Deck 5: Stress, Coping, and Maladaptive Behavior

Question 1

You attend a convention on the topic of stress and one of the sessions catches your eye. It is a discussion of types of stress that have only recently begun to be the focus of research. Which of the following is likely to be the
topic of the session?

A) the stress of moving to a new school away from home
B) the stress of the changing sex role expectations in modern society
C) the stress of caregiving, especially those who care for people with Alzheimer's disease
D) the stress that occurs when we become preoccupied with a long list of "do's and don'ts" concerning diet, dress, and relationships

Answer 1

C

Question 2

Which of the following types of stress have not received adequate research?

A) chronic illness
B) caregiving
C) lifelong racial stigmatization
D) both B and C

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following statements is accurate with regard to stress?

A) Stress is a negative emotional experience with related psychochemical changes.
B) Stress implied negative emotional experiences with behavioral, biochemical, and physiological changes.
C) The ability to cope over time has a minimal effect on stress.
D) While stress can be debilitating, it is not a central factor in most diagnoses.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Stress is a function of how people appraise situations and how they rate their

A) resiliency.
B) adjustment.
C) temperament.
D) ability to cope.

Question 5

Which of the following factors is most influential in determining whether an event is experienced as a stressor?

A) duration of the event
B) how sudden the onset is
C) predictability of the event
D) how the event is interpreted

Question 6

Which of the following increases the likelihood of a maladaptive response to stress?

A) resiliency
B) vulnerability
C) temperament
D) task-oriented coping

Question 7

Although researchers do not classify disorders as related or not, stress may play differing roles in different disorders. What is the role of stress in people who have lifelong tendencies toward anxiety and depression?

A) In both cases, genetic factors play the dominant role with stress playing little or no role in the etiology of the disorders.
B) People with these disorders tend to experience an intensification of their symptoms when they confront stress-arousing challenges.
C) Most people with these disorders tend "to roll with the punches" when confronted with stress because their symptoms are the primary focus of
their lives.
D) The effect varies with the disorder; stress tends to play a primary role in causing depression and a primary role in intensifying the symptoms among
those who suffer from anxiety disorders.

Question 8

A reporter is writing an article on insomnia and asks you to describe what victims of insomnia view as a cause of their insomnia. What will you say?

A) stress
B) delusions
C) nightmares
D) muscle spasms

Question 9

Which of these individuals is at highest risk for a more serious reaction to a stressful situation?

A) Ann who has low vulnerability and is confronted with several challenges
B) Barbara who has low resiliency and is confronted with an expected challenge
C) Chad who has high resiliency and confronted with an unexpected challenge
D) David who has high vulnerability and confronted with an unexpected challenge

Question 10

Which of these individuals has a lower than average probability of a maladaptive response to stress?

A) Ann who uses denial off and on
B) Tim who has a high level of resilience
C) Sara who has a high degree of vulnerability
D) Ted who has been described as high in several aspects of temperament

Question 11

Composure, experience, and self-confidence are important and necessary components because:

A) These factors contribute to appraisals of and responses to stressful situations.
B) These factors are part of family dynamics.
C) Personality development will be hindered if these characteristics are not present.
D) All of the above.

Question 12

Approximately 80 to 90 percent of people who experience chest pain attribute the pain to indigestion rather than a heart attack. What type of response to stress does this example represent?

A) angry
B) anxious
C) denial
D) task-oriented

Question 13

Research on patients undergoing surgery found that recovery was faster when patients were given realistic information about

A) mortality rates.
B) their doctors' qualifications.
C) how pain medication works.
D) post-operative physical therapy.

Question 14

Which of the following is characteristic of people who generally cope successfully?

A) They use situation-specific coping styles.
B) They don't make fun of serious situations.
C) They consistently rely on one coping strategy.
D) They don't think about problems ahead of time.

Question 15

People who are generally successful copers use each of the following approaches except

A) seeking pertinent information.
B) using humor to defuse a situation.
C) forgetting a situation after it is over.
D) redefining a situation to make it less threatening.

Question 16

Bob has always demonstrated the ability to cope with stress. A reason for his ability is:

A) Bob has learned to direct his thoughts to productive uses and anticipate problems that may create stress.
B) Bob has learned about stress in readings.
C) Bob takes medication.
D) Bob avoids all stressful situations.

