Deck 4: Coping Processes

Question 1

Efforts to master, reduce, or tolerate the demands caused by stress in one's life are collectively known as

A) catharsis.
B) defense mechanisms.
C) procrastination.
D) coping.

Answer 1

coping.

Question 2

The belief that events are beyond one's control is particularly likely to emerge in people who

A) are considered true optimists.
B) show symptoms of bipolar disorder.
C) exhibit a pessimistic explanatory style.
D) score extremely high in sensation seeking.

Answer 2

exhibit a pessimistic explanatory style.

Question 3

Whether someone develops learned helplessness under conditions of unavoidable aversive events is most likely to depend on

A) the intensity of the aversive events.
B) prior experience in similar circumstances.
C) conditioning experiences in childhood.
D) one's beliefs about their control over events.

Answer 3

one's beliefs about their control over events.

Question 4

Which of the following statements about the use of coping strategies is not true?

A) Most people come to rely on some strategies more than others.
B) An individual's coping strategies are influenced by situational demands.
C) People's coping strategies show only moderate stability across a wide variety of situations.
D) The right coping strategy guarantees a successful outcome.

Question 5

____ developed the learned helplessness model.

A) Sigmund Freud
B) Albert Bandura
C) Martin Seligman
D) Abraham Maslow

Question 6

Withdrawal could be an adaptive response to stress under which of the following circumstances?

A) when one is not equipped to handle a situation
B) when the stressful event can be ignored
C) when the pressure associated with the event will be short-term
D) all of these

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of the coping strategy known as behavioral disengagement?

A) arguing with one's best friend because of anger toward one's boss
B) dropping a class because it is evident that one needs to take one of the recommended prerequisites
C) using drugs following a significant loss
D) blaming one's parents for one's character flaws

Question 8

Freud coined the term ____ to refer to the release of emotional tension.

A) aggression
B) implosion
C) frustration
D) catharsis

Question 9

Albert Ellis believes that problematic emotional reactions to stress are caused by

A) unpleasant events.
B) catastrophic thinking.
C) excessively logical thinking.
D) the over-reliance on defense mechanisms.

Question 10

Coping strategies in different situations mean that ____ is more desirable than ____.

A) flexibility; consistency
B) consistency; flexibility
C) stability; flexibility
D) stability; consistency

Question 11

Researchers have argued that ____ is a desirable quality in applying coping strategies across various situations.

A) consistency
B) flexibility
C) aggression
D) indulgence

Question 12

There is evidence that stress is related to

A) overeating
B) increased smoking
C) consumption of alcohol
D) all of these

Question 13

When things are going poorly in one area of life, one may compensate by pursuing substitute forms of satisfaction. This coping strategy is referred to as

A) a defense mechanism.
B) developing alternative rewards.
C) addiction.
D) catharsis.

Question 14

Experimental research indicates that aggressive behavior

A) is basically uncontrollable.
B) does not reliably lead to catharsis.
C) is often adaptive in interpersonal relationships.
D) is an instinctual approach for dealing with frustration.

Question 15

If you yell at your little sister after having a fight with your girlfriend, you may be diverting your anger through the use of

A) sublimation.
B) catharsis.
C) displacement.
D) denial.

Question 16

Diversion of anger toward a substitute target was noted by Sigmund Freud, who called it

A) displacement.
B) projection.
C) rationalization.
D) reaction formation.

Question 17

Learned helplessness results when humans are subjected to aversive events that

A) are unavoidable.
B) negatively reinforce aggressiveness.
C) positively reinforce aggressiveness.
D) are high in control, but low in predictability.

Question 18

Which of the following was not included by Berkowitz among the qualifications to the frustration-aggression hypothesis?

A) Frustration does not necessarily lead to aggression.
B) Many factors besides frustration affect the likelihood of aggression.
C) Aggression leads to frustration as often as frustration leads to aggression.
D) Frustration may produce responses other than aggression.

Question 19

If you enter a 10K race without training adequately, ____ might be the most adaptive coping strategy.

A) catharsis
B) denial
C) behavioral disengagement
D) displacement

Question 20

Which of the following is the most accurate reflection of the research findings regarding catharsis?

