Deck 14: Stress, Health, and Well-Being

Question 1

Which of the following is the essential source of stress for college students?

A) loss of privacy
B) the threat of terrorist attacks
C) spring break planning
D) liberal faculty and conservative parents
E) the lack of structure associated with the freedom of college

Answer 1

the lack of structure associated with the freedom of college

Question 2

Survivors of the recent tsunami who are unable to fully comprehend what has happened would be said to have experienced

A) psychic numbness.
B) automatic action.
C) the emergency phase.
D) inhibition.
E) burnout.

Answer 2

psychic numbness.

Question 3

Shortly after Louisa learned that her mother had been killed in an automobile accident, she walked around her hometown for hours not knowing where she was. She was probably exhibiting

A) anticipatory coping.
B) burnout.
C) chronic stress.
D) psychic numbness.
E) disinhibition.

Answer 3

psychic numbness.

Question 4

When visiting your Aunt Jane in California last year, an earthquake struck the area. The earthquake would qualify as a

A) false criticism.
B) mortal attack.
C) traumatic stressor.
D) catastrophic stressor.
E) mild stressor.

Question 5

A loud noise at the front door of your apartment at 3 a.m. is a(n) ________; the changes in your perspiration level is termed ________.

A) external motivator; an internal motivator
B) coping catalyst; a poor coping strategy
C) pressure; burnout
D) eustress; GAS
E) stressor; stress

Question 6

Burning your toast, having trouble opening an e-mail attachment, breaking a glass, and running late for an appointment are all examples of

A) uplifts.
B) hassles.
C) downturns.
D) distress.
E) major life events.

Question 7

When thinking about GREs, applying to graduate school, and studying for mid-terms, Nichole starts to have sweaty palms and a racing heart. It is MOST probable that Nichole is responding to

A) T cells.
B) the pressure.
C) stressors.
D) lymphocytes.
E) cytokines.

Question 8

After suffering a sexual assault, Kathy feels a psychic numbness, she has some memory and sleep problems, and she has difficulty concentrating. Kathy is most likely suffering from

A) general adaptation syndrome.
B) posttraumatic stress disorder.
C) Stockholm Syndrome.
D) learned helplessness.
E) denial.

Question 9

On your way to the airport for a 6 a.m. flight, you have a flat tire (but no spare), receive a speeding ticket, and then are asked to undergo a lengthy search at the security checkpoint. You are most likely experiencing

A) SRRS.
B) hassles.
C) burnout.
D) resistance.
E) projections.

Question 10

A formerly dedicated physician who has lost her sense of caring and concern for her patients would be experiencing

A) patient non-adherence.
B) posttraumatic stress disorder.
C) a Type-A behavior pattern.
D) burnout.
E) a catastrophic stressor.

Question 11

Saadat is walking to the front of the classroom in preparation for his class presentation. He notices that his heart is starting to beat fast, his palms are sweaty, and he has a general sense of increase in energy. According to the general adaptation syndrome, which phase of the stress response is he in?

A) alarm phase
B) adaptation phase
C) reactive phase
D) muscle preparation phase
E) eustressful phase

Question 12

According to Hans Selye, resistance to stress is lowest at the ________ stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

A) alarm
B) resistance
C) exhaustion
D) collapse
E) automatic

Question 13

Adelaida hears a rattling sound as she hikes through the desert. Her muscles tense and her blood pressure rises. According to Hans Selye, she is in the ________ phase.

A) chronic stress
B) alarm
C) exhaustion
D) resistance
E) eustressful

Question 14

Sasha is experiencing stress in her workplace that is causing her to feel dissatisfied and pessimistic. As a result, she has a desire to quit her job. Sasha is experiencing

A) road rage.
B) eustress.
C) poverty-related stress.
D) burnout.
E) distress.

Question 15

________ is the first stage by which the body attempts to cope with a stressor.

A) The alarm phase
B) Reaction formation
C) Resistance
D) Reaction
E) Relaxation

Question 16

________ would be considered a societal stressor.

A) flood
B) broken shoelace
C) irritable boss
D) loss of a loved one
E) move to a new country

Question 17

Hachi is working against a deadline. She must have a term paper written by 8 a.m. tomorrow. The deadline is an example of a

A) stress.
B) stressor.
C) stress response.
D) stress reaction.
E) stress coping mechanism.

