Deck 14: Living Well: Stress, coping, and Life Satisfaction in Adulthood

Question 1

The brain can be seen as the gatekeeper to stress with separate neurobiological systems linked to different emotional experiences and subsequent emotional responses.What type of response is associated with the behavioral-inhibition system?

A)Confidence,determination,and engagement
B)Positive affectivity
C)Joy,enthusiasm,and alertness
D)Withdrawal and avoidance

Answer 1

D

Question 2

From the mid-1950s through the 1990s,Americans' per capita income and standard of living rose steadily and the rates of depression also rose.These concurrent effects are labeled which of the following?

A)Wealth phenomenon
B)Unbalanced well-being
C)American paradox
D)Negative affectivity

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Brenda and Louise are twin sisters who each married 20 years ago.Brenda and her husband run a small piano tuning business.They have had a small,loyal customer base,and their modest but adequate income has not changed over time.Louise and her husband each work for a corporation,and their incomes have steadily increased over the last 20 years allowing them to increase their standard of living.Assuming that Brenda and Louise began their married lives equally happy,and based on their income histories alone,what would you predict about the subjective well-being of Brenda and Louise today?

A)Louise is probably happier than Brenda.
B)Brenda is probably happier than Louise.
C)Louise and Brenda are probably still about equally happy.
D)There is no way to assess relative happiness.

Answer 3

C

Question 4

What does research show about social relationships and their effect on life satisfaction?

A)Social relationships only mask depression.
B)Life satisfaction is unchanged by quantity and quality of social relationships.
C)The happiest people have good social relationships.
D)Wealth has greater positive influence on life satisfaction than friendships.

Question 5

Which one of the following terms is defined as an individual's "personal expressiveness" and feeling a sense of purpose,growth,and mastery?

A)Explicit well-being
B)Eudaemonic well-being
C)Hedonic well-being
D)Personally-controlled well-being

Question 6

Coping with stressors encompasses processes that need to accommodate or address which of the following?

A)Repression and avoidance of the stressors
B)Changing the situation and ending the stress
C)Decision making and anxiety management
D)Seeking the right support and finding the right response

Question 7

In research studies,the term subjective well-being (SWB)is often used synonymously with which of the following terms?

A)Fulfillment
B)Happiness
C)Physical and mental health
D)Physical and mental activity

Question 8

Psychological resilience factors serve a protective function in the face of hardship and loss.The conservation of resources (COR)theory supports the development of these resilience factors that include which one of the following?

A)Submitting to the goals of others
B)General sense of self-efficacy
C)Adapting to self-reliance without social support
D)Embracing sadness with passive coping skills

Question 9

Based on studies of religiosity and personality,Piedmont and colleagues suggest a sixth personality trait (in addition to the BIG 5 from the five factor model of personality).What is this sixth personality trait?

A)Connectivity
B)Spiritual esteem
C)Naturalism
D)Spiritual transcendence

Question 10

According to information gleaned from global studies of five dimensions of well-being,which country is called "chronically happy" and ranked highest (among 89 countries)in the dimensions of "well-being" and "low negative feelings"?

A)Costa Rica
B)Denmark
C)New Zealand
D)United States

Question 11

In addition to overall life satisfaction,what other factors are commonly incorporated in measurements of SWB (subjective well-being)?

A)Rating of generative achievement and of rank among peers
B)Level of adequacy and of comfort in one's physical environment
C)Breadth and depth of social interactions and work satisfaction
D)Frequency of positive and of negative affective experiences

Question 12

In what ways do personality traits correlate with measures of subjective well-being (SWB)?

A)Extroversion correlates negatively
B)Introversion correlates positively
C)Conscientiousness correlates positively
D)Neuroticism correlates positively

Question 13

In terms of psychological well-being,self-realization is best interpreted as which of the following?

A)Coming to grips with one's limitations
B)Learning from one's life experiences
C)Finding one's true meaning or value
D)Achieving congruence between personality and behavior

Question 14

During stressful events or chronic stress situations,the body responds in the following ways EXCEPT:

A)Decrease in cortisol production
B)Use of energy reserves for immediate fight-flight-freeze response
C)Out-of-control inflammatory processes
D)Depression of immune system functioning

Question 15

Daniel is very extraverted.He admits that he is not comfortable unless surrounded by other people,and he energetically pursues activities that require the company of others.His cousin Bill,about the same age,is very introverted.Bill is self-reflective and prefers more solitary pursuits.Based on these personality characteristics alone,what can you predict about the subjective well-being of Daniel and Bill?

A)Daniel is probably happier than Bill.
B)Bill is probably happier than Daniel.
C)Daniel and Bill are probably equally happy.
D)Personality has no bearing on subjective well-being.

