‘Biological explanations of stress are limited.’ Evaluate biological explanations of stress
with reference to this statement. [15]
Plan:
● Paragraph 1
- Nomothetic approach
- Cannon - fight/flight
- Adrenaline & acute stress explanation
- Turton - tend/befriend
● Paragraph 2
- Causality / cause-effect relationship
- Leor - northridge california earthquake
- Liu et al - repeated questionnaire
● Paragraph 3
- Cortisol & chronic stress explanation
- Lacey et al - exam study
- Lewis et al - review of studies
- McGonigal - perception of stress
● Conclusion
- Credibility & evidence
- Generalisability & causality
- Call to action
A limitation of the adrenaline and acute stress explanation of stress is it’s nomothetic nature.
There is the assumption that every individual responds to stress in the same way. Cannon
proposed that acute stress provokes a ‘fight or flight’ response, where the body prepares itself
for conflict. However, it can be argued that this cannot be generalised and that this response is
more applicable to men, and women are more likely to respond with an instinct to socialise.
Turton (2005) conducted a questionnaire study consisting of statements with factors of four
stress responses - fight, flight, tend or befriend. Women were found to be more likely to ‘tend or
befriend’, suggesting that the nomothetic nature of this explanation limits the generalisability and
applicability of this stress response.
with reference to this statement. [15]
Plan:
● Paragraph 1
- Nomothetic approach
- Cannon - fight/flight
- Adrenaline & acute stress explanation
- Turton - tend/befriend
● Paragraph 2
- Causality / cause-effect relationship
- Leor - northridge california earthquake
- Liu et al - repeated questionnaire
● Paragraph 3
- Cortisol & chronic stress explanation
- Lacey et al - exam study
- Lewis et al - review of studies
- McGonigal - perception of stress
● Conclusion
- Credibility & evidence
- Generalisability & causality
- Call to action
A limitation of the adrenaline and acute stress explanation of stress is it’s nomothetic nature.
There is the assumption that every individual responds to stress in the same way. Cannon
proposed that acute stress provokes a ‘fight or flight’ response, where the body prepares itself
for conflict. However, it can be argued that this cannot be generalised and that this response is
more applicable to men, and women are more likely to respond with an instinct to socialise.
Turton (2005) conducted a questionnaire study consisting of statements with factors of four
stress responses - fight, flight, tend or befriend. Women were found to be more likely to ‘tend or
befriend’, suggesting that the nomothetic nature of this explanation limits the generalisability and
applicability of this stress response.