A) Behaving in an aggressive manner is a good way to "blow off steam".
B) Behaving in a passive-aggressive manner is an effective way to discharge pent-up emotions.
C) Behaving in an aggressive manner tends to fuel more anger and aggression.
D) Aggressive behavior is likely to alleviate frustration only if directed toward an irrelevant someone.

Question 21

Joe has been arrested three times in the past five years for driving under the influence of alcohol. When you ask him about how he is managing his drinking problem, he says "I don't have a drinking problem; I have a getting caught problem!" He is most likely using ____ to manage his difficulties.

A) overcompensation
B) undoing
C) projection
D) denial

Question 22

Which of the following statements about defense mechanisms is not true?

A) Defensive coping is an avoidance strategy.
B) They typically operate at the unconscious level.
C) They are generally considered poor ways of coping.
D) Their use is considered an indication of psychological maladjustment.

Question 23

Which of the following is not involved in constructive coping?

A) confronting problems directly
B) applying basic principles of classical conditioning
C) exerting some control over potentially harmful behaviors
D) recognizing potentially disruptive emotional reactions to stress

Question 24

Defense mechanisms are largely ____ and entirely ____.

A) unconscious; normal
B) unconscious; abnormal
C) conscious; normal
D) conscious; abnormal

Question 25

Epstein and Meier found that constructive coping is favorably related to

A) wealth.
B) mental and physical health.
C) intelligence.
D) altruism.

Question 26

According to Taylor and Brown, depressed subjects exhibit ____ favorable and ____ realistic self-concepts than do "normal" people.

A) more; more
B) less; less
C) less; more
D) more; less

Question 27

Defense mechanisms can operate at

A) the unconscious level only.
B) the conscious level only.
C) the preconscious level only.
D) both the conscious and unconscious levels.

Question 28

In making projections about the future, "normal" people are more likely than depressed people to

A) be realistic.
B) make accurate projections.
C) rely on empirical evidence.
D) be unrealistically optimistic.

Question 29

Defense mechanisms are

A) usually always healthy to use.
B) probably almost never healthy to use.
C) probably not healthy to use, with a few exceptions.
D) none of these.

Question 30

Freud believed that defense mechanisms operate at

A) the unconscious level only.
B) the conscious level only.
C) the preconscious level only.
D) both the conscious and unconscious levels.

Question 31

Gratifying frustrated desires by thinking about imaginary achievements and satisfactions refers to the defense mechanism called

A) overcompensation.
B) fantasy.
C) regression.
D) identification.

Question 32

Which of the following is not a category of negative self-talk described by Beck?

A) focusing on negative feedback
B) making unduly pessimistic projections about the future
C) unfairly blaming one's parents for personal trouble
D) unrealistic attribution of failure to one's own shortcomings

Question 33

Defense mechanisms work primarily through

A) distorting reality so it does not seem so unpleasant and threatening.
B) reducing a person's impulse control.
C) allowing a person to release pent-up emotions.
D) promoting adaptive coping whenever they are employed.

Question 34

____ refers broadly to the use of relatively healthful strategies for managing stressful events.

A) Defending
B) Compensating
C) Catharsis
D) Constructive coping

Question 35

Compared to depressed people, "normal" people tend to ____ the degree to which they control chance events.

A) underestimate
B) overestimate
C) less accurately estimate
D) more accurately estimate

Question 36

The defense mechanism that involves suppressing unpleasant emotions or circumstances and refusing to acknowledge that they exist is referred to as

A) displacement.
B) reaction formation.
C) intellectualization.
D) denial.

Question 37

According to Baumeister, the use of illusions tends to become unhealthy when the illusions

A) involve extreme distortions of reality.
B) include the participation of others.
C) incorporate more than one defense mechanism.
D) operate at the unconscious level.

Question 38

Joan compulsively washes and meticulously irons her husbands cloths following an explosive argument with him. Joan's behavior is consistent with the defense mechanism:

A) displacement.
B) projection.
C) denial.
D) undoing.

Question 39

Who originally developed the concept of defense mechanisms?

