Deck 4: Coping Processes

Question 1

Which of the following is NOT true of giving up as a response to stress?

A) It is sometimes adaptive.
B) It is sometimes called behavioral disengagement.
C) It urges people on to be more competitive.
D) It can increase distress.

Answer 1

It urges people on to be more competitive.

Question 2

If you enroll in a Research Methods course without taking the prerequisites,__________  might be the most adaptive coping strategy. 

A) catharsis
B) denial
C) behavioral disengagement
D) displacement

Answer 2

behavioral disengagement

Question 3

Diversion of anger toward a substitute target was noted by Sigmund Freud, who called it 

A) displacement.
B) projection.
C) rationalization.
D) reaction formation.

Answer 3

displacement.

Question 4

A coping strategy is considered adaptive if it enhances one's well-being.

Question 5

Which of the following statements about the use of coping strategies is NOT true?

A) People cope with stress in many ways.
B) There are about 40 distinct coping techniques.
C) People select their coping tactics from a varied menu of options.
D) Four distinct groups of coping strategies have been identified.

Question 6

Learned helplessness results when humans are subjected to aversive events that 

A) are unavoidable.
B) negatively reinforce aggressiveness.
C) positively reinforce aggressiveness.
D) are high in control but low in predictability.

Question 7

__________  developed the learned helplessness model.

A) Sigmund Freud
B) Albert Bandura
C) Martin Seligman
D) Abraham Maslow

Question 8

Freud coined the term_____  to refer to the release of emotional tension.

A) aggression
B) implosion
C) frustration
D) catharsis

Question 9

Which of the following was NOT found in frustration-aggression research?

A) Frustration does not necessarily lead to aggression.
B) Many factors besides frustration affect the likelihood of aggression.
C) Fighting a fictional character in a game can release pent-up anger and hostility.
D) Frustration is more likely to produce aggression when alcohol is involved.

Question 10

Using multiple strategies to cope with stress has been related to

A) reduced depression.
B) reduced anxiety.
C) reduced distress.
D) all of these.

Question 11

If you yell at your little sister after having a fight with your girlfriend, you may be diverting your anger through the use of

A) repression.
B) catharsis.
C) displacement.
D) denial.

Question 12

Efforts to master, reduce, or tolerate the demands caused by stress in one's life are collectively known as__________.

A) catharsis
B) defense mechanisms
C) procrastination
D) coping

Question 13

Whether someone develops learned helplessness under conditions of unavoidable aversive events most likely depends on

A) the intensity of the aversive events.
B) prior experience in similar circumstances.
C) conditioning experiences in childhood.
D) cognitive interpretation.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of the coping strategy known as behavioral disengagement?

A) Arguing with one's best friend because of anger toward one's boss.
B) Dropping a class because it is evident that one needs to take one of the recommended prerequisites.
C) Using drugs following a significant loss.
D) Blaming one's parents for one's character flaws.

Question 15

When coping with stress, it is most adaptive to use 

A) a variety of coping strategies.
B) the tried and true method.
C) problem-focused over emotion-focused coping.
D) proactive coping.

Question 16

Brenda saves money during the summer because she works fewer hours during the fall and her income drops then. Brenda is practicing which type of coping strategy?

A) Problem-focused.
B) Emotion-focused.
C) Engagement.
D) Meaning-focused.

Question 17

A national survey by the American Psychological Association (2015) revealed that_____% of Americans do nothing to manage their stress.

A) 1
B) 5
C) 20
D) 40

Question 18

Coping processes range from the helpful to the counterproductive.

Question 19

George realized that while his car was totaled, everyone involved in the accident was alive. This helped him deal with the stress of his accident through

A) emotion-focused coping.
B) proactive coping.
C) meaning-focused coping.
D) disengagement coping.

Question 20

Maladaptive coping strategies tend to be associated with poorer adjustment. This means that

A) all coping strategies are equal.
B) a coping strategy may help in the moment, but it is problematic in the long run.
C) people who are better adjusted tend to utilize maladaptive strategies.
D) poorer circumstances lead to poorer coping responses.

Question 21

Gratifying frustrated desires by thinking about imaginary achievements and satisfactions refers to the defense mechanism called

A) overcompensation.
B) fantasy.
C) regression.
D) identification.

Question 22

When confronted by stress, people often become highly self-critical.

Question 23

The experience of stress depends on how one appraises events.

Question 24

Beth often came home from school eager to escape online. In fact, she found it difficult to do anything else in the evenings other than spend time on the Internet. Beth may be experiencing

A) Internet addiction.
B) a form of self-indulgence.
C) a disruption in time that can ultimately increase her stress levels.
D) all of these.

Question 25

Defense mechanisms are unconscious reactions that protect a person from 

A) interpersonal deception.
B) unpleasant emotions.
C) catastrophic thinking.
D) potential failure in social relationships.

