Film Respond Worksheet 1

CAS PS 101 Film Response Worksheet

Film Response Worksheet 1: Stress, Portrait of a Killer

Worksheet

1)    Why are the baboons that Robert Sapolsky studied the perfect model for westernized stress-related disease?

2)    Among the baboon tribe, which baboons experienced the least amount of stress? Which baboons experienced more stress? How does this relate to the human experience? What were some of the physiological symptoms of the highly stressed baboons?

3)    Think about what Dr. Tompson’s lectures about analyzing behavior at various levels of analysis. Let’s connect that to some of the examples in this video. The film highlighted mothers caring for children with special needs and the amount of chronic stress they were under was related to the shortening of their telomeres. What levels of analysis are interacting with each other?

4)    Can you think of some additional examples of the fight or flight response that may benefit primates but cause more harm than good in humans?

5)    How can stress make us feel miserable? Think about Carol Shively’s work in the film. How can this relate to humans?

6)    In the film, Dr. Robert Sapolsky comments that in many ways in our society an individual who is hardworking/dedicated/ambitious is perceived very favorably. However, all of this research shows that this can be harmful to our health. How are the various levels of analysis interacting here?

7)    What is the take home message translating Sapolsky’s stress work from primates to humans?

Submit

Please complete the following questions after viewing the film(s).

Note:

These papers are to be completed individually. Do not work on this assignment with friends/classmates. Any instance of suspected plagiarism will be dealt with according to Boston University policy. The words and ideas of the study’s authors should never be used directly unless cited appropriately (this is considered plagiarism). If you have any questions about this, please see me or your TF for additional clarification.

Page 1 of 1