The Intersection of Social Hierarchy and Health

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Questions and Answers

What is the physiological response to stress that involves the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol?

Activation of the sympathetic nervous system (correct)

Release of endorphins

Mobilization of the 'rest and digest' response

Activation of the parasympathetic nervous system

What does the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) describe?

The body's immediate response to stress

The psychological response to stress

The body's long-term response to stress

The body going through stages in response to sustained stress (correct)

What is the primary purpose of the release of glucose into the bloodstream during the body's response to stress?

To provide energy for 'rest and digest'

To lower blood pressure

To provide energy for 'fight or flight' (correct)

To enhance digestion

What is the stage in the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) where the body mobilizes coping mechanisms to respond to stress?

Resistance stage Signup and view all the answers

Which physiological responses are associated with the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress?

Increased heart rate and blood pressure Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the exhaustion stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)?

The body suffers permanent damage or death Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of adrenaline and cortisol in the body's response to stress?

To increase heart rate, blood pressure, and release of glucose Signup and view all the answers

Which field integrates behavioral and biomedical sciences to prevent, diagnose, and treat medical problems?

Behavioral Medicine Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the body's reactions to sustained stress, with stages of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion?

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues?

Autoimmune diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the natural substances within the body that reduce pain sensation and play a role in pain management and psychological conditions?

Endogenous opioids Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when blood flow to the brain is disrupted, leading to symptoms like paralysis and difficulty with speech?

Stroke/Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) Signup and view all the answers

What is responsible for the body's 'fight or flight' response to stress, releasing adrenaline and stress hormones?

Sympathetic Nervous System Signup and view all the answers

What field studies interactions between the nervous system, immune system, and psychological processes, exploring how stress and emotions affect the immune system?

Psychoneuroimmunology Signup and view all the answers

What does the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) model propose about the body's response to stress?

The body responds to stress in a predictable sequence of stages. Signup and view all the answers

Which system is responsible for the 'fight or flight' response during stress?

Sympathetic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of endogenous opioids in the body?

To act as natural painkillers by binding to opioid receptors Signup and view all the answers

What is a common consequence of coronary heart disease (CHD)?

Chest pain and potential heart attacks Signup and view all the answers

In autoimmune diseases, what does the immune system mistakenly attack?

The body's own tissues Signup and view all the answers

Which field of study examines the interactions between psychological processes and the immune and nervous systems?

Psychoneuroimmunology Signup and view all the answers

What is hypertension a condition of?

High blood pressure against artery walls Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary consequence of a stroke or cerebral vascular accident (CVA)?

Brain damage due to disrupted blood flow Signup and view all the answers

Which system is responsible for the 'rest and digest' response after stress?

Parasympathetic nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What neuropeptides and neurohormones are released during stress as part of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenocortical (HPA) axis activation?

Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and cortisol Signup and view all the answers

Why do individuals in higher social hierarchy positions tend to have lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol?

Due to a greater sense of control and predictability in their lives Signup and view all the answers

What are the consequences of limited control over resources like food, resting places, and mates for lower ranking individuals in social hierarchies?

Higher stress hormone levels and symptoms of stress Signup and view all the answers

What leads to health issues like immune system suppression and heart disease in subordinate baboons?

Continual bullying and limited access to resources Signup and view all the answers

What does operant control of pain refer to?

How social consequences influence the experience of pain Signup and view all the answers

What did the Stanford Three Community Study focus on in its interventions to reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors?

Smoking cessation, blood pressure control, dietary changes, and weight reduction Signup and view all the answers

What major transition in leading causes of death has occurred over the past 100 years?

From infectious diseases to chronic diseases Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Impact of Social Hierarchy and Health

The Hypothalamic–Pituitary–Adrenocortical (HPA) axis is activated during stress, releasing neuropeptides and neurohormones such as corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) and cortisol.
Individuals in higher social hierarchy positions tend to have lower levels of stress hormones like cortisol due to a greater sense of control and predictability in their lives.
Lower ranking individuals in social hierarchies have higher stress hormone levels, suffering from symptoms of stress due to limited control over resources like food, resting places, and mates.
Subordinate baboons have higher cortisol levels due to continual bullying and limited access to resources, leading to health issues like immune system suppression and heart disease.
Operant control of pain refers to how social consequences influence the experience of pain, with positive consequences reducing pain and negative ones increasing it.
The relationship between social consequences and pain experience is complex and involves the interplay of social and psychological factors.
The Stanford Three Community Study aimed to reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) risk factors in three California communities, focusing on entire communities rather than individuals.
Two communities received interventions like smoking cessation, blood pressure control, dietary changes, and weight reduction, showing significant reductions in CHD risk factors compared to the control group.
The leading causes of death have changed significantly over the past 100 years, with infectious diseases being the leading causes in 1900, while chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer are leading causes now.
In 1900, the leading causes of death in the U.S. were pneumonia, influenza, tuberculosis, and gastrointestinal infections.
In 2010, the leading causes of death in the U.S. were heart disease, cancer, and chronic lower respiratory disease, with other causes including stroke, accidents, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, and kidney disease.
The shift in leading causes of death reflects the transition from infectious diseases to chronic diseases as major health concerns.

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Description

Discover the intricate relationship between social hierarchy and health in this quiz. Explore the impact of stress hormones on individuals in different social positions and the effects on their health. Learn about the Stanford Three Community Study and the changing leading causes of death over the past century.