Deck 2: Managing Personal Stress

Question 1

Harry works in a high stress environment. He makes sure that he sleeps well and gets regular exercise. He is strengthening his driving forces in order to reduce the negative effects of stress.

Answer 1

False

Question 2

Manuel is feeling the stress of his job and has lost creativity in his problem solving. To improve resiliency and problem solving, he should be encouraged to engage in unrelated activities outside of his job.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

In the absence of stress, a person is likely to do his/her best work.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

George just found out that Bill received a letter from the government tax agency about a certain deduction Bill took. George took the same deduction. George is worried. This is an example of situational stress.

Question 5

Redesigning a job is suggested in the text as a way to eliminate time stress.

Question 6

In reducing encounter stress, it is better to have larger deposits than withdrawals in the emotional bank account.

Question 7

The authors of the text suggest that encounter stress can be reduced by improving and developing social and cognitive intelligence.

Question 8

According to the text, short-term planning works well in eliminating anticipatory stress.

Question 9

You have the ability to control and manage both your cognitive intelligence and emotional intelligence.

Question 10

Establishing your priorities in life will help to eliminate anticipatory and time stressors.

Question 11

Bonnie has recently been promoted to manager of customer service and is determined to eliminate time stressors in her new role. To accomplish her goal, she should focus most of her time on activities that are categorized in terms of high importance and high urgency.

Question 12

Establishing clear goals in designing a performance appraisal process for clerical positions is likely to lead to the elimination of stress.

Question 13

If you want to talk to a subordinate, it would probably be a more efficient use of your time if you go to her office rather than meet in your office.

Question 14

Morgan is a computer programmer. If we allow Morgan to work at home where she would have the authority to make decisions about how and when she did her work, we would likely reduce situational stress.

Question 15

Wanting to make the most effective use of your time, you schedule the weekly staff meeting at 9:00 A.M. According to suggestions in the text, this is an effective time for a weekly staff meeting.

Question 16

According to research cited in the text, social support at work can mitigate the possibility of burnout.

Question 17

One way to manage your time better is to determine the critical 80 percent of the tasks that need doing and do those first.

Question 18

Research suggests that the single most important contributor to stress is a lack of freedom and participation in decision making regarding one's job.

Question 19

A student group is having trouble defining the major problems in a case they are studying. The group lacks cohesion. The stress the group members will most likely experience will be encounter stress.

Question 20

In determining whether an activity is urgent or important to you personally, you should decide on what gives you a sense of meaningful purpose.

Question 21

Which is the best summary of the effectiveness in time management approach?

A) You accomplish what you want to accomplish with your time.
B) You accomplish more by reducing wasted time.
C) You accomplish more at the most productive times of the day.

Question 22

Which cultural dimension increases the likelihood of encounter stressors at work?

A) Affectivity
B) Collectivism
C) Individualism
D) Ascription

Question 23

Which of the following is true of effective time management?

A) Skimming when you read is not ultimately a time-saver because you miss important information.
B) List-making generally takes up more time than it's worth.
C) Do busy work at only one set time during the day.
D) Reserve some time during the day to focus on urgent but non-important tasks.

Question 24

Madi has recently experienced a serious loss. She decides to get involved in volunteer activities with her local religious institution. This activity will help her to build psychological resiliency and reduce her stress.

Question 25

Mary is suffering work stress as a result of her interactions with her new boss, who recently transferred from Finland. He has reorganized the work based on teams. In Mary's team, there is no agreement on who should do what or on the purpose of the team. Her stress is from which stressor?

A) Time stress
B) Encounter stress
C) Situational stress
D) Anticipatory stress

Question 26

Reactive strategies for managing stress are especially useful when an individual is facing time pressure.

Question 27

A ringing telephone would fall under which of the following categories?

A) High urgency/high importance
B) High urgency/low importance
C) Low urgency/high importance
D) Low urgency/low importance

Question 28

Organizing office supplies in your cupboard would fall under which of the following categories?

A) High urgency/high importance
B) High urgency/low importance
C) Low urgency/high importance
D) Low urgency/low importance

Question 29

Isabel felt overwhelmed by the pressure of her pending deadline. She decided to"check out" for a few minutes and think about her upcoming ski trip to take her mind off her stress. Which type of stress-management strategy was Isabel pursuing?

