STRESS AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED

STRESS AQA A LEVEL PSYCHOLOGY EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS WITH COMPLETE SOLUTIONS VERIFIED Terms in this set (166) First stage of the general adaptation syndrome (physiology of stress) Alarm reaction: Sympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) activated by hypothalamus. Stimulates adrenal medulla to release adrenaline and noradrenaline to prepare body for fight or flight Second stage of general adaptation syndrome (physiology of stress) Resistance: Body tries to adapt by combating stressor. Body's resources consumed at harmful rate (e.g. stress hormones eventually damage heart). Parasympathetic branch activated to conserve energy Third stage of general adaptation syndrome (physiology of stress) Exhaustion: Adaption to chronic stressor fails as resources needed to resist are drained. Symptoms of sympathetic arousal (e.g. raised heart rate). Adrenal glands damaged, immune system suppressed. Stress-related illnesses now likely (e.g. hypertension, coronary heart disease and depression) Acute stress response (physiology of stress) Immediate response to stressor (sympathomedullary pathway - SAM- fight or flight): Hypothalamus activates sympathetic branch of ANS. Stimulates adrenal medulla to release adrenaline & noradrenaline into bloodstream (heart beats faster, muscle tense, liver converts stored glycogen into glucose to provide energy to fuel fight or flight response). Once stressor stops: parasympathetic nervous system activated & physiological arousal decreases - priority now is energy conservation & digest response (rest & digest) Chronic stress response (physiology of stress) If stressor continues, HPA now activated Hypothalamus produces corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF). Detected by anterior lobe of pituitary gland & causes release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH directed by adrenal cortex which secretes cortisol. Cortisol (physiology of stress) Cortisol affects glucose metabolism & restores energy. Has other effects (e.g. suppress immune system). HPA is self-regulating via negative feedback loop - cortisol in bloodstream monitored at pituitary & hypothalamus. High levels of cortisol trigger reduction in both CRF (corticotrophin releasing factor) & ACTH, resulting in corresponding reduction in cortisol Evaluation of the physiology of stress One strength of the GAS is that there is evidence to support it One limitation of the GAS is that it may not be a general response to stress Another limitation of research on the physiological stress response is male bias Another limitation is that psychological factors are ignored A strength of research is that it offers real-life benefits One strength of the GAS is that there is evidence to support it (physiology of stress) Selye subjected rats to stressors (extreme cold, surgical injury). Found same collection of responses ('syndrome') regardless of stressor. Stress was general body response appearing after 6-48hrs that wasn't unique to specific stressors. Tracked response to stressor through resistance & exhaustion stages. Suggests body's general response to a stressor is physiological reality as Selye argues, at least in rats One limitation of the GAS is that it may not be a general response to stress (physiology of stress) Key to GAS is stress response is non-specific (it's always same regardless of stressor). Marson replicated Selye's procedures with monkeys. Effects varied depending on stressor (extreme cold increased urinary cortisol; extreme heat reduced it). Challenges central concept by Selye's theory by showing specific stressors can produce specific patterns of responses, undermining the validity of the GAS Another limitation of research on the physiological stress response is male bias (physiology of stress) If ancestral female responded with fight or flight created risk for kids as it left them vulnerable (defenceless if mum runs away). Taylor argues 'traditional' stress response applies mostly to males. More adaptive in females is 'tend & befriend' (threat is met with tending offspring & befriending females for social support). Assumption fight or flight is valid explanation of stress response in all humans is reflection of androcentric bias towards male physiology Another limitation is that psychological factors are ignored (physiology of stress) Much research is on animals so ignores psychological factors. Lazarus = we cognitively appraise stressor by deciding if its threat (primary appraisal) & if have resources to cope (secondary appraisal. In Speisman's study students watched gruesome medical procedure while heart rates were measured. If traumatic nature of operation emphasised heart rates increased; if describes as voluntary rite of passage heart rates decreased. Its difficult for physiological explanation to account for finding. Shows humans aren't as passive in face of stressors as physiological theories assume A strength of research is that it offers real- life benefits (physiology of stress) Addison's disease is disorder of adrenal glands (can't produce cortisol). Stress can trigger life-threatening Addisonian crisis (abnormal heart rhythm, drop in blood pressure). Treated with self-administered cortisol replacement therapy & patients lead relatively normal lives. Need be aware of stressful situations when medication should be increased. More understanding of physiological stress response could lead to improved treatments matched to precise stressor (acute / chronic) How's the immune system suppressed (role of stress in illness) Directly: Cortisol produced by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system (HPA) inhibits production of immune cells Indirectly: Stress influences lifestyle behaviours (smoking, drinking) that have a negative effect on immune functioning Chronic stress on exams can lead to (KEY STUDY) (role of stress in illness) Kiecolt-Glaser (female) = blood samples from 75 medical students, tested before exam period (low-stress) & on day of 1st exam (high-stress). Completed questionnaires measuring sources of stress & self-reported psychological symptoms. Activity of Natural Killer (NK) & killer T cells lowered between 1st & 2nd samples - evidence of immune response suppressed by common stressor. Decline was greatest in students who reported feeling lonely & experiencing other sources of stress (e.g. life threatening) Chronic stress of caring for ill relative (role of stress in illness) Kiecolt-Glaser = compared health & immune functioning of caregivers (look after relative with Alzheimer's) with matched group of non-carers. Over 13 months caregivers showed an increase in antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus but no increase in control ppts. Caregivers also had infectious illnesses on significantly more days and higher levels of (clinical) depression (32% compared to ^5) Cardiovascular disorders (CVDs) associated with stress (role of stress in illness) CVDs are disorders of heart and blood vessels - incuding coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke (blocked blood vessels in the brain). Some evidence shows stress has immediate effects on CVD (acute) as well as longer-term effects Acute stress caused by watching football leading to CVD (role of stress in illness) Wilbert-Lampen looked at incidences of heart attack during football matches (sudden emotional arousal - acute stressor) played in Germany during 1996 World Cup On days Germany played, cardiac emergencies increased by 2.66 times compared with control period - acute stress of watching favourite team more than doubled ppts' risk of suffering a cardiovascular events Chronic stress leading to heart attacks (role of stress in illness) Yusuf et al's INTERHEART study compared 15,000 people who'd had a heart attack (myocardial infarction, MI) with a similar number of people who had not. Several chronic stressors had a strong link to MI including workplace stress and stressful life events - role of stress greater than obesity and 3rd behind smoking and cholesterol 5 evaluation points of the role of stress in illness One limitation is that some research shows stress can benefit immunity One strength is research shows a link between immunosuppression and cancer Another limitation is the link between stress and illness is mostly indirect Another strength is research into stress and illness may have real-life benefits Another limitation is that research focuses on short-term, artificial stressors One limitation is that some research shows stress can benefit immunity (role of stress in illness) Assumption underlying stress & illness research is stress suppresses immune system. But some studies show stress can have immunoenhancing effects. Dharbhar subjected rats to mild stressors which stimulated major immune response. Immune cells (e.g. lymphocytes) flooded into bloodstream & body tissues in preparation for physical damage. Suggest acute & chronic stressors don't affect immune system in same way. Shows relationship between stress, immune system & illnesses is complex & not fully understood