Question 26

The Spotlight on Research study (Sproesser et al., 2014) investigated the food consumption of_____ (or "stress eaters") and_____ (those who eat less when stressed). 

A) hypophagics; hyperphagics
B) hyperphagics; hypophagics
C) emotional eaters; starvers
D) bingers; purgers

Question 27

Research shows that venting and "blowing off steam" is effective in getting negative emotions out of one's system.

Question 28

A recent meta-analysis on the prevalence of internet addiction (Cheng & Yee-lam Li, 2014) reported that approximately_____of people worldwide meet the criteria for addiction. 

A) 2%
B) 6%
C) 10%
D) 20%

Question 29

Behaving in an aggressive manner is an effective means of blowing off steam.

Question 30

Who originally developed the concept of defense mechanisms?

A) Albert Bandura.
B) Sigmund Freud.
C) Albert Ellis.
D) Martin Seligman.

Question 31

There is evidence that stress is related to

A) overeating.
B) increased smoking.
C) consumption of alcohol.
D) all of these.

Question 32

Weinstein and colleagues report three typical subtypes of internet addiction. Which of the following is NOT one of the three discussed in your text? 

A) Socializing.
B) Cyber-relationship.
C) Gaming.
D) Sexual.

Question 33

Anderson and Bushman (2001) found that the link between media violence and aggression is nearly as strong as the relationship between smoking and cancer.

Question 34

When things are going poorly in one area of life, one may compensate by pursuing substitute forms of satisfaction. This coping strategy is referred to as

A) a defense mechanism.
B) developing alternative rewards.
C) addiction.
D) catharsis.

Question 35

Maladaptive emotional responses are caused by rigid and logical thinking, according to Ellis.

Question 36

Bushman and Huesmann (2012) report that most experimental studies do not support the catharsis hypothesis. This means that_______________. 

A) behaving aggressively increases positive cognitions
B) behaving aggressively begets more aggression
C) aggression is due to frustration
D) acting upon aggressive thoughts is effective for some but not others

Question 37

Experimental research indicates that aggressive behavior

A) is basically uncontrollable.
B) does not reliably lead to catharsis.
C) is often adaptive in interpersonal relationships.
D) is an instinctual approach for dealing with frustration.

Question 38

Research suggests that Internet addiction is primarily limited to shy, male computer whizzes.

Question 39

The defense mechanism that involves suppressing unpleasant emotions or circumstances and refusing to acknowledge that they exist is referred to as

A) displacement.
B) reaction formation.
C) intellectualization.
D) denial.

Question 40

Anderson and Bushman's (2001) review of the research on violent video games did NOT find which of the following trends?

A) Increased violent game play and decreased helping behavior.
B) Increased violent game play and heightened physiological arousal.
C) Increased violent game play and more incidences of sexual deviance.
D) Increased violent game play and increased aggressive cognition.

Question 41

In making projections about the future, "normal" people are more likely than depressed people to

A) be realistic.
B) make accurate projections.
C) rely on empirical evidence.
D) be unrealistically optimistic.

Question 42

Albert Ellis's rational-emotive behavior therapy involves emphasizing the magnitude of one's problems.

Question 43

Defense mechanisms can operate at 

A) the unconscious level only.
B) the conscious level only.
C) the preconscious level only.
D) both the conscious and unconscious levels.

Question 44

Albert Ellis believed that problematic emotional reactions to stress are caused by 

A) unpleasant events.
B) catastrophic thinking.
C) excessively logical thinking.
D) the over-reliance on defense mechanisms.

Question 45

Defense mechanisms work primarily through

A) distorting reality so it does not seem so unpleasant and threatening.
B) reducing a person's impulse control.
C) allowing a person to release pent-up emotions.
D) promoting adaptive coping whenever they are employed.

Question 46

Which of the following is NOT a type of constructive coping described in your text?

A) Appraisal-focused.
B) Emotion-focused.
C) Problem-focused.
D) Cognition-focused.

Question 47

Constructive coping involves confronting problems directly.

Question 48

Defense mechanisms are most often _____and entirely _____.

A) unconscious; normal
B) unconscious; abnormal
C) conscious; normal
D) conscious; abnormal

Question 49

Defense mechanisms are

A) usually always healthy to use.
B) probably almost never healthy to use.
C) probably not healthy to use, with a few exceptions.
D) none of these.

Question 50

According to Taylor and Brown, depressed subjects exhibit _____favorable and _____realistic self-concepts than do "normal" people.

A) more; more
B) less; less
C) less; more
D) more; less

Question 51

When psychologists label a coping response as constructive or healthy, they are basing this on 

A) careful and consistent research.
B) common sense.
C) value judgments.
D) multiple case studies.

Question 52

Compared to depressed people, "normal" people tend to _____the degree to which they control chance events.

