PSYC 215 Chapter Notes - Chapter module 1 - social psychology 4th edition: Cortisol, Adrenocorticotropic Hormone, Amygdala

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 215
• Professor: Mark W Baldwin

Document Summary

Intro: the stress response evolved to help us handle immediate pressures in the short run, but chronic and continuous stress can lead to myriad health problems. Psychological stress: the sense that challenges and demands surpass one"s current capacities, resources and energies. Obligations and expectations that threaten our social identity and our connection to others. Start at hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (hpa) axis; stress hormone = cortisol (short term stress) Stressful event amygdala activated stimulation of hypothalam us. H sends message to pituitary gland to produce adrenocorticotrophic hormone (acth) stimulates adrenal glands near kidneys release of cortisol. Distributes blood to muscles involved in fight or flight. Keeps resources available for metabolically demanding fight or flight. Making it easier to recall sources of danger in environment. Before, this short term stress for sensing predators. Now, for a lot, e. g. studying for exam, avoid danger . Rumination: tendency to think about some stressful event repeatedly. Specific stress > chronic stress > can kill.