Deck 13: A: Stress, Coping, and Health

Question 1

Ted is very agitated about an upcoming presentation that he must give. His roommate doesn't understand why Ted is nervous because presentations are no big deal. Which of the following statements does this example illustrate?

A)When it comes to stress, humans tend not to feel empathy.
B)Our appraisals of stressful events are highly subjective.
C)Strong-minded persons are better able to handle stressful events than weak-minded ones.
D)Our appraisals of stressful events are basically objective.

Answer 1

Our appraisals of stressful events are highly subjective.

Question 2

Most of Conrad's friends consider him to be highly neurotic. Which of the following is also likely to be true about Conrad compared to his friends?

A)He is more likely to perceive events as stressful.
B)He is less likely to use defensive coping strategies.
C)He is less likely to perceive events as stressful.
D)He is more likely to "choke" under pressure.

Answer 2

He is more likely to perceive events as stressful.

Question 3

Steve was excited when he finally landed the lead role in one of the community theatre productions. He has been rehearsing his part for the past two months, but on the day that the play is scheduled to open, Steve awakens with a bad case of laryngitis and he is unable to perform in the play. What is Steve most likely experiencing at this point?

A)frustration
B)conflict
C)pressure
D)burnout

Answer 3

frustration

Question 4

According to the definition of stress, which of the following would NOT necessarily be considered stress?

A)You ask someone out on a date, and feel quite happy about the answer.
B)A friend brings over her pet kitten, and you find the little beast irritating.
C)You see a man with a knife in front of you, and you freeze in fear.
D)You witness a car accident in which you were not involved, and it leaves you too shaken to drive.

Question 5

How does your text define stress?

A)illness-inducing behaviour
B)circumstances that are perceived as threatening
C)any unpleasant event
D)responses we make to unpleasant events

Question 6

As a result of changes in the way that health professionals think about physical illness over the last few decades, which of the following has the purely biological model given way to?

A)treatment and prevention
B)psychosomatic
C)biopsychosocial
D)immunology

Question 7

What does research have to say about the general effect of everyday problems and the minor nuisances of life?

A)Minor stresses produce minor effects.
B)Minor stresses may have significant harmful effects on both physical and mental health.
C)Minor stresses often have significant harmful effects on mental health, but don't affect physical health.
D)Minor stresses have negative effects only when coupled with major stresses.

Question 8

Which of the following is NOT one of the concerns of health psychology?

A)refinements to the diagnostic process
B)promotion and maintenance of health
C)prevention of illness
D)causation and treatment of illness

Question 9

Virginia has wanted to be a physician for as long as she can remember, but she has been unable to gain entry to medical school. What is the term for what Virginia is experiencing?

A)frustration
B)regression
C)burnout
D)learned helplessness

Question 10

Which of the following is a reason that the field of health psychology has emerged?

A)Being ill affects mood, and we need to understand this unidirectional effect.
B)It is now well known that many diseases have neurological origins.
C)Our modern focus on health includes prevention, not just treating existing illness.
D)Diseases such as AIDS can have a serious impact on cognitive functioning.

Question 11

Why might minor stresses be more strongly related to mental health than major stressful events?

A)We feel more out of control with minor stresses than we do with major stresses.
B)We are much more intimately involved with minor stresses.
C)Minor stresses lead to more intense physiological arousal than major stresses.
D)Stress has cumulative effects.

Question 12

Tatiana just finished entering her ten-page term paper into one of the computers in the university's computer lab. She clicks the "Save" command, and the computer unexpectedly freezes. When she reboots the computer she discovers that all but the first two pages of her term paper have been lost. What is Tatiana most likely experiencing at this point in time?

A)conflict
B)burnout
C)pressure
D)frustration

Question 13

Mason is already late for an important appointment when he realizes he is almost out of gas. He stops to fill up, and the clerk has trouble getting approval on his credit card. When Mason finally pulls out of the service station, the traffic is crawling because of an accident. What do we know about effects of inconveniences of this type?

A)They usually create avoidance-avoidance conflicts.
B)They are stressful only to individuals with a Type A personality.
C)They are such routine hassles that they are not perceived as stressful.
D)They can often have a significant effect on physical and mental health.

Question 14

The Sidewinders football team made a big comeback in the second half of the game. All their kicker needed to do was kick a field goal, and they would win the game by two points. Unfortunately, the kicker missed, and they lost the game. What did the Sidewinders' coach most likely experience, as he watched the kick go wide?

