M5 Assignment 1: Outline for Research Paper Instructions

Stevens 1

Heather Stevens

3 April 2016

ANT 111_Mechling

Research Paper Outline

The Evolution of Stress

I. Opening Paragraph

Stress is concept that is noted and addressed daily in modern society; a word utilized in

our daily word house to identify and justify our feelings and emotions. It is experienced by the

single parent who struggles to pay the mortgage, it is felt by the lawyer who barely has any time

to spend with their children, and it dwells heavily on the college study who attempts to cram for

the next big exam. Researchers study its effects on humans and attempt to find ways to escape

the tight grasp it holds on the vast majority of modern society. We find solutions to fight it in

order to simplify our lives, yet it seems that the simpler our lives have become, the more stress

we seem to experience. Early humans certainly experienced stress, but how is different than the

stress that affects us today? More now than ever, stress has become a factor in how effectively

we live our lives as humans. As we have evolved and as survival has become easier to maintain,

it has also become less simplified, making stress a prominent aspect of human life.

II. Supporting Paragraphs

a. When the body experiences a threatened state of homeostasis it adapts through a

series of physiological and behavioral changes which result in stress (Bali &

Jaggi, 2015).

i. This concept was first applied by Hans Selye who is known as the “father

of stress” (Bali & Jaggi, 2015).

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ii. Stress is classified as either acute or chronic which is often determined by

specific symptoms and their duration (Bali & Jaggi, 2015).

iii. Stress can be either psychological or physical depending on how it affects

the body (Bali & Jaggi, 2015).

b. The discovery of the stress response and how it has become important in today’s

studies.

i. The General Adaptation Syndrome (G.A.S.) was first stumbled upon by

Hans Selye of Hungary in 1934 when testing lab rats (Gabriel, 2013).

ii. Stress is measured by peripheral biomarkers such as blood pressure, brain

changes, cognition, structural brain changes, physiological brain changes,

genetic brain changes, allostatic load, and disease (Oken, 2014).

c. Some societies/ countries are more affected by stress due to the structure of their

lifestyle.

i. High stress levels are experienced by 25% of Americans with at least 50%

experiencing a stressful event in the last year (Oken, 2014).

ii. Child-rearing practices of different cultures determine the stress levels

experienced in different countries (Sammons, 2005).

iii. Resilience of stress may be determined by gender, age, social support,

self-esteem and history of depression. The level of education does not

determine how stressed someone may be (Oken, 2014).

d. Solutions to modern stress

i. Medical cures for stress include sedatives, anti-anxiety drugs and anti-

depressants (Reiss, Mills, & Dombeck, 2008).

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ii. Non-medical treatments and other coping mechanisms/ solutions include

yoga, social interaction, humor, creativity, journaling, sleep and

counseling (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2016).

e. Early humans and the stress they experienced.

i. Stress is a response that has evolved through natural selection for living

beings to take action and defend themselves for survival (Young, 2000).

ii. Stress of our predecessors was in relation to survival and lack of structure

while modern threats relate more to social and mental threats (Young,

2000).

iii. Stress of early humans vs. modern humans: stress experienced by early

humans was induced by the “fight or flight” response and developed

alongside many other emotional aspects (Cosmides & Tooby, 2000).

f. Overall evolution of stress and its future for the human population.

i. Individuals will be more prone to stress if the experience two or more

stressful events during brain development which will lead to depression. A

family history in depression will almost certainly lead to more depression

(Worlein, 2014).

III. Conclusion

Stress will continue to become a more prominent emotion experienced by modern

humans as time continues. As survival instincts become less of a factor and ease of

life and advancements in technology continue, humans will no longer be able to

identify their internal emotions as easily as before, returning back to primal

confusion. Stress was experienced by early humans is much different from the stress

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we experience today and stress among the human population will continue to evolve

in an increased manner.

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References

Bali, A., & Jaggi, A. S. (2015). Clinical experimental stress studies: methods and assessment. Stress

Protocols and Assessment, 555-579.

Cosmides, L., & Tooby, J. (2000). Evolutionary Psychology and the Emotions. (M. L. Haviland-Jones, Ed.)

Handbook of Emotions, 1(2).

Gabriel, G. (2013, April 05). Hans Selye: The Discovery of Stress. Retrieved from Brain Connection:

http://brainconnection.brainhq.com/2013/04/05/hans-selye-the-discovery-of-stress/

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2016). Stress Management. Retrieved from

Mayo Clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-

relievers/art-20047257?pg=2

Nesse, R. M., & Young, E. A. (2000). Evolutionary Origins and Functions of the Stress Response.

Encyclopedia of Stress, 1, 965-970.

Oken, B. S. (2014). A systems approach to stress, stressors and resilience in humans. Behavioural Brain

Research, 144-154.

Reiss, N., Mills, H., & Dombeck, M. (2008, June 30). Medication Strategies for Stress Relief. Retrieved

from Metal Help: https://www.mentalhelp.net/articles/medication-strategies-for-stress-relief/

Sammons, A. (2005). Culture and Stress. psychlotron.

Worlein, J. M. (2014). Nonhuman Primate Models of Depression: Effects of Early Experience and Stress.

Ilar Journal, Behavioral Assessment in Animal Models: Relevance for Human Psychopathology,

55, 259-273.