Deck 12: Health Psychology

Question 1

Tom's friends are very worried about him because he is engaging in the single most lethal behavioral risk factor and the largest preventable cause of death. Tom's lethal habit is

A) smoking.
B) reckless driving.
C) alcohol abuse.
D) obesity.

Answer 1

smoking.

Question 2

Which type of personality is associated with a person being frequently ill and is marked by persistent negative emotions, including anxiety, hostility, and depression?

A) Type B
B) behavioral risk
C) stress-prone
D) disease-prone

Answer 2

disease-prone

Question 3

It has been found that the best way to prevent people from smoking is to stop the behavior before it begins. A type of program that teaches youth to resist pressures from peers or adults to smoke is called

A) avoidance therapy.
B) refusal skills training.
C) desensitization training.
D) eradication therapy.

Answer 3

refusal skills training.

Question 4

Dr. Jade is involved with helping patients manage their pain and stress-related consequences of chronic disease. Her specialty is ______ medicine.

A) forensic
B) longitudinal
C) psychiatric
D) behavioral

Question 5

Men and women engaging in health-promoting behaviors, such as getting adequate sleep, maintaining an ideal weight, and limiting use of alcohol, can expect to

A) psychologically crave a more exciting life.
B) increase their life expectancy.
C) be envious of friends who are risk-takers.
D) have happiness and harmony in their relationships with others.

Question 6

Seventy percent of all medical costs are related to just six of the behavioral risk factors. These are smoking, alcohol abuse, drug abuse, poor diet, insufficient exercise, and

A) violence.
B) risky sexual practices.
C) excessive sun exposure.
D) reckless driving.

Question 7

You have gone to your medical doctor because of a terrible backache, and he prescribes medicine but informs you of stretching exercises to perform and ways that you can relieve stress on your job. Your doctor believes that the medicine will work best and healing will be faster if he can help you make sense of your medical condition. Thus, your doctor follows the

A) hypochondriac perspective.
B) psychosomatic perspective.
C) medical model.
D) biopsychosocial model.

Question 8

Currently, the main cause of preventable death in the United States is

A) smoking.
B) unsafe sexual behavior.
C) alcohol abuse.
D) obesity.

Question 9

Bart has a very unhealthy lifestyle, characterized by smoking cigarettes and frequent binge drinking. His risk factors are primarily

A) sociological.
B) behavioral.
C) cultural.
D) emotional.

Question 10

High levels of stress, overeating, and unsafe sexual behavior increase the chance of injury or illness and are considered __________ risk factors.

A) refusal skills
B) moderate
C) behavioral
D) emotional

Question 11

Jayne eats a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and fish, and low in red meat and dairy products. This healthy diet is known as the __________ diet.

A) American
B) Mediterranean
C) Asian
D) Hawaiian

Question 12

An important way that psychologists work to decrease behavioral risks to health is through the use of

A) community health campaigns that provide role models.
B) jail time for people who violate health codes.
C) electroconvulsive shock therapy for unhealthy, anxious patients.
D) sensory deprivation activities.

Question 13

Of those listed, which of the following risky behaviors showed the LOWEST percentage among U.S. high school students?

A) using marijuana during the previous 30 days
B) drinking alcohol during the previous 30 days
C) engaging in sexual intercourse during the previous 90 days
D) being in a physical fight during the previous 12 months

Question 14

Stress is likely to occur whenever

A) anger or rage occurs.
B) persistent or stereotyped responding is required of an organism.
C) an organism is forced to distinguish between real and imagined barriers.
D) demands are placed on an organism to adjust or adapt.

Question 15

People who smoke are also more likely to drink excessively, and people who overeat usually do not get enough exercise. These observations illustrate that

A) many people have a disease-prone personality.
B) genetics plays a strong role in one's addictions.
C) unhealthy lifestyles almost always create multiple risks.
D) the causes of poor health are coincidental and unpredictable.

Question 16

A century ago, people primarily died from

A) infectious diseases and accidents.
B) lifestyle diseases.
C) suicide.
D) malnutrition.

Question 17

Gordon has been feeling fatigued at work and has been experiencing more backaches and neckaches. He goes to his doctor, hoping she can diagnose his condition and prescribe some medicine that will alleviate his problems. Gordon's view of health fits the

A) hypochondriac perspective.
B) mind-body perspective.
C) medical model.
D) biopsychosocial model.

