Step-by-Step Guidance for Psychology Exam 3 Study Guide

Q1. Explain how stress is defined and the three different ways it is approached.

Background

Topic: Stress and Coping

This question is testing your understanding of the concept of stress in psychology, including its definition and the main theoretical approaches to studying it.

Key Terms and Concepts:

• Stress: A psychological and physiological response to perceived challenges or threats.

• Approaches to Stress: Commonly includes stimulus-based, response-based, and transactional (interactional) approaches.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Start by defining stress in your own words, focusing on both psychological and physiological aspects.

2. Identify and briefly describe the three main approaches to understanding stress (think about whether they focus on the event, the response, or the interaction between person and environment).

3. For each approach, provide a short example or explanation of how it views or measures stress.

4. Consider how these approaches might overlap or differ in their implications for coping and health.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2. Identify different approaches to measuring stress.

Background

Topic: Stress Measurement

This question asks you to recall and explain the various methods psychologists use to assess stress in individuals.

Key Terms and Concepts:

• Self-report measures: Questionnaires or interviews where individuals report their own stress levels.

• Physiological measures: Biological indicators such as heart rate, cortisol levels, or blood pressure.

• Behavioral measures: Observations of stress-related behaviors.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. List the main categories of stress measurement (self-report, physiological, behavioral).

2. For each category, provide an example of a specific tool or method (e.g., Perceived Stress Scale, cortisol sampling).

3. Briefly discuss the strengths and limitations of each approach.

4. Think about why it might be important to use more than one method when studying stress.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q3. What is Selye’s general adaptation syndrome?

Background

Topic: Biological Stress Response

This question focuses on Hans Selye's model of how the body responds to prolonged stress.

Key Terms and Concepts:

• General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS): Selye's three-stage model of the body's response to stress.

• Stages: Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. State what the General Adaptation Syndrome is and who developed it.

2. List the three stages in order and briefly describe what happens in each stage.

3. Explain why this model is important for understanding the effects of chronic stress on health.

4. Consider an example of a situation where someone might go through all three stages.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q4. What role does stress play in coronary heart disease?

Background

Topic: Health Psychology

This question examines the relationship between psychological stress and physical health, specifically heart disease.

Key Terms and Concepts:

• Coronary heart disease (CHD): A condition involving the narrowing of the coronary arteries.

• Stress response: Physiological changes (e.g., increased blood pressure, inflammation) that can contribute to CHD.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Briefly define coronary heart disease and its main risk factors.

2. Describe how chronic stress can influence these risk factors (think about physiological and behavioral pathways).

3. Discuss the evidence linking stress to the development or worsening of CHD.

4. Consider how stress management might play a role in prevention or treatment.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q5. Describe the role of social support in coping with stress.

Background

Topic: Coping and Social Support

This question is about how relationships and social networks can help individuals manage stress.

Key Terms and Concepts:

• Social support: Emotional, informational, or practical assistance from others.

• Coping: Strategies used to manage stress.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Define social support and its main types (emotional, instrumental, informational).

2. Explain how social support can buffer the effects of stress on health and well-being.

3. Provide an example of how social support might help someone cope with a stressful event.

4. Consider any limitations or situations where social support might not be helpful.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!