Biological Psychology – Stress Revision Questions



Biological Psychology – Stress Revision QuestionsStress as a bodily responseThe body’s response to stress, including the hypothalamic- pituitary-adrenal system (HPA) and the sympathomedullary pathway (SAM)1. Use the phrases below to complete the diagram, so that it shows the role of the hypothalamus in the body’s response to stress (6 marks).gets body ready for ‘fight or flight’stimulates the adrenal medullastimulates adrenal cortexreleases adrenalinereleases corticosteroidsstimulates the pituitary gland to release ATCHHYPOTHALAMUSPhysiological reactions e.g. increased heart rateLiver releases energy and immune system is suppressed2. Outline the body response to stress (6 marks)3. Outline two ways the body responds to stressors (6 marks)4. Outline the main features of the pituitary-adrenal system (3 marks)5. In a study of stress, the stress and blood pressure of participants were measured. Data from the study were plotted on the graph below.Outline what the graph seems to show about stress and blood pressure, and explain difficulties in drawing conclusions from this data. (4 marks)6.The following are features of the pituitary-adrenal system and the sympathomedullary pathway. Tick the three boxes that indicate features of the sympathomedullary pathway. (3 marks)NoradrenalinePituitary glandAdrenal cortexAdrenal medullaSympatheic nervous systemStress-related illness and the immune system7. Outline the impact that stress may have on the immune system (6 marks)8.You are a passenger in a car that has suddenly slammed on its brakes to avoid hitting a dog. Your breathing quickens, your mouth is dry and you have a feeling of ‘butterflies’ in your stomach. But after a few minutes these physical changes start to dissapear. Using your knowledge of the body’s response to stress, explain why you are likely to have experienced:The changes that occured after 30 seconds (2 marks)The changes that occured after a few minutes (2 marks)9.A doctor has been given a new drug to test, which is intended to help boost the immune system and help prevent people from getting colds.How have psychologists ivestigated the relationship between stess and the immune system?(4 marks)10.Sandy and Vandita play for the same netball team. Two weeks ago, while playing in a competition, they both grazed their elbows. Vandita’s wound is healing well, bit Sandy’s wound is taking much longer to heal. Sandy is very worried about the plans for her wedding and her forthcoming house move.Using your knowledge of psychology, explain why Sandy’s wound is taking longer to heal than Vandita’s. (4 marks)10a)One measure of the functioning of the immune system is the level of activity of white blood cells. What does the graph below tell you about the relationship between stress and the level of activity of white blood cells? (2 marks)b) Outline ONE strength and ONE weakness of using correlations in stress research (4 marks)11. Describe the findings of one piece of research linking stress with the immune system (3 marks)12. To what extent does research support a link between stress and the immune system? (12 marks)Stress in everyday lifeLife changes and daily hassles1. Psychological research has provided evidence to support the view that stress can be caused by life changes. It has also provided evidence of individual differences in response to sources of stress.Discuss the view that stress is environmentally determined (12 marks)2.Questionnaires have often been usd in stress research to measure the impact of life changes on health. Outline ONE advantage and ONE disadvantage of using questionnaires in stress research (3+3 marks)3.During the last few months, Paula has suffered from headaches and colds, and has been having difficulties sleeping . She decided to keep a diary and found that her headaches, colds and sleep problems were associated with experiences such as having too much homework, losing house keys and being stuck in traffic.What is the name for these sort of stress-related experiences? (1 mark)Use your knowledge of psychology to explain why Paula might be feeling unwell (4 marks)4. In a study of stress, the number of life events individual participants experienced was measured as well as an illness score for each individual. Data from the study were plotted on the graph below.Outline TWO conclusions that could be drawn from the graph above (4 marks)5. To what extent have life changes been shown to be a source of stress? (12 marks)Workplace stress1. (a) Identify one source of stress in the workplace (1 mark) (b) Outline what research has shown about how this source of stress can affect an individual (2 marks) 2. Psychologists have found that the physical environment (eg noise and heat) can be a source of stress in the workplace. Apart from the physical environment, ouline TWO OTHER sources of stress in the workplace (2+2 marks)3. Mr Harris is about to move his business into a brand new building. He is very keen to create a healthy working environmnet and reduce workplace stress. In this way, he hopes to improve productivity and reduce absenteism. What advice would you give Mr Harris? Use your knowledge of psychological research in this area. (6 marks)4. Identify and explain two stressors commonly found in the workplace (6 marks) 5. Outline and evaluate research into the workplace as a source of stress. (12 marks)Personality factors, including Type A behaviour1. Angela and David both work as city lawyers. David is always in a rush, often snapping at his secretary and blaming her when things go wrong. He seems to be suffering from stress. Angela’s job is just as demanding but she copes well, always seems very positive and, in spite of long hours, makes time to meet her friends after work. With reference to the scenario above, outline factors that have been found to affect responses to stress. (6 marks)2.Discuss physiological evidence that suggests personality can affect our experience of stress (6 marks)3.a) Outline what is meant by Type A behaviour (2 marks) b)Outline a method used by psychologists to assess whether someone shows Type A behaviour (2 marks)4. Describe personality factors that have been shown to influence the way people respond to stress (5 marks)5. Describe one way in which personality may modify the effects of stressors (3 marks) 6. To what extent have the effects of stressors been shown to be modified by personality? (12 marks)Distinction between emotion-focused and problem-focused approaches to coping with stress1.Discuss the emotion-focused approach to coping with stress (8 marks)2. Identify and explain two different approaches to coping with stress (3+3 marks) Psychological and physiological methods of stress management, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and drugs1. Discuss the use of drugs to manage the negative effects of stress (8 marks)2. In response to rising stress levels in the local population, a Health Service Provider was keen to provide stress management techniques as part of the treatments they offered. One technique that was introduced involved helping a client to identify his/her negative, irrational thoughts and to replace them with more positive, rational methods of thinking. The therapist helps a client to understand better where their faulty thinking is leading, by the client and therapist working together using role play so that the consequences of the faulty thinking can be plainly seen. New goals are then set for client, so that more realistic and rational beliefs are included into his/her ways of thinking.(i) Identify the stress management strategy outlined above (1 mark)(ii) Explain one reason why this stress management technique could prove to be effective (2 marks)Explain ONE limitation of the stress management technique described above (2 marks)3. Outline the use of drugs in the control of stress (4 marks)4. Discuss ONE OR MORE physiological methods of stress management (10 marks)5. Describe one physiological approach to stress management (6 marks) 6. Explain one strength and one weakness of one physiological approach to stress management (6 marks) 7. Describe one psychological approach to stress management (6 marks) 8. Explain one strength and one weakness of one psychological approach to stress management (6 marks)9. Consider the effectiveness of one physiological approach to stress management. (12 marks)10. Consider the effectiveness of one psychological approach to stress management. (12 marks) ................
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