Question 17

What does research reveal concerning the effects of strong family ties?

A) They encourage self-reliance.
B) They disrupt outside relationships.
C) They tend to foster unhealthy dependency.
D) They hinder the development of social skills.

Question 18

What is one of the differences between people with high and low levels of social support?

A) the ways they use social support
B) the number of stressful experiences they face
C) the social skills needed to attract others' interest
D) the level of arousal provoked by stressful situations

Question 19

An undergraduate student is designing a research project to investigate the effects of family background on the types of stress symptoms experienced during college. The project focuses on symptoms related to sleeping and eating. The student researcher must present the research proposal to a faculty committee for approval. What is the committee likely to recommend?

A) Add more stress symptoms because people have different reactions to stress.
B) Classify the eating-related symptoms as either related to anorexia or to bulimia.
C) Quantify the stress levels students experience by counting the number of exams they took during the semester.
D) Focus on students who have experienced stressful events quite some time ago, so the events will have had time to have an effect.

Question 20

What are the two broad types of stress-arousing conditions that might require adjustment?

A) limited and chronic
B) stress and distress
C) primary and secondary
D) developmental transition and situations that arise in life

Question 21

Sue's mother recently died. In order to cope with the stress, Sue will have need for a ________. Her daughter has just been promoted, and will move to Chicago. Her daughter will need a ______________.

A) transitional adjustment; situational adjustment
B) situational adjustment; personal adjustment
C) situational adjustment; transitional adjustment
D) transitional adjustment; life-style adjustment

Question 22

Which of the following statements demonstrates a person's reaction to extreme stressors?

A) Extreme stressors contribute to prolonged maladaptive behavior unless medications are used for stabilization.
B) Extreme stressors initiate a cycle of reactions for the purpose of equilibrium between self-concept and the new reality.
C) Extreme stressors cause a person to withdraw from everyday life and contribute to elevated levels of anxiety.
D) Extreme stressors cause more psychological harm than physiological harm.

Question 23

One night several years ago Barbara was raped at knife point on her way home from the library. Ever since, she has been afraid of the dark, of men similar to the rapist, and of knives. What concept would a behavioral psychologist find most helpful in explaining her current avoidance of these stimuli?

A) social learning theory
B) classical conditioning
C) positive reinforcement
D) systematic desensitization

Question 24

About what percentage of women college students report having been raped by someone they knew or were dating?

A) 1%
B) 3%
C) 15%
D) 30%

Question 25

Which of the following factors have been implicated in date rape?

A) drug use and depression
B) alcohol and party-related activities
C) prior depressive episodes and high stress levels
D) family conflict and liberal attitudes toward sexuality

Question 26

Which of the following is characteristic of college students who are more accepting of date rape?

A) They know more about sex.
B) They cannot tolerate alcohol.
C) They are highly judgmental about pre-marital sex.
D) They have more traditional attitudes toward women.

Question 27

Which of the following individuals is most likely to be a victim of rape?

A) Sally who is 38 years old
B) Lena who is 60 years old
C) Agnes who is 17 years old
D) Kathleen who is 45 years old

Question 28

Which age group has the highest rape victimization rate?

A) 30 - 35 year olds
B) 25 - 30 year olds
C) 20 - 24 year olds
D) 16 - 19 year olds

Question 29

What is bereavement?

A) pathological grieving
B) feelings of sadness after a loss
C) loss of a loved one through death
D) self-reproach for not preventing someone's death

Question 30

Under which of the following conditions would a person receive a diagnosis of adjustment disorder after experiencing bereavement?

A) Response style causes the person to become maladaptive
B) Coping style and reaction to familiar people change
C) Response style extends past the normal course of recovery and coping problems and emotional distress continue with little improvement.
D) Person refuses to return to present life-style and suffers from depression

Question 31

A physician is describing some of the physiological changes that can occur in bereavement in adults. Which of the following will be on the list?

A) excessive crying, hypomania and paresthesia
B) hypervigilance, loss of appetite, and somatization
C) difficulty breathing, heart palpitations, and la belle indifference
D) decreased body weight, immunological changes, and sleep disturbance

Question 32

Which of the following could be considered as possible steps in the grieving process?

A) shock; suggestibility, recovery
B) shock; despair, avoiding reminders, self-reproach
C) shock; nightmares, recovery
D) None of the above.