Question 16

According to self-determination theory,what psychological needs should be fulfilled for an individual to have life satisfaction?

A)Creativity,generosity,and security
B)Autonomy,competence,and relatedness
C)Dignity,security,and peace
D)Intrinsic motivation,love,and support

Question 17

Many individuals struggle with highly challenging life circumstances (such as a debilitating accident or the death of a loved one)and emerge with improvements in psychological functioning.What term identifies this phenomenon?

A)Kindling-sensitization
B)Role strain
C)Post-traumatic growth
D)Stressor predispositions

Question 18

What is the correlation between work (generativity)and well-being?

A)Studies show no correlation between work or generativity and well-being.
B)Generativity in work settings has a negative effect on well-being.
C)Generativity in nonwork settings has a negative effect on well-being.
D)Generativity in work and nonwork settings correlates with well-being.

Question 19

Ryff and her colleagues identified six elements that fundamentally support psychological well-being,and they include all of the following EXCEPT:

A)Social status
B)Autonomy
C)Life purpose
D)Self-acceptance

Question 20

Material gain is seen as a source of well-being,yet rising incomes don't bring happiness and are often accompanied by depression or other health issues.Based on analyses,which of the following factors may help to explain this inverted outcome?

A)Hedonic treadmill of wealth addiction
B)Increased reliance on supportive relationships
C)Transitional imbalance from "normal" life to elevated status
D)Inability of the wealthy to relate to friends

Question 21

Beverly is a slim,beautiful woman of 60.She has two grown children and one grandchild who is cared for by a full-time nanny.Beverly lives in a spacious suburban home on a large,multi-acre lot,and she employs a housekeeper and groundskeeper part-time to take care of the house and yard.She believes that she is fortunate to live such an affluent lifestyle,but recently she has been more and more overcome by feelings of sadness.She has thought about seeking counseling but feels foolish and guilty,as though she has no right to her feelings.Beverly's distress seems to illustrate "the American paradox." Explain the American paradox and identify some possible sources of the paradox in Beverly's life.

Question 22

Anna is a 44-year-old divorced mother of two teenagers.Anna's father,who lives alone in a nearby suburb,has recently been diagnosed with lung cancer.Anna needs to take her father to and from medical appointments while she tries to manage the demands of her own full-time job.She goes to the employee assistance counselor at work for help in coping with the demands of her situation.The counselor understands that the demands on Anna are too great given her available resources,a phenomenon called

A)role buffering.
B)role confusion.
C)role strain.
D)role multiplicity.

Question 23

Anna must care for children as well as a sick loved one on a day-to-day basis.She also needs to keep her job.This situation places her under considerable stress.This type of stress is referred to as

A)daily hassles.
B)behavioral sensitization.
C)life events.
D)role changes.

Question 24

Researchers believe that the key characteristic that explains the therapeutic benefits of cognitive therapy is

A)mentally disputing irrational thinking.
B)replacing dysfunctional thinking with more functional thoughts.
C)keeping a record of negative automatic thoughts.
D)decentering oneself from one's negative thoughts.

Question 25

Marquita sees the universe as a product of intelligent planning.She believes that the creation of the universe,of life,and of human beings has a purpose even if that purpose is not accessible to her.Marquita's philosophy of the universe and its underlying plan is an example of

A)situational meaning.
B)global meaning.
C)eudaemonic well-being.
D)psychological well-being.

Question 26

At 50 years old,Andrew is an important source of support for his younger sister who has a serious disability.As a computer engineer,Andrew has made a practice of designing computer devices that help his sister and others in her situation interact with the wider world.Andrew sees his work as important in the lives of other people.Andrew's view of his life is an example of

A)materialism.
B)global meaning.
C)hedonic well-being.
D)situational meaning.

Question 27

One thing that both Eastern and Western religions share is that they promote

A)a belief in reincarnation.
B)the regulation of negative or destructive emotions.
C)the cultivation of strong positive emotions.
D)the practice of elaborate public rituals.

Question 28

Sylvia and Joanne are both members of a support group for new widows.Sylvia has been deeply religious for most of her adult life.She prays daily and attends weekly services.Joanne is not religious,but she has engaged in daily mindful meditation practice for many years.Both women seem equally devastated by the unexpected deaths of their husbands.What can you predict about how they will recover from their losses?

A)Sylvia will recover more happiness more quickly than Joanne will.
B)Joanne will recover more happiness more quickly than Sylvia will.
C)Sylvia and Joanne are both likely to benefit from their daily contemplative practices.
D)Religiosity has no bearing on recovery from loss.

