Documentary Examines How Stress Kills

It's All About Your Locus of Control

Dr. Sapolsky explains how psychological distress may turn on your stress response in this short video clip. If the link does not work for you, you can access it on the Stanford University website (click on “Related to this Story” in right column, then the tab “More on Stress”). Sapolsky explains how you are more vulnerable to stress if the following factors are true:

• You feel like you have no control
• You're not getting any predictive information (how bad the challenge is going to be, how long it will go on, etc.)
• You feel you have no way out
• You interpret things as getting worse
• You have no "shoulder to cry on" (e.g., lack of social affiliation or support)

Like baboons, people at the top of the social pyramid feel a greater sense of control because they are the ones who call the shots, as well as typically having more social connections and resources at their disposal. This results in less stress, which over the long run translates to lower rates of disease.