potentially damaged, immune system can't cope, potential stress related illness
AO3 of short term stress response
It misses out the freeze stage of the fight or flight response where individuals freeze to analyse the
situation and make the best decision
Tend and Befriend
Oxytocin - women tend and befriend rather than fight or flight due to oxytocin
Testosterone in men dampens down the effects of oxytocin
Used to be different stressors e.g. fighting (physical) and now mental stress (jobs) so may not be
applicable anymore
AO3 of general adaption response
Observation with human patients
They all shared common symptoms no matter what was wrong with them
Rats - no matter which substance when they were injected with (stressor)
It always led to the same response (common cold)
Sheridan and Radmacher