A) Albert Bandura
B) Sigmund Freud
C) Albert Ellis
D) Martin Seligman

Question 40

Defense mechanisms are unconscious reactions that protect a person from

A) interpersonal deception.
B) unpleasant emotions.
C) catastrophic thinking.
D) potential failure in social relationships.

Question 41

Susan was wiped out from her third chemotherapy treatment, yet when asked about how she was doing through all of this she replied, "Now I am able to have a lot more compassion for my grandmother who went through this, too, and it has brought us closer together." Susan illustrates the use of ____ as a coping strategy.

A) positive reinterpretation
B) reaction formation
C) learned helplessness
D) catharsis

Question 42

According to research, which of the following can effectively moderate the negative impact of stress?

A) dissonance
B) catharsis
C) repression
D) humor

Question 43

Which of the following is not a step in systematic problem solving?

A) clarify the problem
B) think of alternative courses of action
C) try several different alternatives simultaneously
D) act, while remaining flexible

Question 44

Albert Ellis developed ____ therapy, a system of psychotherapy based on altering clients' appraisals of events in order to reduce maladaptive emotions and behaviors.

A) client-centered
B) psychodynamic
C) rational-emotive behavior
D) social learning

Question 45

Which of the following is not a type of constructive coping described in your text?

A) appraisal-focused
B) emotion-focused
C) problem-focused
D) cognition-focused

Question 46

According to Albert Ellis, our emotional reactions to life events result mainly from

A) our activation level at the time.
B) our appraisals of the events.
C) the consequences of the events.
D) congruence between events and expectations.

Question 47

Comparing your stressful situation favorably with someone else's exemplifies which of the following?

A) cognitive dissonance
B) reaction formation
C) positive reinterpretation
D) systematic problem solving

Question 48

Constructive coping involves

A) confronting problems directly.
B) realistically appraising stress.
C) learning to manage some emotional reactions to stress.
D) all of these.

Question 49

Which of the following is not one of the main components of Ellis's model of catastrophic thinking?

A) consequence
B) unconditioned response
C) belief system
D) activating event

Question 50

According to D'Zurilla and Sheedy, the first step in systematic problem solving is

A) taking action.
B) clarifying the problem.
C) selecting a course of action.
D) generating alternative courses of action.

Question 51

Constructive coping involves all of the following except

A) confronting problems directly.
B) realistically appraising stress.
C) exerting total and complete control over one's bad habits.
D) learning to manage some emotional reactions to stress.

Question 52

Which of the following is the best example of a clearly identified problem?

A) "My life isn't going anywhere."
B) "I am so nervous that I can't think straight."
C) "I never have enough time."
D) "I need to get a job."

Question 53

Which of the following has not been proposed as an explanation for how humor helps to reduce the effects of stress and promote wellness?

A) Humor increases the experience of positive emotions.
B) Humor facilitates rewarding social interactions.
C) Humor facilitates the release of stress-relieving neurotransmitters.
D) Humor affects appraisals of stressful events.

Question 54

According to Ellis, which of the following would be an example of irrational thinking?

A) "I would like to succeed in my chosen profession."
B) "I must be admired and liked by everyone who meets me."
C) "I would prefer to have a certain amount of free time on the weekends."
D) "I think it is important to have a happy marriage."

Question 55

Which of the following is most likely to hinder people's efforts to clarify their problems?

A) describing problems in vague generalities
B) focusing too much on positive feelings
C) emphasizing the humorous aspects of the problem
D) generating alternative courses of action

Question 56

Which of the following is an example of positive reinterpretation?

A) cutting your losses
B) learning the hard way
C) comparing yourself to those who are better off
D) looking for something good in a bad experience

Question 57

Efforts to remedy or conquer the stress-producing problem itself are called ____-focused coping.

A) problem
B) thought
C) emotion
D) situation

Question 58

Finding humor in the situation is considered a(n) ____-focused strategy of constructive coping.

A) appraisal
B) emotion
C) problem
D) cognition

Question 59

According to Albert Ellis, the goal of therapy is to replace catastrophic thinking with more low-key, ____ analysis.

A) intuitive
B) natural
C) rational
D) congruent

Question 60

According to Albert Ellis, which of these statements is not a way to reduce catastrophic thinking?

