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Questions and Answers
What defines obedience in the context of social psychology?
What defines obedience in the context of social psychology?
Which ethical consideration ensures participants are not coerced into a study?
Which ethical consideration ensures participants are not coerced into a study?
What percentage of Milgram's participants continued to the maximum shock level?
What percentage of Milgram's participants continued to the maximum shock level?
What concept describes the feeling of reduced responsibility when obeying an authority figure?
What concept describes the feeling of reduced responsibility when obeying an authority figure?
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Which of the following techniques involves starting with small requests before making larger ones?
Which of the following techniques involves starting with small requests before making larger ones?
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What does the biological model of stress primarily focus on?
What does the biological model of stress primarily focus on?
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Which of the following responses is commonly triggered by stress in the body?
Which of the following responses is commonly triggered by stress in the body?
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Which mechanism best describes the transmission of signals in the body in response to stress?
Which mechanism best describes the transmission of signals in the body in response to stress?
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What is the initial response of the body to stress in the sympathomedullary pathway?
What is the initial response of the body to stress in the sympathomedullary pathway?
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Which hormone is primarily associated with the body's long-term stress response?
Which hormone is primarily associated with the body's long-term stress response?
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How does sustained cortisol affect the human body over time?
How does sustained cortisol affect the human body over time?
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What is a key difference between the stress response of zebras and humans?
What is a key difference between the stress response of zebras and humans?
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Which psychological concept involves challenging one's irrational thoughts to cope with stress?
Which psychological concept involves challenging one's irrational thoughts to cope with stress?
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What does the term 'catastrophizing fantasy' refer to in the context of stress?
What does the term 'catastrophizing fantasy' refer to in the context of stress?
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Which factor is NOT associated with promoting eudaimonic well-being?
Which factor is NOT associated with promoting eudaimonic well-being?
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What behavior is characterized by 'fake extraversion'?
What behavior is characterized by 'fake extraversion'?
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What characterizes the biological response to stress?
What characterizes the biological response to stress?
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Which pathway is primarily involved in the immediate stress response, also known as the fight or flight response?
Which pathway is primarily involved in the immediate stress response, also known as the fight or flight response?
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What physiological change occurs during the stress response related to blood circulation?
What physiological change occurs during the stress response related to blood circulation?
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How do hormones differ from neurons in their signaling mechanisms during stress?
How do hormones differ from neurons in their signaling mechanisms during stress?
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What is the role of the hypothalamus during the body's initial response to stress?
What is the role of the hypothalamus during the body's initial response to stress?
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What is a significant effect of long-term stress on the immune system?
What is a significant effect of long-term stress on the immune system?
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What substance does the liver release during a stress response?
What substance does the liver release during a stress response?
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Which of the following best describes maladaptive long-term stress adaptation?
Which of the following best describes maladaptive long-term stress adaptation?
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Study Notes
Stress, Biology, and Adaptation
- Stress is defined as the non-specific response of the body to any demand made upon it.
- Stress triggers a cascade of physiological changes:
- Homeostatic disruption: The body moves away from its normal balanced state.
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Activation of stress pathways:
- Sympathomedullary pathway: Rapid response involving the sympathetic nervous system and adrenal medulla.
- HPA axis: Slower, longer-lasting response involving the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal cortex.
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Physiological response:
- Heart: Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
- Lungs: Increased breathing rate.
- Brain: Enhanced alertness and focus.
- Muscles: Increased tension and energy mobilization.
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Adaptation:
- Short-term stress: Adaptive, allowing the body to cope with immediate threats.
- Maladaptive long-term stress: Can have negative consequences on physical and mental health.
Neuronal and Hormonal Signaling in Stress
- Neurons: Use chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) to transmit information rapidly, initiating stress response.
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Hormones: Chemical messengers that travel through the bloodstream, sustaining stress response over time.
- Example: Castrated male singers retain high-pitched voices due to a lack of testosterone, but the lack of testosterone also prevents the production of estrogen, leading to increased height.
The Fight-or-Flight Response
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Stage 1:
- Threat perception triggers the optic nerve → hypothalamus → energy mobilization to the heart, lungs, brain, and muscles.
- Initial energy burst comes from ATP breakdown, followed by a further burst from phosphate breakdown.
- Lactic acid buildup occurs.
- Glycogen stored in muscles provides energy for a longer duration.
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Stage 2:
- Sympathetic nervous system signals from the spine activate the adrenal medulla.
- Adrenaline and noradrenaline are released into the bloodstream, increasing heart rate, breathing, and energy levels.
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Stage 3:
- HPA axis is activated.
- Optic nerve → hypothalamus → pituitary gland → adrenal gland.
- Cortisol released, increasing glucose availability and suppressing the immune system.
Stress & The Immune System
- Cortisol and adrenaline/noradrenaline suppress the immune system, prioritizing energy for immediate threats.
Adaptation to Stress: The General Adaptation Response
- "Stress response is more damaging than the stressor."
- Short-term stress in animals: Zebras return to homeostasis quickly after threats subside.
- Long-term stress in humans: Sustained cortisol levels can lead to chronic stress and health issues.
Stress, Emotions, and Coping
- Active Disputing: Challenging irrational thoughts and beliefs that contribute to stress.
- Self-Efficacy: Belief in one's ability to succeed, leading to better coping.
- Catastrophizing Fantasy: Imagining worst-case scenarios to minimize stress.
- Control: Feeling a sense of control over situations to reduce anxiety.
- Conscientiousness: Goal-oriented, planful personality trait associated with better stress management.
- Eudaimonic Well-Being: Feeling good after helping others.
- Emotional Expressiveness: Openly expressing feelings to reduce stress.
- Exercise: Relieves stress and promotes well-being.
- Extraversion: Outgoing personality trait related to better stress management.
- Fake Extraversion: Making an effort to be more outgoing to improve social interactions and reduce stress.
- Growth Mindset: Embracing challenges and seeking ways to grow.
Obedience: Social Psychology Perspectives
- Definition of Obedience: Following the orders and demands of authority figures.
- Milgram's Definition: Abdication of individual judgment in the face of external pressure.
Examples of Obedience
- William Calley: Commander of the My Lai Massacre, where soldiers killed hundreds of Vietnamese civilians without resistance, highlighting the potential for abuse of military authority.
- John Demjanjuk: Russian conscript, forced to work as a gas chamber operator in a Nazi concentration camp.
Milgram Study: Obedience to Authority
- Findings: 65% of participants obeyed orders to administer electric shocks to a learner, despite protests.
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Explanations:
- Dispositional Hypothesis: Participants were psychopathic or had authoritarian personalities.
- Diffusion of Responsibility: Participants shifted responsibility to the authority figure.
- Agentic State: Participants felt less accountable for their actions when acting as an "agent" of authority.
Evaluation of Milgram's Study
- Rational Justification: Participants believed their obedience was contributing to a valuable cause.
- Foot-In-The-Door Technique: Gradual increase in requests facilitates greater compliance.
- Socialization and Environment: Participants were influenced by the unusual circumstances of the experiment and pressure situation.
Stress and Emotion
- Stress disrupts homeostasis and can lead to emotional distress.
Biological Model of Stress
This model emphasizes the physiological and hormonal responses to stressors, including the activation of the sympathomedullary pathway and the HPA axis, their impact on physical systems, and the role of adaptation to stress.
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Description
Explore the relationship between stress and biological responses in this quiz. Learn about the physiological changes triggered by stress, including short-term and long-term adaptations. Understand how different pathways contribute to our body’s response to stressors.