Question 18

Sarah is a freshman in college and found that she started gaining weight after spending a lot of her time with her roommate Gayle, who is overweight. Sarah's weight gain is best explained by

A) a lack of motivation that occurs when first starting to college.
B) a lower metabolism that occurs in late adolescence.
C) the adoption of her roommate's eating habits.
D) the minor depression or "college blues" that set in upon leaving home.

Question 19

School-based smoking prevention programs have used

A) anti-smoking art contests.
B) poster and T-shirt giveaways.
C) questions for students to ask their parents.
D) all of these.

Question 20

Which of the following is NOT one of the major health-promoting behaviors listed in the text?

A) learn stress management and lower hostility
B) provide for periods of relaxation every day
C) minimize sun exposure
D) eat a high protein, low carbohydrate diet

Question 21

A program that was designed to teach youths how to resist pressures to smoke and has been applied to other drugs and health risks is __________ training.

Question 22

Symptoms such as shortness of breath, headache, sore muscles, upset stomach, and a lack of energy are characteristic of which stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

A) alarm reaction
B) stage of resistance
C) stage of exhaustion
D) stage of avoidance

Question 23

You are teaching health education at a community college and will be covering a section on how various health-promoting behaviors can extend one's life span and how various behavioral risk factors can shorten it. Describe the information you will present.

Question 24

Conduct that increases the chance of disease, injury, or premature death are called __________ factors.

Question 25

Danielle, a single mother, is raising three children on a limited income. Over the last few months, she has become so "stressed out" that she is anxious and irritable and has been experiencing frequent migraine headaches. According to the general adaptation syndrome, Danielle must be in the

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

Question 26

According to your textbook, the main cause of preventable deaths in the United States, presently, is alcoholism.

Question 27

Hans Selye noticed that the body initially reacts the same way to a steamy romance, starting a new job, or having trouble at school as it does to which of the following?

A) an anesthetic
B) non-REM sleep
C) a psychotic episode
D) an infection or physical injury

Question 28

Rachel is physically and psychologically healthy; is happy, optimistic, and self-confident; and bounces back emotionally from adversity. She would be said to be in a positive state of __________.

Question 29

Stress is almost always harmful and must be avoided at all costs.

Question 30

Approximately 20% of all deaths are the result of smoking.

Question 31

Both your body's stress reaction and your body's emotional reaction begin with

A) a tendency toward resistance.
B) autonomic nervous system arousal.
C) large increases in alpha waves.
D) a feeling of exhaustion.

Question 32

The impact of long-term stresses can be understood by examining the body's defenses against stress, a pattern known as

A) the mind-body connection.
B) one's locus of control.
C) the general adaptation syndrome.
D) the defense mechanism model.

Question 33

In which stage of the general adaptation syndrome does the body mobilize its resources to cope with added stress by producing more adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol?

A) alarm reaction
B) activation phase
C) stage of resistance
D) defensive reaction

Question 34

For centuries, the model that dominated Western thinking and viewed health as the absence of illness and your body as a complex biological machine that can break down and become ill was the __________ model.

Question 35

In which stage of the general adaptation syndrome are the external symptoms of the body's adjustment to stress the LEAST visible?

A) alarm reaction
B) regulation stage
C) stage of resistance
D) stage of exhaustion

Question 36

Because Margo is often so depressed that she eats and sleeps poorly, rarely exercises, and smokes too much, she would be described by health psychologists as having a disease-prone personality.

Question 37

Tony likes to mountain climb, surf, and skateboard. He finds these activities challenging, rewarding, and energizing. According to Hans Selye, Tony is experiencing

A) eustress.
B) microstressors.
C) hardy stress reactions.
D) behavioral risk factors.

Question 38

Hans Selye developed a model, which describes the series of bodily reactions that occur to prolonged stress. He called this model the

A) mind-body connection.
B) locus of control.
C) general adaptation syndrome.
D) defense mechanism.

Question 39

When many college students become physically sick with one type of ailment or another right after exam week, they are experiencing the resolution stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

Question 40

The final stage of the general adaptation syndrome is marked by

A) resolution.
B) a return of all bodily functions to non-stress states.
C) anxiety, mental fatigue, and exhaustion.
D) a increase in resistance to other stressors.