Question 33

Which of the following individuals is in a situation in which the outcome of bereavement is likely to be poorest?

A) Lena who just lost her husband
B) Martin who unexpectedly lost a memory of his family
C) Nancy who had ambivalent feelings toward the deceased
D) Otto who had a close and warm relationship with the deceased

Question 34

Based on past research, which of the following individuals has the most heightened risk for a poor outcome of bereavement?

A) Mel whose wife was murdered
B) Sara whose husband died of heart disease
C) Lena whose husband died after a long battle with cancer
D) Barbara who had a ambivalent relationship with her husband

Question 35

Which of the following is the most accurate characterization of abnormal responses to stress?

A) unwanted, intrusive thoughts
B) strong feelings of anger and fear
C) extreme versions of normal responses
D) qualitatively different from normal responses

Question 36

Which of these is an example of the type of stressor that is most likely to be associated with an adjustment disorder?

A) a spouse dying
B) getting married
C) chronic physical illness
D) witnessing a mass murder

Question 37

Which of the following types of stressors is most often associated with adjustment disorders?

A) highly unusual events
B) life-threatening events
C) chronic physical disease
D) normal transitional experiences

Question 38

Virginia has been diagnosed as exhibiting an adjustment disorder. Which of the following sets of symptoms is most likely to occur?

A) delusions, hallucinations, and loose associations
B) depression, disrupted sleep patterns, and anxiety
C) family conflict, memory disturbances, and depersonalization
D) difficulty maintaining weight, suspiciousness, and nightmares

Question 39

Which of the following symptoms is most typical of an adjustment disorder?

A) amnesia
B) flashbacks
C) dissociation
D) depression

Question 40

How long do the symptoms of adjustment disorder typically last?

A) about 1 week
B) about 1 month
C) about 6 months
D) about 1 year

Question 41

Diane has been diagnosed with acute stress disorder. Based on this diagnosis, you are quite certain that among her symptoms, the mental health professional found evidence of

A) delusions.
B) anhedonia.
C) dissociation.
D) hypersomnia.

Question 42

Ted has been diagnosed as exhibiting acute stress disorder; Will has a diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder. Based on this description alone, what would you conclude about the two individuals?

A) Ted is more vulnerable than is Will.
B) Will has had symptoms that lasted longer than Ted's symptoms.
C) Compared to Will, Ted was exposed to a more serious type of stressor.
D) Compared to Will, Ted is experiencing more symptoms related to the fight or flight response.

Question 43

While driving home ten months ago, Al observed a devastating accident in which an 18-wheeler plowed into the back of a small car that exploded in flames, killing its driver. Since that time, Al has experienced a number of stress-related symptoms and constantly thinks about the accident. What is the most likely diagnosis in this case?

A) dissociative fugue
B) acute stress disorder
C) dissociative amnesia
D) posttraumatic stress disorder

Question 44

Which of the following individuals exhibits symptoms that would be labeled dissociative?

A) Al who feels numb, detached, and has amnesia
B) David who has heart palpitations, difficulty breathing, and insomnia
C) Eugene who has auditory hallucinations, flat affect, and sleeps excessively
D) Frank who daydreams a lot, is hypervigilant, and complains of pain in his muscles

Question 45

A psychology professor is explaining the concept of dissociation. Which of the following students seems to have the best understanding of this concept?

A) George who says, "Dissociation occurs among many normal individuals."
B) Harry who says, "Dissociation is the root cause of most forms of pathology."
C) Iris who says, "The pace of modern life has increased reliance on dissociation."
D) Julia who says, "The use of dissociation is associated with a schizophrenic-like process."

Question 46

Which of the following disorders is likely to begin and end abruptly?

A) panic disorder
B) adjustment disorder
C) dissociative disorder
D) posttraumatic stress disorder

Question 47

Which disorders are characterized by disruptions of identity, consciousness, and memory?

A) psychotic
B) adjustment
C) dissociative
D) posttraumatic stress

Question 48

What is the most common pattern of onset and outcome in dissociative disorders?

A) abrupt onset and abrupt recovery
B) lengthy onset and lengthy recovery
C) abrupt onset and lengthy recovery
D) lengthy onset and, abrupt recovery

Question 49

Which of the following cases represents the most common onset and outcome of a dissociative disorder?