A)frustration
B)burnout
C)pressure
D)conflict

Question 15

Fred was just asked to be the master of ceremonies at his brother's wedding. Public speaking terrifies him so he perceives this as a very stressful event. What type of appraisal is Fred conducting?

A)secondary
B)primary
C)offensive
D)defensive

Question 16

Which of the following models states that physical illness is caused by a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors?

A)neuroimmunology
B)behaviourist
C)biopsychosocial
D)medical

Question 17

Which of the following would NOT qualify as a frustrating event?

A)having trouble deciding between two items on a menu
B)getting a "B" on an exam when you wanted an "A"
C)finding that your car has not yet been repaired even though you left it hours ago
D)being stuck in traffic

Question 18

Elaine is thinking about an upcoming event that she is worried about, and she is thinking about who she can call to help her. What type of appraisal is Elaine conducting?

A)offensive
B)defensive
C)secondary
D)primary

Question 19

Shelagh is feeling really stressed. Nothing out of the ordinary is going on, but she still feels like she's having a difficult time coping. It seems like all the little things are making her more stressed than they should; things like remembering to take out the recycling, the barking of the dog next door, and having to choose a dress for her cousin's wedding next week. Aubrey has all the same things going on in her life, but she is not feeling stressed at all. Why might Shelagh feel stressed, even though there are no major threats to her well-being?

A)Minor stressors elicit larger responses than major stressors, on average, so it is Aubrey's response that is unusual, not Shelagh's.
B)The stressors that Shelagh is experiencing are actually more severe than the ones experienced by Aubrey.
C)Response to stress depends on many factors, including the type of stress, biological factors within Shelagh, and Shelagh's history of stress.
D)Shelagh is mentally ill.

Question 20

What does the term "frustration" refer to, in the context of stress research?

A)being caught between two incompatible motives
B)being expected to live up to high standards of performance
C)the most frequent emotional response to aggression
D)being blocked in the pursuit of a desired goal

Question 21

Melissa has an old car that is desperately in need of expensive repairs. She is trying to decide whether she should spend the $1,500 she has in her savings account to repair her old clunker. If she repairs it, she will have reliable transportation again, but it also means that she will not be able to take time off from work over the holidays. What type of conflict is Melissa facing as she tries to make her decision?

A)approach-avoidance
B)approach-approach
C)pressure-frustration
D)frustration-pressure

Question 22

Which type of conflict tends to result in behavioural vacillation?

A)avoidance-avoidance
B)approach-avoidance
C)approach-approach
D)no-win

Question 23

Geena has made it to the final round in a game show. She must now choose between a fantastic all-expenses-paid trip to Greece, or a new SUV. Geena wants both of them very badly! What type of conflict is Geena facing as she tries to decide between the two available alternatives?

A)approach-approach
B)appetitive-frustration
C)frustration-pressure
D)approach-avoidance

Question 24

Which of the following reactions do approach-avoidance conflicts often produce in people trying to make those sorts of decisions?

A)approach
B)withdrawal
C)avoidance
D)vacillation

Question 25

What term could be used to describe the headaches if Lacey's headaches were caused by stress?

A)psychosomatic
B)burnout
C)reactive
D)defensive

Question 26

In general, what is the least stressful conflict?

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

Question 27

What type of conflict are you experiencing if you cannot decide whether to submit to back surgery, which you dread, to alleviate your back pain or to continue to live with the pain, which you sometimes find unbearable?

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

Question 28

Your gruesome, beastly jailer walks in and offers you the choice of being whipped or clubbed as your form of punishment for the day. Which of the following are you experiencing, assuming that neither alternative appeals to you?

A)an avoidance-avoidance conflict
B)an approach-avoidance conflict
C)an approach-approach conflict
D)a thrill at being given a choice

Question 29

What type of conflict are you experiencing when you find yourself "caught between a rock and a hard place,"?

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

Question 30

What did Holmes and Rahe find, with their study of stress and vulnerability to illness, was a major source of stress for people?

A)changes in one's life that require readjustment
B)failures
C)life events involving loss
D)only those life changes the person sees as negative

Question 31

What does Lacey snapping at her coworkers illustrate?

A)approach-avoidance conflict
B)avoidance-avoidance conflict
C)the coping mechanism known as aggression
D)the coping mechanism known as displacement

Question 32

What would happen to Lacey's score on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale as a result of getting a great new job?

A)It would go up.
B)It would go up if she perceives the job to be stressful.
C)It would go down.
D)It would stay the same.

Question 33

Leonard has a job with a small company where he gets along well with everyone, and he has 15 years of seniority. Recently a competitor called to offer him a job that would pay more money, but where he would be starting over, with no seniority. What type of conflict is Leonard facing as he tries to decide whether to accept the new job because it offers more money, or turn the job offer down because it would mean giving up his seniority?