A) Enactive
B) Proactive
C) Reactive
D) Distractive

Question 30

At her graduation party, Morgan's grandmother told her she was worried about Morgan having enough to live on in her retirement and suggested Morgan invest in plastics now."Retirement? Granny, I am only 22," said Morgan. Morgan's grandmother demonstrated which stressor?

A) Time
B) Encounter
C) Situational
D) Anticipatory

Question 31

Answering an important customer's complaint would fall under which of the following categories?

A) High urgency/high importance
B) High urgency/low importance
C) Low urgency/high importance
D) Low urgency/low importance

Question 32

Eliminating or minimizing stress by changing jobs would relate most to which type of strategy for coping with stress?

A) Inactive strategy
B) Proactive strategy
C) Reactive strategy
D) Enactive strategy

Question 33

To relieve stress, you have been told to not bottle up your anger but to let it out. A tea kettle will explode if you don't let the steam out. This advice coincides with which coping strategy?

A) Enactive strategy
B) Proactive strategy
C) Reactive strategy
D) Resistance strategy

Question 34

Patti's company recently reorganized for the second time this year. As part of the reorganization she was promoted, which has caused a significant increase in the time she spends in the office. Yesterday, she received a speeding ticket as she was racing back to the office from the mall with her Christmas gifts. What type of stressor is Patti most likely feeling?

A) Time
B) Encounter
C) Situational
D) Anticipatory

Question 35

Boris was feeling overwhelmed by work and realized that he needed to develop some healthy habits to deal with the stress. He started an exercise program and made a commitment to spend quality time with his family every weekend. What kind of strategy is Boris pursuing?

A) Enactive
B) Proactive
C) Reactive
D) Distractive

Question 36

Attending a seminar to increase your professional development would fall under which of the following categories?

A) High urgency/high importance
B) High urgency/low importance
C) Low urgency/high importance
D) Low urgency/low importance

Question 37

If you are utilizing the effectiveness approach to time management, you do what?

A) Focus on urgent matters first
B) Focus on minimizing wasted time
C) Focus on important matters first; ignore urgent tasks unless they produce the desired results
D) Focus on urgent matters first but don't feel guilty when you must say "no"

Question 38

Applying Lewin's force field model to stress, which of the following is not a restraining force that acts to counter stressors and inhibit pathological results?

A) Practicing better time management
B) Including healthy levels of physical activities, sleep, and social activities in your time
C) Building a network of strong relationships in your community
D) Using on-the-spot coping strategies such as imagery or deep breathing

Question 39

You have developed a"need-to-do" list and have promised yourself to say "no" more often. You even bought a planner. Which approach to time management are you practicing?

A) Effectiveness approach
B) Efficiency approach
C) Delegation approach
D) Priority approach

Question 40

George works full time in a warehouse and works hard. Although he likes his boss, who is from Japan, he finds they have different views on the work to be accomplished by the end of the shift. The work comes in spurts, and George feels he must finish all of it before the end of his shift. Lately, George has not been able to finish the work by the end of his shift. He is experiencing which type of stress?

A) Time stress
B) Encounter stress
C) Situational stress
D) Anticipatory stress

Question 41

In redesigning the job to reduce all forms of stress, what should you focus on?

A) Providing more job security
B) Resolving and keeping interpersonal conflicts to a minimum
C) Providing more involvement in decision making
D) Providing clear direction and focus

Question 42

Which group has a lower level of job strain?

A) People with more decision-making responsibility regarding their tasks
B) People with less decision-making responsibility regarding their tasks
C) Neither people in low- nor high autonomy; it depends on one's age and health status
D) People without managers to evaluate their work

Question 43

As a moderating factor against the harmful effects of stress, what does social intelligence involve?

A) Being able to not conform to group pressure
B) Being able to develop and maintain close social relationships
C) Being able to maintain control over social networks

Question 44

In order to increase the meaningfulness of work for the employees you manage, you decide to do the following: I) At the annual general meeting, invite to speak some customers who have had their lives enhanced by your products;
II) Insist that new proposals indicate how they are related to the company values of caring for customers and for the environment;
III) Provide meaningful health benefits such as massages at work and extra parental leave;
IV) Provide time off for volunteering at the regularly held social events, such as company picnics and Christmas parties for employees and families.
Which of these will likely increase the meaningfulness of work?

A) I and II only
B) I, II and IV
C) II, III and IV
D) III and IV only
E) all of the choices

Question 45

Task identity refers to

A) a worker's feeling of attachment to her task.
B) clarity in the objectives of the task.
C) whether the worker is involved in a whole project from start to finish.
D) the worker's ability to distinguish between related tasks.