Question 29

Daniel is very extraverted.He admits that he is not comfortable unless surrounded by other people,and he energetically pursues activities that require the company of others.His cousin Bill,about the same age,is very introverted.Bill is self-reflective and prefers more solitary pursuits.Regardless of their personality characteristics,which of the following hypothetical situations is likely to contribute most to their long-term happiness?

A)They are good friends who are willing to help each other in difficult times.
B)They bought a lottery ticket together and were lucky enough to win a huge jackpot.
C)They both have jobs that require very little effort.
D)They both have very few responsibilities and are careful to avoid committing themselves to any community service.

Question 30

Laboratory studies have provided evidence for which of the following statements with regard to emotional reactivity?

A)Positive affectivity is related to higher levels of left prefrontal cortical activity.
B)Positive affectivity is related to higher levels of temporal lobe activity.
C)Positive affectivity is related to lower levels of prefrontal cortical activity.
D)Positive affectivity is related to reduction in psychoneuroimmune interactions.

Question 31

Which of the following tends to assure that work experiences will be linked to positive well-being?

A)Feeling that one is making competent progress toward challenging goals
B)Feeling less generative
C)Workplace characteristics that remove personal control
D)Having few workplace relationships

Question 32

Psychological stressors operate on the immune system in much the same way as

A)cytokines.
B)sleep.
C)endorphins.
D)infectious agents.

Question 33

Jason experienced the death of a close relative due to an act of violence.He comes to counseling to get help dealing with the grief and pain of this experience.After some time,Jason adjusts,and he demonstrates improvements in psychological functioning that exceed his level of adjustment prior to this traumatic event.This is an example of

A)posttraumatic stress disorder.
B)recovered wellness.
C)post-traumatic growth.
D)post-traumatic reversal of function.

Question 34

The two types of stress management presented by Lazarus and Folkman are

A)problem-focused and emotion-focused.
B)one-dimensional and two-dimensional.
C)management and reduction.
D)sensitizing and blunting.

Question 35

Ernest is 42 years old and has been out of work for two months.He lost his position as a program manager when his company merged with another larger company.He made a great deal of money during his time as manager and saved quite a bit,so finances are not an immediate concern.He has not been actively looking for work,and he feels sluggish,sleeps much more than he did in the past,and spends most of his time watching TV.Based on conservation of resources theory,how would you interpret his behavior?

A)Ernest is waiting for the right opportunity to come along and there is nothing problematic about this strategy.
B)Ernest is experiencing the effects of loss of status following the termination.
C)The stressful event probably triggered an underlying vulnerability to depression.
D)Ernest will probably soon function at an even higher level following the traumatic incident.

Question 36

A positive emotional style

A)is a trait inherited by only some individuals.
B)is a state of mind that depends upon environmental circumstances.
C)can be cultivated by everyone.
D)is a characteristic that is present in everyone in childhood but that people lose in adulthood because of various pressures.

Question 37

Evan is 52 years old.Recently,he has been reflecting on the unfathomable complexity of ultimate truth and appreciating that even if we have faith in such a truth,it is unknowable.These reflections suggest that Evan has reached which of Fowler's stages of faith development?

A)Stage 3: Synthetic-conventional
B)Stage 4: Individuative-reflective
C)Stage 5: Conjunctive
D)Stage 6: Universalizing

Question 38

Tyrone is a 35-year-old advertising executive.Lately,he has been experiencing some physical symptoms,like shortness of breath and difficulty sleeping.He explains to a counselor that he has been having more difficulty dealing with his work and family responsibilities.A comprehensive intake interview reveals that Tyrone's mother suffered from a diagnosed affective disorder.This piece of information might indicate the presence of

A)a diathesis.
B)a low allostatic load.
C)a protective factor.
D)a recessive allele.

Question 39

Intentionally paying attention to one's present experience without judgment is a definition for

A)stress management.
B)mindfulness.
C)relaxation.
D)coping.
Essay Questions (Chapter 14)

Question 40

The extent to which a person experiences nervousness,fear,anger,sadness,contempt,and guilt is called

A)kindling-sensitization.
B)behavioral inhibition.
C)negative affectivity.
D)negative heritability.

Question 41

Lennox is a 36-year-old man who feels mildly to moderately depressed and anxious much of the time,despite the fact that circumstances in his life are going smoothly.He comes to a counselor because he feels he is heading for a depressive episode.Using the kindling-sensitization model,what explanation can you give for his experience?

Question 42

Based on research findings,discuss the role religiosity plays in well-being.

Question 43

Explain the nature of stress and its effects on the body-mind.Identify approaches to stress management that incorporate advances in the science of mind-body medicine.