Question 18

A person who is in the communal effort phase after a disaster

A) cannot fully comprehend what has happened.
B) experiences psychic numbness.
C) may behave with little awareness of his or her actions.
D) experiences a depletion of energy.
E) may feel weary.

Question 19

Following a disaster, those in the automatic action phase

A) cannot fully comprehend what has happened.
B) experience psychic numbness.
C) may behave with little awareness of their actions.
D) use up their reserves of energy and collapse.
E) may feel weary.

Question 20

A danger posed by watching repeated news broadcasts of a tragedy is that a person will

A) not understand the nature of the tragedy.
B) experience vicarious traumatization.
C) develop a serious case of cynicism.
D) become emotionally numb.
E) none of these answers are correct.

Question 21

Levon has a Type B personality. Which of the following is most likely?

A) Levon is determined to achieve.
B) Levon is competitive.
C) Levon gets easily upset.
D) Levon is relaxed.
E) Levon is very ambitious.

Question 22

Which Type A personality characteristic is the key trait that is linked to heart disease?

A) hostility
B) compulsiveness
C) competitiveness
D) chronic irritability
E) impatience

Question 23

Marisol blamed her professor for failing her midterm. She failed to realize that her two hours of studying, her lack of sleep, and late partying all week would better explain her results. This is an example of

A) Type A personality.
B) Type B personality.
C) internal locus of control.
D) external locus of control.
E) learned helplessness.

Question 24

Mary has been in an abusive relationship for the last three years. She has a child with the man who abuses her. At first she fought back, but she has now just taken the numerous beatings that have been occurring more frequently. Mary's behavior is an example of

A) Type A personality.
B) Type B personality.
C) Type D personality.
D) learned helplessness.
E) learned abusiveness.

Question 25

The field of ________ would be interested in the effects of psychological factors such as stress, emotions, thinking, and behavior on the immune system.

A) social psychology
B) organic medicine
C) psycho-neuroimmunology
D) interactive psychology
E) preventative medicine

Question 26

The "straw that broke the camel's back" is most likely to occur during the

A) stage of resistance.
B) alarm reaction.
C) stage of exhaustion.
D) stage of reaction.
E) suppression stage.

Question 27

Persons who have been battling cancer and are now in the stage of resistance should be aware that

A) their body is likely to be weakening.
B) they are increasingly becoming able to overcome the stress.
C) their body is just starting to be activated to fight it.
D) a flood of steroid-like hormones has just entered their bloodstream.
E) they may have great trouble handling new stressors.

Question 28

Octavious is under a lot of stress. He is always tired and feels overwhelmed by his work load. Which phase of the general adaptation syndrome is he most likely in?

A) alarm phase
B) resistance phase
C) exhaustion phase
D) persistence phase
E) burnout phase

Question 29

A person who rarely works late, usually leaves work at the office, and goes home to relax with family in the evening is likely a Type ________ personality.

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 30

When nursing home residents were able to assume more responsibility for their routine, all of the following happened EXCEPT

A) residents were more alert.
B) residents were happier than the controls
C) residents' lifespans were positively affected.
D) residents' lifespans were negatively affected.
E) residents were more active.

Question 31

People living under stressful conditions tend to get sick more often than they would otherwise. How do researchers in psychoneuroimmunology explain this phenomenon?

A) The stress response reduces immune system functioning, thus making us more vulnerable to diseases.
B) The stress response in the long run leads to a lowering of the heart rate, which makes the heart inefficient.
C) The stress response makes muscles stronger, which places a greater burden on the heart and respiratory systems.
D) The body tends to adapt to the constant call for the stress response and, thus, future responses are not as strong as before.
E) This phenomenon has eluded explanation in the clinical research to date.

Question 32

Greg has a Type A personality, and he just had a heart attack. He is most likely to

A) die three days later.
B) resist his doctor's advice.
C) be helped by stress-management therapy.
D) change his personality.
E) drink more alcohol and eat more red meat.

