PSYCH 248 - Quiz 1

What are the 2 models of illness?

Biomedical Model: When we explain diseases, we explain using biology, chemistry, and physiological reasons.

Biopsychosocial Model: When we explain a disease, we say that diseases are partially due to biology, psychological states, and social environments.

Explain the experimental design for testing the effects of psychological control for elderly people in nursing homes?

There were 3 controls groups:

• Control Group (elderly people got to decide when students visited)

• Random Group (elderly people did NOT get to decide when students visited)

• No Treatment Group (students did NOT visit)

What was the result of the study that gave elderly people in nursing homes psychological control?

The director rated the health of elderly residents. They found that random group had worse health than control group and no treatment group.

R < C = NT

What happened 3.5 years after the study for psychological control for elderly people? What was the main finding?

They found that the control group ended up being worse than the random and no treatment group. It seems like losing control is much worse than never having control before.

C < R = NT

What are the 4 groups for the child vegetable experiment?

1. Exposure Alone

2. Exposure + Tangible Reward (Stickers)

3. Exposure + Social Reward (Praise)

4. Control

Rank the group of children from the vegetable experiment after the 3 month follow up

Stickers > Praise > Exposure Alone > Control

What is the definition of stress?

It is a negative emotional experience accompanied by 4 predictable changes directed towards a stressful event or its effects:

1. Biochemical

2. Physiological

3. Cognitive

4. Behavioral

What are stressors?

They are the stressful events themselves

What is primary appraisal? What are the 3 things that are appraised?

It happens when a person tries to understand what the event is and what it will mean.

1. Harm: The damage that has been done

2. Threat: Possible future damage

3. Challenge: Potential to overcome or profit from event.

Of the 3 things appraised in primary appraisal, which assessment typically leads to more confident expectations that one can cope with a stressful event?

Challenge appraisals

What do secondary appraisals assess?

They assess whether someone’s personal resources are sufficient to meet the demands of the environment.

What is person-environment fit?

It results from the process of 3 things:

1. Appraising events

2. Assessing potential resources

3. Responding to the events

What was the big argument of the general adaptation syndrome?

It argues that when a person confronts a stressor, the person will respond with the same physiological pattern of reactions. Prolonged exposure to the stress will wear and tear the system.

What are the 3 phases of the general adaptation syndrome?

1. Alarm: Person becomes mobilized to meet the threat

2. Resistance: Person makes efforts to cope

3. Exhaustion: If person fails, they become depleted.

What are 4 criticisms of the general adaptation syndrome?

1. Assigns Limited Role To Psychological Factors: Psychologists believe that appraisal of events is critical to experiencing stress.

2. Not All Stressors Produce The Same Biological Response: How people respond to stress is also based on personality, emotions, etc.

3. Exhaustion Isn’t From Running Out Of Resources: It is argued that exhaustion occurs from being stressed for too long rather than running out of resources.

4. It Frames Stress As The Endpoint: Many people experience stress after an event has ended and in anticipation of an event.

What is acute stress?

It results from an unwanted event and the stress is discrete and time-limited.

What is chronic stress?

It results from ongoing difficult conditions with no clear onset or offset.

What were the findings from the acute and chronic stress in Asthma?

Stress can trigger asthma attacks in children and can make the effects stronger and faster.

What were the results for experiencing acute stress (having chronic stress vs no chronic stress)?

They found that people already with chronic stress were at greater risk of having an asthma attack.

How long were people without chronic stress more likely to have an asthma attack after an acute event?

They were more likely to have an asthma attack after 2-4 weeks and 4-6 weeks.

How long were people WITH chronic stress more likely to have an asthma attack after an acute event?

They were more likely to have an asthma attack in < 2 weeks, but it lowers to regular after.

Explain the 4 parts of the experimental design for perceived stress and colds study.

1. Each person gets their stress measured

2. Every person in the study was given nasal drops with respiratory virus

3. Each person is quarantined for 10 days.

4. A clinician measures clinical symptoms, counted tissues (mucus measured), and did blood tests

What hormone is crucial for the stress response tend-and-befriend and what does it do?

Oxytocin is responsible for increases affiliative behavior.

What are 4 pathways that stress can affect health negatively?

1. Physiologically: Elevated blood pressure, worse immune system, etc.

2. Poor Habits: Little sleep, drugs, etc.

3. Psychosocial: Avoiding social contact

4. Not Following Treatment: Less likely to adhere to treatment recommendations.

What are the 2 systems heavily involved in stress response?

Sympathetic system

What are the 2 hormones released in the Sympathetic system during stress and what do they do?

Epinephrine and Norepinephrine

They get the body ready for fight (blood pressure, heart rate, etc.)

What hormone is released in the HPA axis during stress response and what does it do?

Cortisol is released, which helps conserve carbohydrates and return the body to steady state after stress. Constant activation of HPA axis can alter daily cortisol levels.

What is allostatic load?

It is the “wear and tear” on the body and brain caused by chronic stress

What are 5 aspects of an event that makes them perceived as stressful?

1. Negative

2. Uncontrollable / Unpredictable

3. Ambiguous

4. Overwhelming

5. Involve central life goals