A)no-win
B)frustration-pressure
C)approach-avoidance
D)approach-approach

Question 34

Megan is looking at the ballot form for a citywide referendum and trying to decide whether or not to support the proposed change. If the referendum passes there will be better services available for all the city residents, but it will also mean that residents will pay increased property taxes. What type of conflict is Megan facing as she tries to decide whether to support the proposed referendum?

A)approach-approach
B)frustration-pressure
C)no-win
D)approach-avoidance

Question 35

Which term best describes the stress associated with repeated bus delays?

A)frustration
B)hazard
C)conflict
D)pressure

Question 36

Theresa loves to eat but at the same time fears becoming overweight. What is she experiencing?

A)frustration-pressure response
B)fight-or-flight response
C)approach-avoidance conflict
D)avoidance-avoidance conflict

Question 37

Dr. Gouin believes that getting a promotion at work or getting married is just as stressful as losing a job or getting a divorce. Which of the following pairs of researchers would agree with Dr. Gouin?

A)Scheier and Carver
B)Miller and DiMatteo
C)Holmes and Rahe
D)Friedman and Rosenman

Question 38

Two blockbuster movies are opening on the same weekend, and Andrea is having trouble deciding which movie to see first. What type of conflict is Andrea experiencing?

A)risk-aversion
B)avoidance-avoidance
C)avoidance-approach
D)approach-approach

Question 39

Miranda started a small craft business in her home three years ago. Last year she finally moved her business into a small store along her town's main street. Last Saturday, most of her store's stock was destroyed as firefighters fought a fire that had started in the vacant office next to her store. Which of the following is Miranda most likely experiencing as she walks through her ruined store?

A)frustration
B)conflict
C)burnout
D)pressure

Question 40

What is the term used to describe Lacey's behaviour of recognizing a problem, confronting it, and finding a practical solution?

A)constructive coping
B)defensive coping
C)general adaptation
D)intellectualization

Question 41

Which of the following is supported by most current research on change and stress?

A)Too much change of whatever sort automatically makes one more vulnerable to physical and psychological problems.
B)Keeping change to a minimum is an effective way to avoid the harmful effects of stress.
C)Change is not inherently or inevitably stressful.
D)Both positive and negative changes are equally stressful.

Question 42

What is the major criticism of the Social Readjustment Rating Scale?

A)It contains positive events as well as negative ones.
B)It focuses exclusively on frustrating events.
C)It does not measure change exclusively.
D)It is based on a biased sample.

Question 43

Rosemary recently married her high school sweetheart, and they moved into a wonderful new condominium. A week after the move, Rosemary was offered a job that she had been hoping she would get. At this point in time, Rosemary can't imagine being any happier. What is Rosemary experiencing according to Holmes and Rahe?

A)a high level of stress
B)an approach-approach conflict
C)overcompensation
D)little or no stress

Question 44

Which of the following cues should you use if you were to attempt to predict life expectancy of a group of people, and the only information you had available were their photo albums?

A)frequency of party photos
B)the number of photos that contain family members
C)the frequency of Duchenne smiles
D)presence of wedding pictures

Question 45

Which of the following is true of emotional responses to stress?

A)They are always negative emotions.
B)They typically alternate between positive and negative emotions.
C)They are more intense in women than in men.
D)They may be either positive or negative emotions.

Question 46

The Flashback football team made a big comeback in the second half, and are now down by a single point. Which of the following are both the quarterback and the intended receiver likely to be experiencing as the team lines up for the final play of the game?

A)pressure
B)conflict
C)burnout
D)frustration

Question 47

Which of the following controls the fight-or-flight response as a physiological reaction to a threat?

A)thalamus
B)autonomic nervous system
C)pyramidal system
D)central nervous system

Question 48

Which of the following is true about the optimal level of arousal for task performance?

A)It is about the same from one task to another.
B)It relates more to personal makeup than to the task.
C)It decreases as the tasks become more complex.
D)It increases as the tasks become more complex.

Question 49

Which of the following is likely among people with higher scores on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale?

A)They react more negatively to stressful events.
B)They cope more effectively with long-term stressors associated with change.
C)They are more vulnerable to physical illness and psychological problems.
D)They have a more external locus of control.

Question 50

What was the Social Readjustment Rating Scale designed specifically to measure?