Question 46

Concerning success in life, what does research appear to suggest?

A) Having a high IQ score is critical.
B) Having an ability to manage emotions is critical.
C) Having a competitive attitude is critical.
D) Having a few strong relationships is critical.

Question 47

Which of the following has not been found by research regarding how meaningful work impacts stress?

A) People with meaningful work tend to be so committed to their jobs that they sometimes experience more tension between work and family.
B) People with highly meaningful work have more confidence in their managers.
C) People with a calling orientation to work report less work stress than people with a career orientation.
D) People with meaningful work have fewer health-related absences from work.

Question 48

If a child refuses to eat a cookie so later in the day he can have something he likes more, what ability related to emotional intelligence is he exhibiting?

A) Controlling or keeping in check negative emotions
B) Recognizing or understanding his own feelings
C) Delaying immediate gratification to achieve a goal
D) Controlling or keeping in check positive emotions

Question 49

This course, with its emphasis on developing managerial skills and related emotional intelligence skills, should assist you (on completion of all chapters) in eliminating which type of stress?

A) Time stress
B) Encounter stress
C) Situational stress
D) Anticipatory stress

Question 50

Edward's motto is "a fair day's work for a fair day's pay." Which of the following best reflects his orientation toward work?

A) Job Orientation
B) Career Orientation
C) Calling Orientation
D) Duty Orientation

Question 51

Which is the best summary of the efficiency in time management approach?

A) You accomplish what you want to accomplish with your time.
B) You accomplish more by reducing wasted time.
C) You accomplish more at the most productive times of the day.

Question 52

Calvin feels like he was meant to do his job. He is energized by the opportunity to help his clients, and sometimes thinks he would be happy to do his work for free. Which of the following best reflects his orientation toward work?

A) Job Orientation
B) Career Orientation
C) Calling Orientation
D) Duty Orientation

Question 53

Millie is frustrated with her assembly line job because she never gets to see a completed product. She would love to feel that she had finished something. According to the job redesign model, what Millie's job lacks is

A) skill variety.
B) task identity.
C) task significance.
D) autonomy.

Question 54

As a new member of the team, you notice that team members appear to treat each other with kindness, courtesy, and honesty. They really do seem to care about each other. Members of this group will be able to cope best with which kind of stress?

A) Time stress
B) Encounter stress
C) Situational stress
D) Anticipatory stress

Question 55

To reduce the situational stress his workers felt, Tom decided to hire a customer relations group. Tom believed this new group could deal firsthand with customer inquiries and therefore reduce the burden his employees currently had of responding to customers. Is this a good idea or a bad idea? Why?

A) This is a good idea, it will eliminate stress.
B) This is a bad idea, it increases the number of feedback channels.
C) This is a bad idea, it decreases meaningful interactions with customers.
D) This is a good idea, it promotes one contact for the customer.

Question 56

The majority of a manager's time is spent in meetings. What should a manager do to make efficient and effective use of this time?

A) Be flexible in agenda setting; sometimes new things just come up during the meeting and discussing it now would reduce "gearing up" time later
B) Don't keep minutes; they waste time and no one likes to take them
C) Be flexible with the ending time of the meeting so that the tasks can be accomplished
D) Insist on subordinates' suggestions to problems so that the manager may choose among alternatives rather than generate his/her own

Question 57

You are a manager of a team of 50 professionals. One particular professional persists in accusing you of having your priorities out of order. Since the planning activity you do often is not urgent, this particular professional tries to undermine the activity. Which principle should the manager remember?

A) People who experience the most time stress are those who allow others to generate their personal principles statement for them through their demands for time.
B) People who steal time from you should be removed from your work environment in order to avoid situational stress.
C) Relationship conflicts should be handled at the end of the day so that the important things can be given your best energy in the morning hours.
D) People who steal time from you can be dealt with by talking to them while standing.

Question 58

You are a manager of a team of 50 professionals. One particular professional persists in accusing you of having your priorities out of order. Since the planning activity you do often is not urgent, this particular professional tries to undermine the activity. What would be best for you to do?

A) Meet the professional at the door each time you see him coming
B) Move the professional to another team so you don't have to manage him
C) Clarify your core principles and make them public
D) Hold meetings with him only at the end of the day

Question 59

When you arrived at your office this morning, you read an email from a local politician asking for donations. What would be best for you to make efficient use of your time?