Question 33

Roberto knew he had not tried hard enough on the final exam and deserved the lower grade. He told himself that he would definitely study harder next time. This is an example of

A) Type A personality.
B) Type B personality.
C) internal locus of control.
D) external locus of control.
E) learned helplessness.

Question 34

The ________ control one has, the________ the degree of stress.

A) more; greater
B) less; greater
C) less; lower
D) more; lower
E) Control has nothing to do with stress.

Question 35

A person who has ________ is likely to cope well during stress because this person sees the stressor as a challenge.

A) low levels of stress hormones
B) high levels of hardiness
C) reduced immune function
D) a type B personality
E) cortical resilience

Question 36

After Cecilia's husband died, she has been feeling very depressed. Her depression is likely caused by

A) a Type-B personality.
B) learned helplessness.
C) acute stress.
D) immunosuppression.
E) burnout.

Question 37

Tad seems to thrive when faced with difficult challenges and usually feels in control of his life. He would probably be labeled a ________ personality.

A) stressed
B) Type B
C) Type C
D) hardy
E) Type A

Question 38

A woman who has been repeatedly abused by her husband may develop ________ and stop trying to defend herself.

A) unresolved major stress
B) a Type B behavior pattern
C) hardiness
D) learned helplessness
E) burnout

Question 39

Which of the following statements best encapsulates the relationship between stress and physical illness according to psycho-neuroimmunologists?

A) Stress compromises the body's immune system, leaving a person vulnerable to illness.
B) Stress increases the production of natural killer cells, which causes cell death and leads to illness.
C) Stress causes high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer.
D) Stress has no direct relationship to physical illness, though physicians tell us that these things are related so that we will be more willing to take unnecessary medications.
E) Stress is the single biggest cause of cancer, and research has repeatedly confirmed this.

Question 40

For the past six months, Dahlia's job has been extremely stressful, but she doesn't feel that she can quit because she needs the money for tuition. Dahlia has been having chronic headaches and is behind in all of her classes. According to Hans Selye, Dahlia is in the ________ stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

A) alarm
B) collapse
C) exhaustion
D) resistance
E) helplessness

Question 41

An optimistic thinking style involves a belief that one's problems are

A) general, external, and permanent.
B) temporary, internal, and personal.
C) specific, situational, and temporary.
D) general, uncontrollable, and permanent.
E) the result of the general adaptation syndrome.

Question 42

Optimists tend to use alternative thinking to

A) weather the challenges of life more effectively than pessimists.
B) make themselves feel better by comparing their performance to that of less competent others.
C) find a scapegoat.
D) improve their cognitive abilities.
E) find other people to feel superior to.

Question 43

Working a second job to pay off credit cards is an example of

A) problem-focused coping.
B) emotion-focused coping.
C) distraction.
D) reappraisal.
E) realistic coping.

Question 44

Quite often, people with depression and those who are under a great deal of stress continue to mull over negative thoughts that can compromise their immune systems. This is known as

A) sublimation.
B) problem-focused coping.
C) rumination.
D) emotion-focused coping.
E) defending.

Question 45

Kirima has her doctorate in health psychology. Which of the following research questions might she be most likely to investigate?

A) Why are college students more prone to doing drugs when they take harder classes?
B) What is the relationship between one's ethnicity and political affiliation?
C) Are men or women better drivers?
D) What is the relationship between a person's age and the number of years it takes him or her to get an undergraduate degree?
E) Can suicide be predicted as a function of acculturation?

Question 46

To cope with the stress over a looming exam, you must do all of the following EXCEPT

A) realize that you feel unprepared for the exam.
B) identify effective strategies to study for the test.
C) implement the strategies in a timely manner.
D) take the test.
E) reschedule the test at a later time.

Question 47

Edgar is learning deep-breathing techniques to reduce anxiety about having been robbed at knifepoint. This is an example of

A) problem-focused coping.
B) emotion-focused coping.
C) avoidance.
D) reappraisal.
E) defending.

