AQA PSYCHOLOGY A-LEVEL PAPER 3 PROCTORED EXAM
UPDATED 2025 WITH QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Daily Hassles as a Source of Stress: Effects of Life Changes and Daily
Hassles are Different VERIFIED ANSWER -Life changes have indirect
effects (distal)
-Daily hassles have immediate effects on our everyday lives (proximal)
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (Selye 1936): First Stage -
Alarm Reaction VERIFIED ANSWER -Sympathetic branch of the
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is activated by the Hypothalamus.
-Stimulates the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline and noradrenaline
to prepare the body for fight of flight.
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (Selye 1936): Second Stage -
Resistance VERIFIED ANSWER -Body tries to adapt by combatting the
stressor.
-Body's resources consumed at an alarming rate
-Parasympathetic NS activated to save energy
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (Selye 1936): Third Stage -
Exhaustion VERIFIED ANSWER -Adaption to chronic stressor fails as
resources needed to resist are drained
-Symptoms of sympathetic arousal (raised heart rate etc..) Adrenal gland
is damaged, immune system suppressed
-Stress related illness not likely
,The Physiological Stress Response: Acute Stress Response -
Sympathomedullary Pathway (SAM) (Fight or Flight) VERIFIED
ANSWER -Immediate Response: Hypothalamus activates Sympathetic
branch of ANS
-Stimulates adrenal medulla to release adrenaline and noradrenaline into
the bloodstream (heart rate increase, liver converts glycogen into
glucose to provide energy for fight or flight)
-Once the Stressor Stops: The Parasympathetic nervous system activated
and physiological arousal decreases. Energy conservation prioritised.
The Physiological Stress Response: Chronic Stress Response -
Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal System (HPA) VERIFIED ANSWER -If
the stressor continues: HPA now activated
-Hypothalamus produces corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF)
-Detected by anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and causes the release
of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
-ACTH detected by the adrenal cortex which secretes cortisol
The Physiological Stress Response: Cortisol (Main Stress Hormone)
VERIFIED ANSWER -Cortisol affects glucose metabolism and restores
energy
-Has other effects (suppresses immune system)
-HPA is self-regulating via a negative feedback loop - cortisol in the
bloodstream is monitored by the pituitary and the hypothalamus
-High levels of cortisol trigger reduction in CRF and ACTH resulting in
a reduction in cortisol levels
,Evaluation of the GAS: Supporting Evidence VERIFIED ANSWER -
Selye (1936) subjected rats to stressors and found the same responses
regardless of the stressor.
-He tracked response to the stressor through the resistance and
exhaustion stage, stress that appears after 6-48 hours was not unique to
the specific stressor.
Evaluation of the GAS: May Not be 'General' VERIFIED ANSWER -
Key to GAS is that it is non-specific
-Mason (1971) replicated Selye's procedures with monkeys. Effects
varied depending on stressor (extreme cold increased urinary cortisol;
extreme heat reduced it)
-Undermines Validity of GAS
Evaluation of Physiological Stress Response: Male Bias VERIFIED
ANSWER -If an ancestral female responded with fight or flight this
leaves children vulnerable.
-Taylor (2006) argues that the 'traditional stress response mostly applies
to males
-He suggests females tend and befriend (look for social support)
-Assumption that both genders fight or flight is andocentric
Evaluation of Physiological Stress Response: Psychological Factors are
Ignored VERIFIED ANSWER -Much research on stress is conducted on
animals so Lazarus (1999) argues that cognitive factors are ignored.
, -Cognitive Appraisal: Primary - Deciding if the stressor is a threat,
Secondary - Deciding if we have the resources to cope with it
-Speisman (1964) got students to watch footage of a tribal circumcision
whilst measuring their heart rates. If they believed they were watching
torture, their heart rates were higher than if they believed they were
watching a tribal right of passage ritual.
Immunosuppression: Immune System Suppressed VERIFIED ANSWER
-Direct: Cortisol produced by the HPA inhibits production of immune
cells
-Indirect: Stress influences lifestyle (smoking, drinking) may lead to
negative effect on immune functioning.
Immunosuppression: Chronic Stress of Exams Leads to Reduced NK
and Killer T cells VERIFIED ANSWER -Kielcot-Glaser et al (1984)
obtained blood samples from 75 medical students from before the exam
period (low stress) and on the day of their first exam (high stress). They
also completed a questionnaire measuring sources of stress and self
reported symptoms
-The levels of natural killer (NK) cells and killer T cells decreased
between the first and second samples, evidence of immunosuppression
-Decline was greatest in students who reported feeling lonely and
experienced other sources of stress
Immunosuppression: Chronic stress in Caring for an Ill Relative Leads
to an Increase in Immune Antibodies VERIFIED ANSWER -Kielcot-
Glaser et al (1991) compared health and immune functioning of
UPDATED 2025 WITH QUESTIONS AND WELL DETAILED
ANSWERS GRADED A+
Daily Hassles as a Source of Stress: Effects of Life Changes and Daily
Hassles are Different VERIFIED ANSWER -Life changes have indirect
effects (distal)
-Daily hassles have immediate effects on our everyday lives (proximal)
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (Selye 1936): First Stage -
Alarm Reaction VERIFIED ANSWER -Sympathetic branch of the
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) is activated by the Hypothalamus.
