Questions and Answers
What is stress?
Stress is the health epidemic of the 21st century.
Which of the following are categories of stressors according to Turner and Wheaton?
Stress is always harmful.
False
What are the two pathways to stress?
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Match the following components of the nervous system with their functions:
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The sympathetic nervous system is often referred to as the _____ system.
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What often happens to the sympathetic system in today’s society?
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What does structuralism emphasize in understanding the mind?
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How did Wundt differentiate between sensation and perception?
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What critique did William James offer regarding structuralism?
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What aspect of experience did introspection attempt to assess?
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What is the primary focus of functionalism in psychology?
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What was the primary focus of Structuralism in psychology?
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Which method was primarily used by Structuralists to understand mental processes?
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Who is considered the founder of Structuralism in psychology?
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What does Structuralism define psychology as?
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Which of the following best characterizes the goal of Structuralism?
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Study Notes
Understanding Stress
- Defined as a health epidemic of the 21st century by the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Difficult to define due to varied research approaches focusing on:
- Threatening circumstances affecting well-being.
- Responses to those circumstances.
- Evaluating and coping with threats.
Types of Stressors
- Stressor: Refers to stimuli causing stress, ranging from minor irritations to major crises.
- Categories of stressors include:
- Cataclysmic Events: Extreme stressors like earthquakes and hurricanes; unpredictable with limited opportunities for response.
- Personal Stressors: Negative life events such as the death of a loved one, job loss, or relationship breakdown.
- Daily Hassles: Minor, chronic frustrations like misplacing items and traffic delays.
The Role of Stress
- Can be beneficial in moderation, motivating personal growth and achievement.
- Experienced through two main pathways:
- Physiological Pathway: Involves bodily responses and functions related to stress.
- Psychological Pathway: Involves cognitive evaluations and emotional responses to stress.
Physiological Pathway and the Nervous System
- The nervous system is essential for sensory perception and response to danger, aiming to maintain homeostasis.
- Central Nervous System (CNS): Main control center governing reactions to external and internal stimuli.
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Autonomic Nervous System: Regulates involuntary body functions, further divided into:
- Sympathetic Nervous System: Increases bodily readiness in response to stress, facilitating "fight or flight" reactions.
- Parasympathetic Nervous System: Calms the body, restoring energy after stress.
Impact of Chronic Stress
- Modern society often leads to prolonged engagement of the sympathetic system due to persistent stressors, inhibiting the calming effects of the parasympathetic system.
Characteristics of the Stress Response
- Common physical sensations during stress include clammy hands, rapid heartbeat, and muscle tension.
- The body prepares for action by increasing oxygen supply and blood flow, and enhancing pain relief through endorphin production.
The Biological Stress Response
- Involves the hypothalamus signaling the pituitary gland, which in turn signals the adrenal glands.
- Responses include heightened senses, increased blood pressure, quicker breathing, and the release of glucose and fats into the bloodstream.
- Adrenaline and nor-adrenaline are released, intensifying the body’s readiness to handle threats.
Introduction to Psychology
- Psychology emerged as a scientific discipline through the analysis of human behavior.
- Early theorists laid the groundwork for understanding psychology as a science.
Schools of Psychology
- Structuralism: Founded by Wilhelm Wundt, focused on the analysis of conscious experience and the building blocks of thought and emotions.
- Functionalism: Major proponent William James critiqued structuralism, emphasizing the functions of mental activity and adaptation to environments.
- Gestalt Psychology: Founded by Graf Christian von Ehrenfels, emphasized understanding perception as a whole rather than through individual components.
- Psychoanalytic Theory: Developed by Sigmund Freud, based on the influence of the unconscious mind on behavior and personality.
- Behaviorism: Advocated by John B. Watson, focused solely on observable behavior and learned responses to stimuli.
- Humanistic Psychology: Emphasized personal growth and self-actualization, highlighting the inherent goodness of individuals.
Structuralism
- Aimed to identify the basic elements of conscious experience through introspection.
- Believed the mind consists of components: physical sensations, feelings, and images.
- Established the distinction between sensation (stimuli effect) and perception (interpretation of stimuli).
Functionalism
- William James argued for understanding functions of the mind rather than merely its structure.
- Suggested that behavior is influenced by how it aids in survival and adaptation.
- Laid the foundation for evolutionary psychology regarding behavioral traits.
Gestalt Psychology
- Focused on the perception of whole entities rather than fragmented elements.
- Introduced concepts like emergence (seeing wholes) and reification (filling in gaps in perception).
- Principles of perceptual organization include the laws of similarity and proximity.
Psychoanalytic Theory
- Sigmund Freud theorized that unconscious forces drive personality and behavior.
- Introduced three components of personality: id (instinctual drives), ego (mediator), and superego (moral conscience).
- Emphasized the role of repressed childhood memories and the importance of making the unconscious conscious.
Behaviorism
- John B. Watson claimed that psychology should only focus on observable behaviors.
- Suggested that behavior is learned through interaction with the environment via stimuli and responses.
- Ivan Pavlov’s classical conditioning and B.F. Skinner’s operant conditioning outlined behavior modification based on reward and punishment.
Humanistic Psychology
- Founded on the premise of human potential for growth and self-improvement.
- Carl Rogers posited the importance of unconditional positive regard for personal development.
- Highlighted the significance of self-knowledge and the drive for healing and self-actualization.
Person-Centered Approach
- Emphasizes the individual's ability to self-heal, requiring support rather than directive guidance from therapists.
- Stresses the need for positive regard, fostering emotional and cognitive growth through acceptance.
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of stress, defined by the WHO as a health epidemic of the 21st century. It covers different types of stressors, from cataclysmic events to daily hassles, and discusses the role of stress in personal development. Test your knowledge on how stress affects well-being and coping mechanisms.