A)change
B)aggression
C)conflict
D)control

Question 51

Mildred has to drive across town to help a friend who is experiencing a crisis. It is a time of day when traffic is light, and therefore this should be a fairly simple task. What type of arousal would be optimal for this simple task?

A)the level of arousal depends on Mildred's ability to cope with a simple task
B)low level
C)moderate level
D)high level

Question 52

Winona has a ten-page term paper due first thing in the morning, and she still has over half the paper left to write. At the same time her boyfriend is insisting that she come to the concert that evening where he will be performing his first violin solo. She knows that she needs to work on the paper, but she also knows her boyfriend will be disappointed if she doesn't attend the concert. Which of the following is Winona most likely feeling?

A)frustration
B)burnout
C)performance anxiety
D)pressure

Question 53

What appears to mediate between a potentially stressful event and the emotional, physiological, and behavioural response to that event?

A)appraisal of the event
B)magnitude of the event
C)frequency of occurrence of the event
D)number of other people who are present

Question 54

Which of the following statements concerning positive emotions and stress is the least accurate?

A)Positive emotions experienced while under stress have important adaptive significance.
B)Experiencing positive emotions while under stress is rare, and it is associated with denial in most individuals.
C)The presence of positive emotions can promote creativity and flexibility in problem solving.
D)The presence of positive emotions may reduce vulnerability to heart disease in older adults.

Question 55

What is the term for the physiological reaction to threat in which the autonomic nervous system mobilizes the organism for action?

A)fight-or-flight response
B)primary appraisal
C)resistance
D)catharsis

Question 56

Which of the following is the most stressful event, according to the Social Readjustment Scale?

A)trouble with the in-laws
B)change in sleeping habits
C)retirement
D)marriage

Question 57

As Karen goes through a difficult family problem, she maintains a cheerful attitude most of the time. Which of the following is likely to be a consequence of Karen's emotional state according to the broaden-and-build theory?

A)It will be easier for her to walk away from the problem if necessary.
B)She will be better able to solve problems as they arise.
C)She is prevented from properly dealing with the stress.
D)It will be more difficult for her to cope if the outcome is negative.

Question 58

Leigh works as a tax accountant and has to complete complex worksheets for each of her clients. Adriana works in a factory where she performs a fairly simple visual inspection of the finished product. Which of the following should you expect, assuming both Leigh and Adriana experienced a high level of arousal after hearing some distressing news?

A)Both Leigh and Adriana will show significant impairment in the performance of their respective jobs.
B)Leigh's performance will be impaired more than Adriana's performance.
C)Adriana's performance will be impaired more than Leigh's performance.
D)Neither Leigh nor Adriana will show any impairment in the performance of their respective jobs.

Question 59

Which of the following terms is defined by demands or expectations to behave in a certain way?

A)frustration
B)stress
C)pressure
D)conflict

Question 60

Yacov has just been told by his parents that he is expected to maintain a straight-A average this year because they want him to be able to go to medical school just like all the other men in his family did (something Yacov does not really want to do). What is Yacov experiencing?

A)pressure to perform
B)frustration
C)both pressure to perform and pressure to conform
D)pressure to conform

Question 61

Dionne is trapped in an elevator that is stuck between the third and fourth floors of an office building. As maintenance workers try to restart the elevator, it suddenly drops ten feet before becoming stuck once more. As the elevator drops, Dionne's sympathetic nervous system is activated. What happens next?

A)The adrenal cortex will begin to release large amounts of catecholamines.
B)The adrenal medulla will begin to release corticosteroids.
C)The amygdala will slow the release of acetylcholine.
D)The adrenal medulla will begin to release large amounts of catecholamines.

Question 62

Dustin was driving his car on an icy road when the back end started to skid out of control. His car crossed the centre line, and he could see the headlights of rapidly approaching, oncoming traffic. His entire body became energized. His heart rate and respiration increased, and he began to perspire profusely. What was Dustin experiencing, according to Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A)an alarm reaction
B)physiological exhaustion
C)autonomic rebound
D)a resistance reaction

Question 63

Chelsey was just startled by a spider. Which of the following reactions will be elicited by Chelsey's fight-or-flight response?

A)a reduction in breathing, heart rate, and digestive processes
B)an acceleration in breathing and heart rate and a reduction in digestive processes
C)a reduction in breathing and heart rate and an acceleration in digestive processes
D)an acceleration in breathing, heart rate, and digestive processes

Question 64

What happens when the adrenal medulla is stimulated?

A)Corticosteroids are absorbed by the adrenal glands.
B)Large amounts of catecholamines are released into the bloodstream.
C)The parasympathetic nervous system is activated.
D)The hormone AH is secreted.

