Graded (10%)
Assignment:
Before beginning the post, be sure to have read the module notes and textbook on the brain and its functions.
Choose a profession or occupation that involves high-stress situations or critical decision-making (such as emergency services, air traffic control, or stock trading). Research the impact of stress on the brain and mental health within this profession. Find at least two recent references-written in the last 8 months. The articles must be related to stress and the brain (if possible, one reference that relates to stress and the profession you have chosen). Explore how stress affects decision-making abilities and overall well-being in individuals working in these high-stress roles.
Answer the following questions:
- Stress and Brain Function: Based on your understanding of brain functions from your module notes and your psychology textbook and your references, explain how stress influences the brain and its various regions. Be specific about which areas of the brain are most affected. Describe the potential effects of stress on decision-making abilities and cognitive functions, citing examples from the specific profession you selected.
- Mental Health in High-Stress Professions: Investigate the mental health implications of working in high-stress occupations. Analyze how stress levels might impact individuals’ mental well-being, including the risks of conditions like anxiety, depression, or burnout.
- Decision-Making Under Pressure: Reflect on the challenges faced by professionals in high-stress roles when making critical decisions. How might stress affect their ability to make sound judgments or handle complex situations effectively? How does the high stress occupation relate to the stress level of a college student?
Reasons for Managing Stress and Mental Health:
In your response, provide three reasons, supported by insights from the textbook and your references, why managing stress and prioritizing mental health is crucial for individuals in high-stress professions. Utilize examples of brain regions and functions to illustrate how stress impacts cognitive abilities and mental health.
Example Brain Regions and Functions:
- Amygdala: Involved in processing emotions and stress responses.
- Prefrontal Cortex: Responsible for decision-making, problem-solving, and impulse control.
- Hippocampus: Associated with memory and learning, affected by chronic stress.
Be sure to include in-text citations for any references used in the body of your post and provide full APA-style references at the end of your response.
Post your main discussion by Friday before 11:59 pm. Your minimum 2 comments on your classmates’ posts no later than Sunday night.
Assignment Criteria for Module Questions:
You will be eligible for full marks if your response…
- is at least 150 words,
- is posted before the deadline,
- demonstrates a knowledge and understanding of the module and readings,
- is written clearly and coherently, and is edited for grammar,
- is original, i.e., your own work, rather than a copy or reiteration of previous posts, not ChatGPT or other AI ,
- responds meaningfully in 2 separate threads ( 2 other posts),
- contains the required outside references (2 recent articles written within the last 8 months) textbook references in APA format – use the OWL at Purdue APA website as a guide.