A) File it now so that later you can decide
B) Decide to give money and write a check
C) Decide not to give money and toss it away
D) Have someone else scan your email before you see it

Question 60

Velma sees her work primarily as a means to develop a reputation and to feel important. Which of the following best reflects her orientation toward work?

A) Job orientation
B) Career orientation
C) Calling orientation
D) Duty orientation

Question 61

Which of the following is true of a sense of calling?

A) People generally only feel a sense of calling when others respect their work.
B) Work must be intrinsically interesting for someone to feel it is meaningful.
C) A sense of calling increases performance at the individual level, but scholars have not found that a collective sense of calling increases an organization's performance.
D) A sense of calling directly relates to decreased conflict at work.

Question 62

You having been studying for finals all day. A friend suggests that the two of you take a break. Is this a good idea?

A) No, your friend is crazy. You need all the time you can get to study.
B) No, stay focused and you'll do better.
C) Depends on your small wins strategy
D) Yes, time off should help you think better.

Question 63

Which of the following is good advice for someone trying to eliminate anticipatory stressors?

A) Set challenging goals that propel you to accomplish much progress in a short time
B) Redesign your work so that it is more predictable
C) Plan some "baby steps" so that you can have small, short-term successes
D) Develop a deeper connection to community

Question 64

Which can best eliminate anticipatory stress?

A) Redesigning the work
B) Time management
C) Prioritizing and short-term planning
D) Improving your emotional intelligence

Question 65

Which of the following is not an application of the practices explained in the text which increase psychological resiliency?

A) Writing weekly thank you notes
B) Taking time to consider the positive impact your work has on others
C) Volunteering at a local fundraiser
D) Taking successive slow deep breaths, holding them for five seconds, and exhaling completely

Question 66

Mildred was feeling very uptight about her upcoming meeting with her supervisor. She anticipated some challenging questions about her performance in last week's presentation. Prior to meeting with her boss, Mildred made a list of the questions she thought her boss might ask her, and then carefully thought through how she would respond to each. This activity relieved her tension, and she entered the interview with confidence. Which temporary stress-reduction technique has Mildred employed?

A) Reframing
B) Rehearsal
C) Imagery
D) Recalibration

Question 67

Which of the following is not one of the attributes of effective goals?

A) Aligned
B) Time-bound
C) Specific
D) Relevant

Question 68

Over the next month you have to work on an intensive project which will require focused mental work. Which will most likely help you to increase your well-being and productivity?

A) Put in maximum overtime at the beginning so you are not interrupting the flow of your focus.
B) Stop working at a reasonable hour and make sure you are getting adequate sleep.
C) Take frequent breaks, getting together with friends at least once a day.
D) Focus mainly on your project, but take Saturdays off and spend the whole day in physical activity.

Question 69

Mini-Case: Mary is currently going to college full-time; after four years, she is finally a junior! Throughout her college career, she has worked 20-30 hours per week as a waitress at a local restaurant. In her first year at college, she enrolled in a one-hour course that focused on managing stress. The professor in the course recommended that each student keep a daily journal to record his/her activities. Mary had faithfully kept a journal since taking that course. For the week of March 8, Mary's journal indicated the following entries:
Monday, March 9: No entry.
Tuesday, March 10: Well, it happened again, I can't believe my roommate is so stubborn. How many times are we going to argue over her stupid cat using my plants as the cat box? I get so depressed when I argue with her!
Wednesday, March 11: I received a speeding ticket on my way to school. I have to remember to go a different way to school!
Thursday, March 12: I have a test in Principles of Management next Monday ... the first one this semester. I've heard her tests are real hard. Gee, I hate multiple-choice tests ... I never do well.
Friday, March 13: I can't believe it's Friday, the 13th! My boss called this morning and asked me to work tonight. I said yes. After I hung up the phone, I remembered I had a group meeting tonight to discuss a marketing case that has to be presented next Wednesday. I wasn't able to contact anyone from my group. Gee, I never seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done!
Describe the difference(s) between managing time effectively as opposed to efficiently. Describe the key aspects related to managing time using an effectiveness approach.

Question 70

Sarah is a Peace Corps volunteer headed for Colombia. She has great anticipatory stress (she's never been outside of the United States before and she doesn't know any Spanish). What should she do to reduce her stress?