-Stimulates the adrenal medulla to release adrenaline and noradrenaline
to prepare the body for fight of flight.
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (Selye 1936): Second Stage -
Resistance VERIFIED ANSWER -Body tries to adapt by combatting the
stressor.
-Body's resources consumed at an alarming rate
-Parasympathetic NS activated to save energy
The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (Selye 1936): Third Stage -
Exhaustion VERIFIED ANSWER -Adaption to chronic stressor fails as
resources needed to resist are drained
-Symptoms of sympathetic arousal (raised heart rate etc..) Adrenal gland
is damaged, immune system suppressed
-Stress related illness not likely
,The Physiological Stress Response: Acute Stress Response -
Sympathomedullary Pathway (SAM) (Fight or Flight) VERIFIED
ANSWER -Immediate Response: Hypothalamus activates Sympathetic
branch of ANS
-Stimulates adrenal medulla to release adrenaline and noradrenaline into
the bloodstream (heart rate increase, liver converts glycogen into
glucose to provide energy for fight or flight)
-Once the Stressor Stops: The Parasympathetic nervous system activated
and physiological arousal decreases. Energy conservation prioritised.
The Physiological Stress Response: Chronic Stress Response -
Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal System (HPA) VERIFIED ANSWER -If
the stressor continues: HPA now activated
-Hypothalamus produces corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF)
-Detected by anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and causes the release
of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)
-ACTH detected by the adrenal cortex which secretes cortisol
The Physiological Stress Response: Cortisol (Main Stress Hormone)
VERIFIED ANSWER -Cortisol affects glucose metabolism and restores
energy
-Has other effects (suppresses immune system)
-HPA is self-regulating via a negative feedback loop - cortisol in the
bloodstream is monitored by the pituitary and the hypothalamus
-High levels of cortisol trigger reduction in CRF and ACTH resulting in
a reduction in cortisol levels
,Evaluation of the GAS: Supporting Evidence VERIFIED ANSWER -
Selye (1936) subjected rats to stressors and found the same responses
regardless of the stressor.
-He tracked response to the stressor through the resistance and
exhaustion stage, stress that appears after 6-48 hours was not unique to
the specific stressor.
Evaluation of the GAS: May Not be 'General' VERIFIED ANSWER -
Key to GAS is that it is non-specific
-Mason (1971) replicated Selye's procedures with monkeys. Effects
varied depending on stressor (extreme cold increased urinary cortisol;
extreme heat reduced it)
-Undermines Validity of GAS
Evaluation of Physiological Stress Response: Male Bias VERIFIED
ANSWER -If an ancestral female responded with fight or flight this
leaves children vulnerable.
-Taylor (2006) argues that the 'traditional stress response mostly applies
to males
-He suggests females tend and befriend (look for social support)
-Assumption that both genders fight or flight is andocentric
Evaluation of Physiological Stress Response: Psychological Factors are
Ignored VERIFIED ANSWER -Much research on stress is conducted on
animals so Lazarus (1999) argues that cognitive factors are ignored.
, -Cognitive Appraisal: Primary - Deciding if the stressor is a threat,
Secondary - Deciding if we have the resources to cope with it
-Speisman (1964) got students to watch footage of a tribal circumcision
whilst measuring their heart rates. If they believed they were watching
torture, their heart rates were higher than if they believed they were
watching a tribal right of passage ritual.
Immunosuppression: Immune System Suppressed VERIFIED ANSWER
-Direct: Cortisol produced by the HPA inhibits production of immune
cells
-Indirect: Stress influences lifestyle (smoking, drinking) may lead to
negative effect on immune functioning.
Immunosuppression: Chronic Stress of Exams Leads to Reduced NK
and Killer T cells VERIFIED ANSWER -Kielcot-Glaser et al (1984)
obtained blood samples from 75 medical students from before the exam
period (low stress) and on the day of their first exam (high stress). They
also completed a questionnaire measuring sources of stress and self
reported symptoms
-The levels of natural killer (NK) cells and killer T cells decreased
between the first and second samples, evidence of immunosuppression
-Decline was greatest in students who reported feeling lonely and
experienced other sources of stress
Immunosuppression: Chronic stress in Caring for an Ill Relative Leads
to an Increase in Immune Antibodies VERIFIED ANSWER -Kielcot-
Glaser et al (1991) compared health and immune functioning of
