Chapter 5: Defining, Measuring, & Managing Stress

The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a concept developed by Hans Selye to describe the body's response to stress. It consists of three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. During the alarm stage, the body initiates its fight-or-flight response. In the resistance stage, the body attempts to adapt and cope with the stressor. The exhaustion stage occurs when the body's resources are depleted, leading to physical and mental exhaustion. The illness stage is not a recognized stage of GAS and therefore is not a correct answer.

During periods of extreme stress, the sympathetic nervous system helps mobilize the body's resources for the "fight or flight" response. This response includes increased heart rate, dilation of blood vessels, and release of stress hormones such as adrenaline. The sympathetic nervous system prepares the body to either confront the stressor or escape from it, by redirecting blood flow to the muscles and increasing alertness and energy levels. This response is essential for survival in threatening situations.

Hormones serve functions similar to neurotransmitters in the nervous system. Both hormones and neurotransmitters are chemical substances that transmit signals and messages within the body. While neurotransmitters transmit signals between nerve cells, hormones are released by endocrine glands into the bloodstream and travel to target cells or organs to regulate various bodily functions. Therefore, hormones can be considered as the chemical substances of the endocrine system that serve functions similar to neurotransmitters in the nervous system.

Activation of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system leads to an increase in heart rate. This is because the sympathetic division is responsible for the "fight or flight" response, which prepares the body for action. On the other hand, activation of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system leads to a decrease in heart rate. The parasympathetic division is responsible for the "rest and digest" response, which promotes relaxation and conserves energy. Therefore, the correct answer is that activation of the sympathetic division increases heart rate, while activation of the parasympathetic division decreases heart rate.

The adrenal glands are responsible for producing hormones that regulate various bodily functions, including metabolism, immune response, and stress response. These hormones are released directly into the bloodstream, making the adrenal glands part of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce and secrete hormones to regulate and control the body's functions and processes.

The revised Hassles and Uplifts Scale asks people to rate everyday events either positively or negatively. This suggests that the scale is designed to measure individuals' perceptions of the events they experience in their daily lives, allowing them to indicate whether these events are uplifting or bothersome. By including both positive and negative ratings, the scale provides a comprehensive assessment of the impact of everyday events on individuals' well-being.

Cataclysmic events refer to highly stressful events that have a significant impact on a large number of people. These events are often sudden, unexpected, and overwhelming, causing widespread disruption and trauma. Examples of cataclysmic events include natural disasters like earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis, as well as human-made disasters like terrorist attacks or wars. These events can lead to long-lasting psychological and emotional effects on individuals and communities, requiring significant resources for recovery and rebuilding.

Discrimination has been linked to health problems, including cardiovascular disease. This means that individuals who experience discrimination are more likely to suffer from health issues such as heart disease. The link between discrimination and health problems suggests that the stress and negative emotions caused by discrimination can have a detrimental effect on physical health. This explanation highlights the connection between discrimination and cardiovascular disease without explicitly stating that it is the correct answer.

The most common method used by health psychologists to measure stress is self-report scales. This approach involves individuals reporting their own levels of stress through questionnaires or surveys. This method allows for subjective assessment of stress levels and provides insight into individuals' perceptions and experiences of stress. It is widely used due to its ease of administration and ability to gather large amounts of data quickly. Performance tests and physiological tests may also be used to measure stress, but self-report scales are the preferred method in the field of health psychology.

Selye's theory of stress is criticized for focusing too much on external factors, such as physical stressors, and neglecting the impact of psychological factors. This means that the theory fails to acknowledge the significant influence that psychological factors, such as emotions, thoughts, and beliefs, can have on an individual's experience of stress. By emphasizing only the physical aspects of stress, Selye's theory overlooks the complex interplay between the mind and body in the stress response.

The SRRS assumes that change in life adjustment is the key factor in measuring stress. This means that the scale focuses on how individuals adapt and adjust to significant changes in their lives, rather than solely considering the impact of daily events or only desirable events. By considering the overall adjustment to life changes, the SRRS aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of stress levels.

The correct answer is "are not equal...men benefit more than women." This means that the benefits of marriage in terms of health are not the same for men and women, with men benefiting more than women.

