Emotions and Stress

Question 1

List the names of the Theories of Emotion

Answer 1

James-Lange Theory
Cannon-Bard Theory
Schachter and Singer’s Two-Factor Theory
Lazarus’s Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Question 2

James-Lange Theory

Answer 2

Emotions result from physiological responses to stimuli.
Perception of physiological reactions leads to emotional experience.
Example: Feeling fear due to increased heart rate in response to a threat.

Question 3

Cannon-Bard Theory

Answer 3

Emotions and physiological responses occur simultaneously.
Emotional experiences and physiological reactions happen independently but concurrently.
Example: Feeling fear and experiencing increased heart rate simultaneously when encountering a threat.

Question 4

Schachter and Singer’s Two-Factor Theory

Answer 4

Emotions stem from a combination of physiological arousal and cognitive interpretation.
Cognitive appraisal of physiological arousal determines emotional response.
Example: Different emotional responses based on cognitive interpretation of shared physiological arousal.

Question 5

Lazarus’s Cognitive Appraisal Theory

Answer 5

Emotions are determined by cognitive appraisal of a situation.
Primary appraisal evaluates the significance of a situation.
Secondary appraisal evaluates coping options.
Emotional response is based on these cognitive appraisals.

Question 6

Secondary appraisal

Answer 6

Occurs when the person determines that the event is stressful and involves identifying his/her coping options and the likelihood that the options will adequately deal with the event.

Question 7

Reappraisal

Answer 7

Occurs when the person monitors the situation and, as appropriate, changes his/her primary and/or secondary appraisal.

Question 8

Brain Mechanisms

Answer 8

Papez (1937) was among the first to link emotions to specific areas of the brain. His “Papez circuit” consists of several interconnected structures including the hippocampus, mammillary bodies, thalamus, and cingulate gyrus. Subsequent research on the brain mechanisms that mediate emotion found that the Papez circuit is involved more with memory than emotion and clarified the role of several areas of the brain in the experience and expression of emotion.

Question 9

Cerebral Cortex:

Answer 9

Left hemisphere mediates positive emotions, while the right mediates negative emotions.

Question 10

Amygdala

Answer 10

Recognizes fear, attaches emotions to memories, and evaluates emotional significance of incoming information.

Question 11

Hypothalamus

Answer 11

Regulates physical signs of emotion via autonomic nervous system and pituitary gland.

Question 12

Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Answer 12

Three-stage model of the body’s response to stress.
Alarm Reaction Stage:
Initiated by the perception of a stressor.
Sympathetic nervous system activation triggers fight-or-flight response.
Resistance Stage:
Physiological functions return to normal, but cortisol levels remain elevated.
Body copes with ongoing stressor by maintaining high energy levels.
Exhaustion Stage:
Occurs if stressor persists without resolution.
Physiological processes begin to break down.
Criticisms include variability in stress responses and the influence of individual factors like genetics and previous experiences.

Question 16

McEwen’s Allostatic Load Model:

Answer 16

Reconceptualization of stress response focusing on brain-mediated processes.
Allostasis:
Body’s ability to achieve stability through adaptation to stress.
Maintained for a limited time without adverse effects.
Allostatic Load:
Prolonged or repeated stress leads to wear-and-tear on body and brain.
Consequences include dysregulation of immune system and increased vulnerability to disease.
Allostatic Overload:
Persistent allostatic load leads to significant physical and psychological health issues.
Can result in conditions like PTSD, major depressive disorder, and substance use disorder.
Individual differences in response influenced by genetics, resilience, and perceived control over stressors.