Final answer:
The hormone that has a calming effect and reduces anxiety is oxytocin, contrary to cortisol which is a stress hormone that provides an energy boost during the fight-or-flight response.
Step-by-step explanation:
Much of the human stress response is hormonally driven, involving complex physiological mechanisms primarily managed by the sympathetic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. When the body perceives stress,
it activates the fight-or-flight response, characterized by an increased heart rate and energy levels. Cortisol is known as a stress hormone released during this response, providing energy boosts. However, one particular hormone that is known to have a calming effect and reduce anxiety is oxytocin. Therefore, the correct answer to the question "One hormone in particular, namely ______, has been shown to have a calming effect and to reduce anxiety." is c. Oxytocin.