Question 48

________ is the area of study that is comparable to behavioral medicine.

A) Health psychology
B) Nutritional psychology
C) Biofeedback
D) Psychoanalysis
E) Psychobiology

Question 49

Iram made a New Year's resolution to promote wellness in his life. Which of the following are ways in which he can begin to incorporate wellness into his life?

A) exercise regularly
B) eat fatty foods
C) take on more responsibility at work
D) spend more time alone
E) actively seek out more leadership responsibilities at his child's school.

Question 50

Coping strategies can be either ________-focused or ________-focused in nature.

A) problem; emotion
B) distress; eustress
C) physiological; spiritual
D) internally; externally
E) externally; internally

Question 51

Which of the following are the three terms used to describe the way in which hardy people differ from many other Type A people and others who suffer more ill effects due to stress?

A) commitment, control, challenge
B) commitment, control, competitiveness
C) competitiveness, control, compassion
D) compassion, challenge, commitment
E) comparison, competence, cooperation

Question 52

Steven doesn't think that his actions will help change his stressful job. Instead, he adopts the "smile-the world looks brighter when you do" coping style to deal with his stress. He uses what type of coping style?

A) emotion-focused
B) problem-focused
C) decision-focused
D) avoidance-focused
E) aggression-focused

Question 53

People with high levels of subjective well-being tend to be all of the following EXCEPT which one?

A) They are satisfied with their present life.
B) They tend to be shy.
C) They have a relative absence of negative emotions.
D) They like their work.
E) They are optimistic.

Question 54

If Dr. Matarazzo wants to help her patient Shirley battle cancer, the best strategy to help Shirley comply with the treatment would be to

A) tell Shirley what to do.
B) tell Shirley to figure out what to do.
C) make sure the treatment is expensive and difficult.
D) give Shirley treatment options, and let her choose one.
E) show a non-caring attitude toward Shirley.

Question 55

Describe the general adaptation syndrome. Your answer should include the history of the term and what happens in the different phases of this syndrome.

Question 56

Vanna's mother is ill and Vanna is feeling overwhelmed and sad. To cope with this stress of her mother's illness, Vanna has been writing her feelings down in a journal. Vanna is using

A) problem-focused coping.
B) emotion-focused coping.
C) distraction.
D) reappraisal.
E) downward comparison.

Question 57

When looking at a glass that is neither completely full nor completely empty, a(n) ________ might say "that glass is half full," while a(n) ________ might say "no, that glass is half empty!"

A) pessimist; optimist
B) realist; pessimist
C) optimist; realist
D) optimist; pessimist
E) pessimist; realist

Question 58

Explain how chronic stress can produce disease.

Question 59

Actively working to change our thoughts about stress and how we appraise stressors are both components of

A) cognitive restructuring.
B) tangible support.
C) primary appraisal.
D) rationalization.
E) subjective well-being.

Question 60

An example of ________ would be a situation in which a person who is stressed about public speaking imagines the audience dressed only in their underwear.

A) cognitive restructuring
B) reaction formation
C) optimistic thinking
D) the power of humor
E) hedonic analgesia

Question 61

The sequence of internal and behavioral processes triggered when a threat is perceived, preparing a person for struggle or escape, is called the

A) tend-and-befriend response.
B) fight-or-flight response.
C) stay-or-play reaction.
D) general adaptation syndrome.
E) accelerate-or-brake structure.

Question 62

A recently developed form of psychotherapy for those who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder has been found to be effective in as few as ________ sessions, with symptom reduction that can last for 4 or more years after the therapy is terminated.

A) 3
B) 5
C) 8
D) 12
E) 15

Question 63

As the text points out, different people may react differently to the same stressor because they interpret that stressor in varying ways. This points to the importance of ________ appraisal.

A) physiological
B) automatic
C) unconscious
D) cognitive
E) biopsychosocial

Question 64

Which of the following is NOT one of the recommendations given by the textbook for using writing to help reduce stress?

A) Write freehand (pen and paper) rather than using a computer.
B) Write in spare moments.
C) Write out thoughts as well as feelings.
D) Stick with it so that writing becomes a habit.
E) Choose a topic or a theme to help you get started.