Acetylcholine and norepinephrine are the two principal neurotransmitters of the autonomic nervous system. These neurotransmitters play a crucial role in regulating various involuntary bodily functions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing. Acetylcholine is responsible for transmitting signals in the parasympathetic nervous system, which controls rest and digestion. Norepinephrine, on the other hand, is involved in the sympathetic nervous system, which activates the fight-or-flight response. These neurotransmitters work together to maintain a balance between these two systems and ensure the proper functioning of the autonomic nervous system.

Stress inoculation is a technique that combines cognitive and behavioral techniques to help individuals cope with stress. It recognizes that stress is a part of the external environment and aims to train people to control their nervous system functioning. This approach teaches a variety of relaxation techniques to help individuals manage and reduce stress levels effectively. By combining both cognitive and behavioral strategies, stress inoculation provides individuals with a comprehensive set of tools to cope with stress and build resilience.

Erin's decision to make and follow a study schedule in order to improve her grade in a psychology class aligns with the concept of problem-focused coping. Problem-focused coping refers to strategies that involve taking direct action to manage or solve the problem causing distress. In this case, Erin recognizes that her grade is a problem and decides to address it by creating a study schedule, which is a proactive and practical approach to improve her performance.

Hans Selye proposed the view of stress as a nonspecific response. He is known for his research on stress and his concept of the General Adaptation Syndrome, which suggests that the body responds to stress in a consistent and predictable way. Selye's work laid the foundation for understanding the physiological and psychological effects of stress on the body.

Emotional expression such as crying, throwing objects, and yelling has no direct impact on reducing the rate of asthma, lowering blood pressure, or producing fewer visits to the doctor's office. These activities may be cathartic and provide temporary relief, but they do not have any long-term physiological effects on these health conditions.

The correct answer is both a & b. The "environment of poverty" is more common for members of ethnic minorities than for Whites. This means that individuals belonging to ethnic minorities are more likely to experience poverty compared to White individuals. Additionally, the "environment of poverty" combines crowding, pollution, and fear of crime. This implies that individuals living in poverty often face overcrowded living conditions, exposure to pollution, and a higher risk of crime in their neighborhoods.

The peripheral nervous system is divided into two parts: the somatic and autonomic nervous systems. The somatic nervous system is responsible for voluntary movements and sensory perception, while the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary actions such as heart rate, digestion, and breathing. This division allows for the coordination of different functions within the peripheral nervous system.

Lazarus and Folkman viewed life events as having the potential to be benign-positive, threatening, challenging, or any combination of these. This suggests that they believed that life events can have various impacts on individuals, ranging from positive and beneficial to negative and harmful, or even presenting opportunities for growth and development. Their perspective acknowledges the complexity and diversity of life events and their potential effects on individuals' well-being and coping mechanisms.

Urban press is the correct answer because it refers to the various sources of environmental stressors that impact city living. This term encompasses factors such as pollution, noise, overcrowding, and other challenges that are commonly associated with urban environments. The term "urban stress" may also be used interchangeably to describe these stressors.

Lazaru's view of stress emphasizes cognitive mediation, which means that she believes that how an individual perceives and interprets a stressful situation plays a crucial role in determining their stress response. This suggests that it is not the event itself that causes stress, but rather the individual's thoughts and beliefs about the event. Lazaru's theory suggests that by changing one's cognitive appraisal of a situation, it is possible to reduce the experience of stress.

The endocrine system consists of a system of ductless glands distributed throughout the body. These glands secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream, which then travel to target cells or organs to regulate various bodily functions. Unlike exocrine glands, which have ducts to carry their secretions, endocrine glands release their hormones directly into the surrounding tissue fluid or bloodstream. This allows the hormones to have a widespread effect on multiple organs and systems in the body.

According to Lazarus, a person who loses her job but sees the prospect of finding a new job as a challenge would be less vulnerable to stress than someone who saw the event as a threat. This is because perceiving the situation as a challenge allows the individual to view it as an opportunity for growth and development. This positive mindset can help reduce stress levels and increase resilience in dealing with the situation.

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a tool used to measure events in people's lives that they perceive as unpredictable and uncontrollable. The scale consists of 105 items that individuals have experienced during the past week. It assesses changes in coping responses, as well as daily hassles and major life events. This suggests that the PSS is designed to capture the subjective perception of stressors that individuals feel they have no control over and cannot predict.