A) Make herself familiar with the purpose of the Peace Corps
B) Comfort herself with the idea that because this is a volunteer position, she can quit at any time and the Peace Corps will fly her immediately home
C) Learn to say her name and "Where is the bathroom?" in Spanish
D) Prioritize her career plans just in case things don't work out with the Peace Corps

Question 71

What does reframing as a reactive strategy for managing stress involve?

A) Rehearsing what one is going to say or do before it actually happens
B) Taking several successive and slow deep breaths
C) Changing the focus of one's thoughts to something pleasant
D) Trying to redefine a situation as manageable

Question 72

You started your new job at Tasty Burger. The boss told you this is an easy job, but you should still do your best. He commented that he will keep an eye on you and will tell you if he sees you doing anything wrong. Which stress would you most likely feel as you begin your work?

A) Situational stress due to a lack of task significance
B) Anticipatory stress due to increased decision-making authority
C) Situational stress due to not knowing what is expected
D) Situational stress due to a poor relationship with the boss

Question 73

Kelly felt himself panicking as he prepared to make his presentation to the Board of Directors. To calm himself, he released his clench on his remote clicker, and told himself,"I've done presentations like this before and done just fine. These are people I know and trust. I can do this." What temporary stress-reduction technique has Kelly just employed?

A) Reframing
B) Rehearsal
C) Imagery
D) Recalibration

Question 74

What is generalized reciprocity?

A) When a person contributes something to another person in a way that is directly connected with receiving something in return
B) When you feel a sense of obligation to give back to someone who has contributed something to you
C) An exchange norm between two people such that helping each other excludes helping other people
D) A contribution to someone else that does not presuppose a direct contribution back from that person

Question 75

According to research described in the chapter, which of the following is not a reason that gratitude helps to reduce stress?

A) Grateful people are more alert and attentive.
B) People high in gratitude have better health outcomes, including better sleep patterns and consistent heart rhythms.
C) People who are grateful amass more power in the organization because others like them; they are thus able to control their work environment.
D) People show improved cognitive functioning when they are feeling grateful.

Question 76

Compare and contrast the four major kinds of stressors.

Question 77

Mini-Case: Mary is currently going to college full-time; after four years, she is finally a junior! Throughout her college career, she has worked 20-30 hours per week as a waitress at a local restaurant. In her first year at college, she enrolled in a one-hour course that focused on managing stress. The professor in the course recommended that each student keep a daily journal to record his/her activities. Mary had faithfully kept a journal since taking that course. For the week of March 8, Mary's journal indicated the following entries:
Monday, March 9: No entry.
Tuesday, March 10: Well, it happened again, I can't believe my roommate is so stubborn. How many times are we going to argue over her stupid cat using my plants as the cat box? I get so depressed when I argue with her!
Wednesday, March 11: I received a speeding ticket on my way to school. I have to remember to go a different way to school!
Thursday, March 12: I have a test in Principles of Management next Monday ... the first one this semester. I've heard her tests are real hard. Gee, I hate multiple-choice tests ... I never do well.
Friday, March 13: I can't believe it's Friday, the 13th! My boss called this morning and asked me to work tonight. I said yes. After I hung up the phone, I remembered I had a group meeting tonight to discuss a marketing case that has to be presented next Wednesday. I wasn't able to contact anyone from my group. Gee, I never seem to have enough hours in the day to get everything done!
Indicate the main type of stressor(s) Mary experienced on each day she recorded a journal entry. Provide support for your answer.

Question 78

A temporary stress-reduction technique one might use in child birthing is to have the mother focus on a pleasant experience from her past during the early stages of labor. What type of strategy does this reflect?

A) Reframing
B) Imagery and fantasy
C) Rehearsal
D) Social resiliency

Question 79

Some rules for instituting small wins are (1) keep track of the changes you are making, (2) forget the small gains you have made and focus on what is next, and (3) find other small things to change and change them. Which are correct?

A) All three rules are correct.
B) Rules 1 and 2 are correct.
C) Rules 1 and 3 are correct.
D) Rules 2 and 3 are correct.

Question 80

Bob has decided to stop smoking. Also, he has decided to tell no one because he is tired of the jokes and the lack of support from his friends. Based on what you have learned about anticipatory stressors, what is an appropriate evaluation of this idea?

A) It is a good idea because there is a desired goal.
B) It is a good idea because Bob has identified the activities and behaviors necessary to accomplish the goal.
C) It is a bad idea because the desired goal is beyond his control.
D) It is a bad idea because he hasn't established reporting mechanisms or accountability.