Question 65

Which of the following statements regarding the fight-or-flight response is least accurate?

A)Fight-or-flight is an adaptive response for most members of the animal kingdom.
B)This autonomic response is most likely a "leftover" from humankind's evolutionary past.
C)Most modern current human stressors cannot be handled through fighting or fleeing.
D)Human stresses generally pass too quickly for the fight-or-flight response to be an effective coping mechanism.

Question 66

Travis was piloting a small private jet. He was making his final approach through heavy fog, and when he finally broke through the fog cover at 150 feet, he realized that the runway was 20 yards to his left. For an instant he experienced a sensation of total panic, but he quickly took action. With his heart still pounding, he gave the plane full throttle in an attempt to clear the rapidly approaching trees. What was Travis experiencing as he took action, according to Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A)physiological exhaustion
B)autonomic rebound
C)a resistance reaction
D)an alarm reaction

Question 67

Which of the following represents the correct order for the three stages of Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A)recognition, reaction, evaluation
B)primary, secondary, tertiary
C)alarm, resistance, exhaustion
D)detection, adaptation, recovery

Question 68

Which of the following mediates the fight-or-flight reaction?

A)peripheral nervous system
B)parasympathetic nervous system
C)skeletal nervous system
D)sympathetic nervous system

Question 69

Which of the following individuals is most likely to have a tend-and-befriend response?

A)a calm, contented female
B)a stressed female
C)a stressed male
D)a calm, contented male

Question 70

Which of the following is NOT a consequence associated with the release of catecholamines in the body?

A)heart rate increases
B)digestive processes speed up
C)oxygen consumption increases
D)visual sensitivity increases

Question 71

According to Hans Selye's general adaptation syndrome, what is the stage in which the body appears to be functioning efficiently, although in actuality arousal may continue to be higher than normal?

A)exhaustion
B)resistance
C)alarm
D)maintenance

Question 72

What is the name that Hans Selye gave to the body's response to stress?

A)defensive coping
B)fight-or-flight response
C)catharsis
D)general adaptation syndrome

Question 73

Tiana was walking down the street late one evening when a stranger suddenly stepped out of the shadows. Her initial reaction was one of total panic, but then she began to think of all her options. Although her heart was still pounding, she quickly crossed to the other side of the street and began walking in the opposite direction. What was Tiana experiencing, according to Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A)an alarm reaction
B)autonomic rebound
C)a resistance reaction
D)physiological exhaustion

Question 74

What did Hans Selye believe about the body's reactions to stressful situations?

A)They are specific to the type of stressor involved.
B)They cannot be generalized across individuals.
C)They are the same regardless of the stressor.
D)They vary as a function of the individual.

Question 75

Which stage of the general adaptation syndrome does the body go into after the body's unsuccessful first attempt at dealing with a stressor?

A)sympathetic
B)alarm
C)third
D)resistance

Question 76

Bryce is an army field surgeon who has been operating on wounded soldiers for the past 24 hours, without a break. It seems as if he will never be able to deal with all the wounded soldiers who are already at the field hospital, and more wounded are arriving every hour. Meanwhile, the sound of heavy artillery is getting closer all the time. At this point, Bryce feels completely worn out. His overall energy reserves are totally depleted, and his body just wants to give up. What is Bryce experiencing according to Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A)a resistance reaction
B)autonomic rebound
C)physiological exhaustion
D)an alarm reaction

Question 77

What is the final stage of Hans Selye's general adaptation syndrome, in which the organism's resources for fighting stress may be depleted?

A)fatigue
B)alarm
C)resistance
D)exhaustion

Question 78

You have just come face to face with a bear on your walk through the woods. In which stage of the general adaptation syndrome does your body automatically mobilize itself for action?

A)exhaustion
B)alarm
C)resistance
D)coping

Question 79

Brooke had been battling the rising floodwaters around her home for more than 72 hours. It seemed that no matter how many sandbags she stacked, it wasn't enough. At this point she just feels that there is nothing else that she can do. Her overall energy reserves are totally depleted, and her body just wants to give up. What is Brooke experiencing according to Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A)an alarm reaction
B)physiological exhaustion
C)a resistance reaction
D)autonomic rebound

Question 80

Clarice was in a meeting with several other employees when her boss started to criticize a proposal Clarice had put together for the marketing department. As he started into his critique, Clarice's heart rate and respiration increased, and she could feel her face and hands become flushed and red. What was Clarice experiencing, according to Selye's general adaptation syndrome?

A)physiological exhaustion
B)an alarm reaction
C)autonomic rebound
D)a resistance reaction