1. Neural Circuitry, Hormones, and Synaptic Transmitters Mediate Violence and Aggression Aggression has different meanings; the primary focus here is physical aggression and violence between individuals, exclusive of predation. Intermale aggression is aggression between males of the same species. Androgens seem to increase aggression, but the correlation in humans is less clear. Two confounding variables: Experience and dominance can affect testosterone levels; winners show higher levels of testosterone than losers.

2. The Effects of Androgens on the Aggressive Behavior of Mice

3. Concept of Stress Stressor – anything that causes stress  External sources  Internal “cognitive” sources  Combinations of external and internal Stress Reaction  Autonomic Hypothalamus -CRH -ACTH -Cortisol  Behavioral  Cognitive

4. Characteristics of Stressors Eustress “Good Stressors” –Mild –Predictable –Controllable Distress “Bad Stressors” –Intense –Unpredictable –Uncontrollable

5. Regulation of Hormones Produced by the Adrenal Glands

6. Stress Activates Two Hormonal Systems

7. Autonomic Activation during a Stress Situation

8. Hormonal Changes in Humans in Response to Social Stresses

9. Factors That Interact during the Development and Progression of Disease

10. Main Components of the Human Immune System

11. Examples of Reciprocal Relations of the Nervous, Endocrine, and Immune Systems

12. The Stress Response and Consequences of Prolonged Stress

13. Stress Reaction Mediators Individual Differences Genetics Emotional reactions Pattern of response Intensity of response Hardiness Resilience Developmental Exposure to Stressors during early development Cognitive Appraisal Positive : Think of stressor as a Challenge Negative : Think of the stressor as a Threat

14. Most people when exposed to extraordinary levels of stress and trauma maintain normal psychological and physical functioning without serious mental illness Resilience an active, adaptive process not just the absence of pathological responses associated with successful coping responses Stress activation of the HPA axis Glucocorticoid release activates glucocorticoid receptors in hippocampus, amygdala, prefrontal cortex (PFC) Short-term helps meet challenges Long-term produces damage to neurons Resilience to Stress

15. Stress inoculation As a result of repeatedly overcoming stress-inducing situations It is typical adaptive coping in the face of stress For either young children or adults Stress mastery Adaptive coping leads to a sense of mastery which promotes resilience There is an inverted U-shaped relationship between stress and coping Both low and high levels of stress reduce coping ability Chronic low levels will induce inoculation or mastery Chronic high levels will over whelm the systems It may be possible to train individuals to master stress By Using graded exposure to stress Reduce vulnerabilities and promote resilience

16. Coping with stress Direct coping Efforts to remove the stressor –Intentional efforts to change an uncomfortable situation –Confrontation Acknowledging stress directly and initiating a solution –Compromise Choosing a more realistic goal when an ideal goal cannot be met –Withdrawal Avoiding a situation when other options are not practical Good cognitive coping skills Turn to your support network –emotional –instrumental Effectively managing stress reactions

17. Coping With Stress Calm down –Moderate Exercise which is a “good” stressor –Relaxation training Reach out –Social support network Religion –Studies have shown an association between religion and lower stress –May be related to social support Altruism –Giving to others because is gives you pleasure –Shown to be a good way to reduce stress

18. Coping With Stress Learn to cope effectively –Proactive coping Anticipate stressful events and take steps to avoid them –Positive reappraisal Alter the way you think about a stressful situation Making the best of a tense or stressful event –Humor Finding the funny things in a situation

19. Coping With Stress Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings Terry Hartig (2003) Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23 109–123