Question 41

If you dropped a class because you failed a couple of tests, you would be exhibiting the response to frustration called

A) escape.
B) displacement.
C) persistence.
D) scapegoating.

Question 42

Marian's day never seems to end. She has to deal with carpooling, traffic delays, finding a parking place at her job, working through lunch, and then coming home to cook, clean, and help with homework. Marian is experiencing a number of

A) conflicts.
B) microstressors.
C) regressions.
D) burnouts.

Question 43

A stressful condition that occurs when a person must respond at or near maximum capacity for long time periods is known as

A) pressure.
B) frustration.
C) anxiety.
D) conflict.

Question 44

Scapegoating refers to

A) the use of apathy as a means of dealing with conflict.
B) the habitual redirection of aggression to some person or group.
C) a tendency to blindly repeat an unsuccessful response.
D) the act of attributing personal frustration to external causes.

Question 45

A study found that poorer women in California are more likely to die if they live in better-off neighborhoods than if they live in poorer neighborhoods. According to the authors of your textbook, this difference in life expectancy is due to the

A) women in the better-off neighborhoods working longer hours at more stressful jobs.
B) extra stress that the women living in the better-off neighborhoods feel from being constantly reminded that they are relatively poor.
C) women in the poorer neighborhoods having better social support than the women in the better-off neighborhoods.
D) better health care options available to the women in the poorer neighborhoods as compared to the health care options available to those in the better-off neighborhoods.

Question 46

Mitzi is a counselor who has begun to feel emotionally exhausted and detached from the people she works with. Although she has always been an excellent counselor, she now feels that she is helping no one. Mitzi is experiencing

A) internal frustration.
B) approach-avoidance conflict.
C) burnout.
D) pressure.

Question 47

A student experiencing burnout in college usually

A) spends a good deal of time with his or her friends.
B) participates in many extracurricular activities.
C) has a negative attitude toward his or her studies.
D) exhibits all of these behaviors.

Question 48

Describe how a person's body responds during each stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

Question 49

Any response that is made with the intent of harming a person or an object is referred to as

A) aggression.
B) assertion.
C) circumvention.
D) sublimation.

Question 50

Regarding frustration, which of the following statements is TRUE?

A) The intensity of the frustration decreases as the strength, urgency, and importance of the blocked motive increases.
B) Frustration is most intense if the obstacle occurs at the beginning of the task.
C) Repeated frustrations can accumulate until a small irritation sets off an unexpected violent response.
D) Frustration is often based on choosing between incompatible or contradictory alternatives.

Question 51

Which of the following is NOT one of the four main patterns of adaptation to a new culture?

A) assimilation
B) marginalization
C) immersion
D) separation

Question 52

After coming to the U.S., Asma learned English quickly and wanted to completely immerse herself in the American culture; however, her classmates tend to reject her because of her accent and their prejudice toward her country of origin. She feels trapped between her two cultures. Asma's pattern of acculturation would be classified as

A) integration.
B) separation.
C) assimilation.
D) marginalization.

Question 53

Hilda is a resident at a nursing home. Although the staff would be receptive to Hilda's requests, Hilda feels that she has to go along with the foods they put on her plate and that she must participate in every activity whether she enjoys it or not. Hilda often feels stressed and even threatened by the staff because of her

A) perceived lack of control.
B) perceived conflict with the activities.
C) perceived pressure to continue living at the nursing home.
D) extreme burnout.

Question 54

Regarding the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Since people differ greatly in their reactions to the same event, stress scales like the SRRS at best provide a rough index of stress.
B) Improvement in life conditions can be as costly as a decline.
C) There is a high chance of illness or accident when a Life Change Unit (LCU) total is between 150 and 200 points.
D) In a classic study in which people were deliberately exposed to the cold virus, a person with a high score on the SRRS was much more likely to get a cold.

Question 55

Primary appraisal refers to the stage in emotional adjustment during which

A) the means of meeting a threat is chosen.
B) you get a second opinion.
C) one decides if a situation is threatening or not.
D) a solution is proposed.

Question 56

Regarding the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Both positive and negative events cause stress.
B) Improvements in life conditions can be as costly as declines.
C) Scores on the SRRS are measured in Life Change Units (LCUs).
D) Low scores on the SRRS suggest one is more likely to contract an illness.