A) Al's symptoms occurred suddenly and ended abruptly.
B) Bianca's symptoms developed after years of abuse and ended abruptly.
C) Dana's symptoms developed suddenly and ended after decades of extensive treatment.
D) Ed's symptoms occurred suddenly and have never changed after years of treatment.

Question 50

Which of the following is not true of dissociative disorders?

A) large gaps in memory and dramatic changes in social roles
B) geographic relocation is evident in all dissociative disorders
C) identity may be temporarily forgotten or a new identity assumed
D) sense of reality is lost

Question 51

Which of the following is the typical course of recovery when amnesia or fugue follows a traumatic event?

A) rapid recovery
B) lifetime symptoms
C) recurrence is likely
D) functioning rarely returns to normal

Question 52

If a patient has the diagnosis of dissociative amnesia, how will you answer questions from family members when they ask about the disorder's cause?

A) There is no evidence of an organic cause.
B) The disorder is most likely due to a tumor that can be dangerous.
C) The disorder is due to a slow-growing tumor that can be treated with drugs.
D) The disorder was probably caused by a blow to the head but it will not have long-lasting consequences.

Question 53

Ted seems to forget things more often now than in the past. He is worried, so he consults a physician. During the interview, Ted wonders if he might be suffering dissociative amnesia. Which of the following questions would prove most useful in assessing the cause of Ted's complaint?

A) "Are you having difficulty sleeping?"
B) "Have you had your eyes checked lately?"
C) "Did you experience a head injury recently?"
D) "Do you find that you spend more time daydreaming?"

Question 54

Which of the following individuals is the most likely victim of dissociative amnesia?

A) Sara who is 16-years old
B) Dana who is 45 years old
C) Skip who is 23 years old
D) Dearly who is 50 years old

Question 55

Which of the following individuals is suffering from the generalized type of dissociative amnesia?

A) Steve cannot remember anything related to his life.
B) Zach cannot remember anything related to the death of his grandparents.
C) Ramona cannot remember anything related to an accident she caused last month.
D) Tim cannot remember anything from one year ago up to and including the present.

Question 56

Which of the following is an example of the kind of information forgotten in localized amnesia?

A) one's identity
B) memories relating to one's sister
C) everything since being sent home from the Gulf War
D) events surrounding the first few hours after a car crash

Question 57

If you suddenly cannot remember anything about one of your parents, but are able to remember all other aspects of your life, you are probably experiencing

A) localized amnesia.
B) selective amnesia.
C) continuous amnesia.
D) systematized amnesia.

Question 58

Seth has been diagnosed with dissociative amnesia. He has difficulty remembering events associated with his post-graduate studies. Seth has:

A) selective amnesia
B) localized amnesia
C) systematized amnesia
D) generalized amnesia

Question 59

Rod is involved in a near-death collision. Afterwards he cannot remember any of the details of the collision. Rod's condition is known as

A) dysphoria.
B) localized amnesia.
C) regressive amnesia.
D) delusional forgetting.

Question 60

The professor who is teaching abnormal psychology wants students to recognize the various diagnostic categories, so he gives brief case presentations and asks students for the likely diagnosis. The current case involves an individual who cannot recall any aspect of his life. Various brain scans have ruled out brain damage. What is the most likely diagnosis?

A) selective amnesia
B) continuous amnesia
C) generalized amnesia
D) systematized amnesia

Question 61

Joe has lost his sense of identity, wandered to another state and set up a new life, calling himself "Pete". What is the most likely diagnosis?

A) depersonalization
B) dissociative fugue
C) dissociative amnesia
D) an adjustment disorder

Question 62

Fugue states are characterized by

A) delusions.
B) cataplexy.
C) brain injury.
D) unexpected travel.

Question 63

Ollie wakes up one morning and can't remember who he is, where he works, or where he lives. A physician does not find anything physically wrong, although his friends say Ollie has been under stress recently. He is probably suffering from

A) depersonalization.
B) dissociative fugue.
C) generalized amnesia.
D) an adjustment disorder.

Question 64

One of the teaching techniques used by the professor responsible for teaching abnormal psychology is an activity in which students act out disorders. Each student receives a card with the name of a disorder. Another student provides direction to help the student act out the disorder. Which of the following might be the most helpful direction for a student portraying a person with dissociative fugue?