Question 65

Brain imaging studies that examined the brains of children who grew up in different income brackets found that those kids who were raised in the lowest income groups had which of the following brain differences?

A) They had 6% less brain surface than kids raised in more affluent neighborhoods.
B) Their levels of hemispheric lateralization were much higher than kids in higher income brackets.
C) They had reduced thickening of the corpus callosum.
D) They showed higher levels of both white and gray matter.
E) They had higher levels of synaptogenesis.

Question 66

In the months after he and his boyfriend end their 3-year relationship, Orlando spends time wondering if the time they spent together was a waste. At first he wonders how he could give the best years of his life to a relationship that did not last, but then he thinks to himself: "I am who I am now because of the time we spent together, and now I'm going to find someone who is truly right for me." Orlando is focusing on the type of meaning that neurologist Viktor Frankl called

A) rational emotional restructuring.
B) selective optimization with compensation.
C) acceptance and resolution.
D) sense making.
E) benefit finding.

Question 67

Discuss in detail the Type A personality type and the effect of stress on this type of personality. Include any research that has been done to back up your answer.

Question 68

Which of the following is a common feature of practitioners of behavioral medicine and health psychology?

A) Both fields are considered "alternative and experimental" treatment models.
B) Neither field is based on any solid scientific research.
C) Only those with a medical degree can practice in either field.
D) Both fields emphasize the treatment of illness instead of the establishment of health.
E) Both fields recognize the interaction of mind and body.

Question 69

Psychological factors that can intervene in the relationship between stressors and stress, perhaps helping to reduce the amount of stress that one feels in response to a given stimulus, are called

A) defense mechanisms.
B) negotiators.
C) interlopers.
D) mediators.
E) moderators.

Question 70

Erin has just begun a new plan of healthier eating and daily exercise. She tells her husband, "this time I really mean it!" She is sure that she will stick with the plan and get healthier. If Sarah is like most people, there is a ________% chance that she will drop out of her new plan within 6 months to 1 year.

A) 20
B) 35
C) 50
D) 65
E) 80

Question 71

After they have a fight at school, Nelda and Carniva stay angry at each other for several weeks. Nelda even goes as far as having their mutual friends ignore Carniva, which includes not talking to her in school, ignoring her calls, and avoiding her on social media websites. This form of rejection is called

A) social assertiveness.
B) cyberbullying.
C) altruism.
D) shunning.
E) instrumental aggression.

Question 72

Discuss in detail the different resources available for coping with stress. Which resources do you think are the most valuable? Why? Include any relevant research in your answer.

Question 73

According to the research of Diener and others (1993), which of the following statements is accurate regarding the relationship between race and happiness?

A) There are minimal racial differences in happiness, even when racism and discrimination are considered.
B) There are significant differences between the happiness of women of different races, but men of different races tend to have equivalent happiness levels.
C) Caucasian individuals are consistently found to be happier than those of minority racial status.
D) There are significant differences between the happiness of men of different races, but women of different races tend to have equivalent happiness levels.
E) Those who are recent immigrants to the United States tend to be happier than those minorities who have lived in the United States for a long time.

Question 74

People receiving counseling to help them reduce burnout at their job might be asked to consider which factors increase their energy, vigor, and resilience, as well as promoting involvement and absorption with work tasks. They might also think about their dedication, self-efficacy, and success on the job. These factors are all part of work

A) efficiency.
B) engagement.
C) reinvestment.
D) turnover.
E) KSAs.

Question 75

Field and others (2010) found that failed romantic relationships among college students were most likely to cause higher levels of stress based on which factor?

A) a reduction in affiliation with others
B) loss of autonomy needs
C) reduced opportunity for sexual activity
D) a loss of intimacy
E) feelings of social embarrassment

Question 76

Xavier feels that his grade in his psychology class is determined entirely by his own effort. He knows that the teacher has a reputation for being tough, but resolves himself to work harder for this particular professor. Xavier approaches his academics with an internal

A) locus of control.
B) sense of self-esteem.
C) level of self-efficacy.
D) construct of resilience.
E) state of hardiness.