Question 57

Stress will be magnified and damage is likely to result when emotional "shocks" are

A) predictable.
B) controllable.
C) linked to pressure.
D) characterized by all of these.

Question 58

When you need to get to class on time and cannot find a parking place, you experience the stressful condition known as

A) frustration.
B) conflict.
C) burnout.
D) learned helplessness.

Question 59

Which of the following would NOT be classified as an external, social frustration?

A) My sister wore one of my dresses, when I wanted to wear it.
B) My goal is to go to medical school, but I have earned only D's.
C) My supervisor was unfair to the staff when he promoted his friend rather than making the promotion based on seniority and productivity.
D) My history professor requires twice as many written reports as the other history professors.

Question 60

Displaced aggression is said to occur

A) when aggression is directed at a target other than the source of frustration.
B) whenever stress is channeled into aggressive activities.
C) whenever stress is channeled into socially acceptable activities.
D) when a person watches an aggressive sporting event.

Question 61

Which of the following suggestions would NOT help you handle conflicts more effectively?

A) Do not be hasty when making important decisions.
B) Look for workable compromises.
C) Try out important decisions partially when possible.
D) Pay careful attention to your initial gut feeling since it is most likely the correct one.

Question 62

Frustration-caused behavior that is repetitive and non-productive is called

A) persistence.
B) stereotyped responding.
C) cognitive rigidity.
D) perseverance.

Question 63

Roger is trying sky-diving for the first time. The pilot signals that they are in the jump area, but Roger is unable to move. At the same time, he does not want to return to the airport. Roger is experiencing

A) the stage of resistance.
B) an avoidance-avoidance conflict.
C) an approach-approach conflict.
D) a stereotyped response pattern.

Question 64

James wants to marry Lauren, but the responsibilities of marriage scare him. This situation would be classified as what type of conflict?

A) double appraisal
B) approach-approach
C) approach-avoidance
D) avoidance-avoidance

Question 65

The first rating scale developed by Holmes and Rahe to estimate the health hazards we face when stresses add up was called the __________.

Question 66

The easiest conflict to resolve is usually an avoidance-avoidance conflict.

Question 67

When emotional "shocks" are predictable and controllable, stress is magnified and damage is likely to result.

Question 68

Martin's sister is always blaming him for every problem she has in life. Martin has become the habitual target of his sister's displaced aggression, which is referred to as __________.

Question 69

Margo is a counselor, who has begun to feel emotionally exhausted and detached from her clients. Although she has always been an excellent counselor, she now feels that she is helping no one. Margo is experiencing __________.

Question 70

Explain the difference in primary and secondary appraisal of stressors and give an example of each.

Question 71

A negative emotional state that occurs when one is prevented from reaching a goal is called __________.

Question 72

One study that found poorer women in California were more likely to die if they lived in better-off neighborhoods than if they lived in poorer neighborhoods because they were constantly being reminded that they were relatively poor.

Question 73

Life changes, both good and bad, can increase one's susceptibility to accidents or illness.

Question 74

Which of the following is NOT one of the four types of conflicts?

A) approach-approach
B) avoidance-avoidance
C) reversible-irreversible
D) multiple approach-avoidance

Question 75

The most passionate and caring workers are the ones who tend to experience burnout.

Question 76

Pia is looking forward to the weekend, but her boss needs her to stay late on Friday and come in on Saturday morning in order to rewrite a report from another employee. This report must get to the main office by Monday. With this unexpected work and short deadline, Pia can be expected to be feeling the element of stress known as __________.

Question 77

Major life events are strongly linked to a person's immediate health and psychological well-being, while daily hassles, or microstressors, tend to predict changes in health one to two years after these annoyances begin.

Question 78

You must study for two tests within the next eight hours. Both tests should require six hours of study time, which is four hours more than you have. You need to make a good grade on both tests. So, you being studying for one test and then start thinking about the need to study for the other, so you switch to the other subject. You are experiencing vacillation due to __________ conflicts.

A) avoidance-avoidance
B) multiple approach-avoidance
C) double approach-adaptation
D) approach-approach

Question 79

If you see a poisonous snake in the path while hiking, your decision on how you will react and avoid getting bitten is referred to as your primary appraisal.

Question 80

Choosing between your aunt's white chocolate raspberry cheesecake and your grandmother's banana pudding, both of which you love, would be a(n) __________ conflict.