A) Act normally.
B) Look down and walk slowly.
C) Babble and stare into space.
D) Make aggressive moves toward those around you.

Question 65

Someone in a fugue state is likely to appear

A) normal.
B) clearly disoriented.
C) moody and troubled.
D) unable to learn new information.

Question 66

Cecilia has three sets of clothing and three sets of friends. She sometimes experiences herself as being one age and with one self-concept, and at other times, another age with another self-concept and so on. She may be exhibiting signs of

A) depersonalization.
B) dissociative fugue.
C) generalized amnesia.
D) dissociative identity disorder.

Question 67

After a great deal of preparation, researchers have developed a method to survey people to identify those with dissociative identity disorder. When the data have been collected, they find 500 cases that are likely to qualify for this diagnosis. What is the likely breakdown by sex--females to males?

A) 200:300
B) 250:250
C) 500:300
D) 400:100

Question 68

A sample of people diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder is evaluated with extensive interviews and psychological tests. After examining the data, the researchers conclude that there are some important differences between people with this diagnosis and the general population. In what way are these people likely to be different from the general population?

A) They are more likely to be extraverted.
B) They are more prone to spontaneous hypnotic trances.
C) Their demeanor and overt behavior tends to be hostile to others.
D) They tend to speak in ways that are difficult for most people to understand.

Question 69

Which of the following is likely to be said by someone experiencing depersonalization?

A) "I can't take it any more."
B) "I don't remember my name."
C) "I feel as though I'm in a dream."
D) "I want to be treated more like a human being."

Question 70

Millie feels as if she is a robot, watching herself from outside her body as she begins kissing her new boyfriend. This feeling of being in a dream or being separate from her physical body happens whenever she is extremely anxious. Which disorder is Millie most likely experiencing?

A) a fugue state
B) depersonalization
C) an adjustment disorder
D) dissociative identity disorder

Question 71

During a case presentation, a clinical psychologist describes a client with dissociative disorder that does not involve memory loss. When she asks the most likely specific disorder, what will you say?

A) depersonalization
B) dissociative fugue
C) continuous amnesia
D) dissociative identity disorder

Question 72

Uncovering dissociated memories is helpful in treating dissociative disorders. Which of the following is not useful in the treatment of dissociative disorders?

A) behavior therapy
B) hypnosis
C) antianxiety drugs
D) sedative drugs

Question 73

John was recently diagnosed with dissociative amnesia. His family and friends have asked to be involved in his treatment. What therapeutic approach is appropriate?

A) family therapy
B) supportive therapy
C) social interaction
D) relaxation training

Question 74

After being attacked by a wolf, Maria develops a phobia of animals and seeks treatment. In her first session of systematic desensitization, she is
asked to relax and to think about

A) positive events in her life.
B) an animal in the far-off distance.
C) how she would cope if attacked again.
D) something she fears, other than animals.

Question 75

What technique pairs relaxation training with a hierarchy of anxiety-producing stimuli?

A) Rogerian therapy
B) supportive therapy
C) cognitive modification
D) systematic desensitization

Question 76

Which treatment approach involves learning new internal dialogues along with new ways of viewing situations and oneself?

A) social intervention
B) cognitive modification
C) supportive psychotherapy
D) systematic desensitization

Question 77

A recent report in the newspaper described the treatment called eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. If the reporter checked and evaluated the treatment carefully, what headline would she select for her article?

A) "Clinicians divided on new therapy"
B) "Promising treatment for depersonalization"
C) "Finally, a replacement for electroconvulsive therapy"
D) "Revision of a Freudian method holds great promise"

Question 78

Dan is undergoing the newest form of therapy for a disorder related to serious trauma. Which of the following might occur during one of the therapy sessions?

A) He is asked to sit in the fetal position and recall events from early in life.
B) He will sit quietly and silently, while the therapist describes the details of the trauma that he experienced.
C) He will focus his attention on a traumatic memory while visually tracking the therapist's finger as it is moved across his visual field.
D) He will stare for long periods of time at photographs and pictures that are designed to remind him of the trauma that led to his disorder.

Question 79

How can people prepare to deal with stressful situations?

Question 80

What have researchers found concerning the relationship of social support and social skills?