A) spot unrealistic pessimism
B) examine self-talk
C) look for key words, such as maybe, sometimes, and usually
D) verbalize concerns

Question 61

In order to achieve increased effectiveness, one must learn to ____ important tasks.

A) control the number of
B) enjoy
C) allocate appropriate time to
D) monitor the occurrence of

Question 62

____ is a strategy for generating as many alternative courses of action as possible while withholding criticism and evaluation.

A) Brainstorming
B) Overcompensating
C) Cognitive dissonance
D) Appraising

Question 63

Actively seeking help is

A) seen by most cultures as disrupting group harmony.
B) seen by most cultures as useless in coping with stress.
C) seen by Asian-American culture as more useful than by European-American culture.
D) seen as disrupting group harmony by Asian-American culture, but not by European-American culture.

Question 64

Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test authors are striving to make this test

A) a measure of personality characteristics.
B) a measure of emotional temperament.
C) a performance based measure of the ability to deal effectively with emotions.
D) a verbal based measure of the ability to articulate effectively about emotions.

Question 65

A recent study of the repercussions of "psychological inhibition" in gay men who conceal their sexual identity suggests that this inhibition is detrimental to one's

A) health.
B) self-esteem.
C) interpersonal relationships.
D) ability to maintain an active sex life.

Question 66

Which of the following is not listed in your text as a cause of wasted time?

A) inability to set priorities
B) inability to delay gratification
C) inability to delegate responsibility
D) inability to throw things away

Question 67

Which of the following is not one of the personality factors that contribute to procrastination?

A) low distractibility
B) low self-efficacy
C) low conscientiousness
D) excessive perfectionism

Question 68

Time management experts agree that the key to better time management is increased

A) enjoyment.
B) effectiveness.
C) self-discipline.
D) efficiency.

Question 69

A person who has the quality of ____ can monitor, identify, express and regulate emotions, and comprehend the emotions of others

A) adaptive coping
B) good self-esteem
C) appropriate catharsis
D) emotional intelligence

Question 70

Seeking social support is considered a(n) ____-focused strategy of constructive coping.

A) appraisal
B) emotion
C) problem
D) cognition

Question 71

Research suggests that forgiving is an effective ____-focused coping strategy.

A) emotion
B) problem
C) solution
D) interpersonal

Question 72

Systematic problem solving involves

A) generating alternative courses of action.
B) listing only plausible resolutions.
C) focusing on guaranteed solutions.
D) focusing on emotional outcomes.

Question 73

Research suggests that efforts to actively suppress emotions result in

A) increased autonomic arousal.
B) more efficient time management.
C) inevitable outbursts of physical aggression.
D) deficiencies in one's ability to deal with others.

Question 74

Which of the following statements about seeking help from others is not true?

A) Social support can help buffer the deleterious effects of stress.
B) Some people have more social support than others.
C) Social support is generally considered a stable, external resource.
D) Many people are reluctant to acknowledge their problems and seek help from others.

Question 75

There is substantial evidence that ____ is related to increased risk for heart attacks and other ailments.

A) denial
B) addiction
C) releasing emotions
D) hostility

Question 76

Exercise does all of these except

A) increase emotional control
B) decrease emotional distress
C) decrease depression
D) increase hostility

Question 77

The first step in clarifying your goals is to

A) identify your lifetime goals.
B) recognize your daily concerns.
C) review your past accomplishments.
D) distinguish between personal and career goals.

Question 78

Which of the following is not an essential component of emotional intelligence?

A) the ability to perceive emotion
B) separating emotion from thought
C) reasoning with emotion
D) regulating emotion

Question 79

The first step in attempting to use your time more effectively is to

A) protect your prime time.
B) plan activities using a schedule.
C) clarify your goals.
D) monitor your use of time.

Question 80

Which of the following is not one of the suggested guidelines for using writing about emotional experiences as a coping strategy?

A) Explore how this topic is related to a variety of issues in your life.
B) Write continuously without regard for spelling or grammar.
C) Remember that the writing is for you, not someone else.
D) Write only every other day or so, rather than consecutive days.