Question 1

What is the difference between acute and chronic stress?

Accepted Answer

Acute stress is short-term, triggered by immediate threats, and involves the SAM system (adrenaline release). Chronic stress is long-term, from ongoing pressures (e.g., work, exams), and involves the HPA axis (cortisol release). Chronic stress can lead to health problems like hypertension and weakened immune function.

Question 2

How does the General Adaptation Syndrome explain stress?

Accepted Answer

Selye's GAS describes three stages: alarm (fight or flight activation), resistance (body adapts to stressor, cortisol remains high), and exhaustion (resources depleted, leading to illness). It explains why prolonged stress can cause diseases like ulcers, but critics argue it ignores psychological factors and individual differences.

Question 3

What are the best ways to manage stress according to psychology?

Accepted Answer

Physiological methods include drugs (benzodiazepines enhance GABA, beta-blockers reduce adrenaline) and biofeedback (using relaxation to control bodily responses). Psychological methods include Stress Inoculation Training (SIT) which teaches coping skills, and hardiness training (commitment, control, challenge). The best approach depends on the individual and stressor.

Question 4

Is the Holmes and Rahe Social Readjustment Rating Scale still used today?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but with caution. It is used in research to quantify life stress, but it has limitations: it assumes change is always stressful (ignoring positive events), it doesn't account for individual perception, and it has low predictive validity for illness. Modern adaptations include the Life Experiences Survey (LES) which allows participants to rate events as positive or negative.

Question 5

How does stress affect the immune system?

Accepted Answer

Chronic stress suppresses the immune system via cortisol, which reduces inflammation but also lowers white blood cell activity. This makes individuals more susceptible to infections and slows wound healing. Studies like Kiecolt-Glaser et al. (1995) on medical students showed slower wound healing during exams, linking stress to immune function.

Question 6

What is the role of control in workplace stress?

Accepted Answer

Karasek's Job Demand-Control Model suggests that high job demands (workload, time pressure) combined with low control (decision latitude) lead to high stress and health risks. Studies like Johansson et al. (1978) on Swedish sawmill workers found that repetitive, low-control jobs increased stress hormones and illness. Increasing control (e.g., flexible hours) can reduce stress.

Stress

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Related Topics in AQA A-Level Psychology

Addiction

Aggression

Approaches in Psychology

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