A) underestimate
B) overestimate
C) less accurately estimate
D) more accurately estimate

Question 53

Joe has been arrested more than once for driving under the influence of alcohol. When you ask him about how he is managing his drinking problem, he says, "I don't have a drinking problem; I have a getting caught problem!" He is most likely using_____ to manage his difficulties.

A) overcompensation
B) undoing
C) projection
D) denial

Question 54

Constructive coping is aimed at

A) changing one's interpretation of stressful events.
B) the stressful situation itself.
C) managing emotional distress.
D) all of these.

Question 55

Constructive coping involves

A) confronting problems directly.
B) realistically appraising stress.
C) learning to manage some emotional reactions to stress.
D) all of these.

Question 56

Which of the following statements about defense mechanisms is NOT true?

A) Defensive coping is an avoidance strategy.
B) They typically operate at the unconscious level.
C) They are generally considered to be poor ways of coping.
D) Their use is considered an indication of psychological maladjustment.

Question 57

Constructive coping involves all of the following EXCEPT

A) confronting problems directly.
B) being less realistic in your appraisal of your coping resources.
C) acquiring self-control.
D) an active planning process.

Question 58

._______________refers broadly to the use of relatively healthful strategies for managing stressful events.

A) Defending
B) Compensating
C) Catharsis
D) Constructive coping

Question 59

Ramon recently lost his job. He has been searching online for job openings and has an appointment with a placement agency. Which constructive coping tactic is Ramon using?

A) Appraisal-focused.
B) Emotion-focused.
C) Problem-focused.
D) Cognition-focused.

Question 60

Which of the following is NOT involved in constructive coping?

A) Confronting problems directly.
B) Applying basic principles of classical conditioning.
C) Exerting some control over potentially harmful behaviors.
D) Recognizing potentially disruptive emotional reactions to stress.

Question 61

According to Albert Ellis, which of these statements is NOT a way to reduce catastrophic thinking?

A) Sport unrealistic pessimism.
B) Examine self-talk.
C) Look for key words, such as must and always.
D) Keep your concerns to yourself.

Question 62

According to Albert Ellis, our emotional reactions to life events result mainly from

A) our activation level at the time.
B) our appraisals of the events.
C) the consequences of the events.
D) congruence between events and expectations.

Question 63

Herman often used math puns and knock-knock jokes at the beginning of class sessions to amuse his Statistics students. It is most likely that his use of humor 

A) will engage his students.
B) will amuse his class.
C) will be effective in reducing stress.
D) All of these are true.

Question 64

Susan was wiped out from her third chemotherapy treatment, yet when asked about how she was doing through all of this, she replied, "Now I am able to have a lot more compassion for my grandmother, who went through this, too, and it has brought us closer together." Susan illustrates the use of__________    as a coping strategy.

A) positive reinterpretation
B) reaction formation
C) learned helplessness
D) catharsis

Question 65

Which of the following is an example of positive reinterpretation?

A) Cutting your losses.
B) Learning the hard way.
C) Comparing yourself to those who are better off.
D) Looking for something good in a bad experience.

Question 66

Efforts to remedy or conquer the stress-producing problem itself are called _____-focused coping.

A) problem
B) thought
C) emotion
D) situation

Question 67

Which of the following keywords is NOT present in catastrophic thinking? 

A) Must.
B) Always.
C) Should.
D) Wait.

Question 68

Finding humor in the situation is considered a(n)_____  -focused strategy of constructive coping. 

A) appraisal
B) emotion
C) problem
D) cognition

Question 69

Albert Ellis would consider which of the following irrational thinking?

A) "I would like to succeed in my chosen profession."
B) "I must be admired and liked by everyone who meets me."
C) "I would prefer to have a certain amount of free time on the weekends."
D) "I think it is important to have a happy marriage."

Question 70

Comparing your own problems with others' can help put your problems in perspective.

Question 71

Which of the following has NOT been proposed as an explanation for how humor helps to reduce the effects of stress and promote wellness?

A) Humor increases the experience of positive emotions.
B) Humor facilitates rewarding social interactions.
C) Humor facilitates the release of stress-relieving neurotransmitters.
D) Humor affects appraisals of stressful events.

Question 72

According to research, which of the following can effectively moderate the negative impact of stress?

A) Dissonance.
B) Catharsis.
C) Repression.
D) Humor.

Question 73

Which of the following is NOT a step in systematic problem-solving?

A) Clarify the problem.
B) Think of alternative courses of action.
C) Try several different alternatives simultaneously.
D) Act, while remaining flexible.

Question 74

Problem-solving has been linked to

A) better psychological adjustment.
B) lower levels of depression.
C) fewer health complaints.
D) all of these.

Question 75

Albert Ellis developed_____  therapy, a system of psychotherapy based on altering clients' appraisals of events in order to reduce maladaptive emotions and behaviors.

A) client-centered
B) psychodynamic
C) rational-emotive behavior
D) social learning

Question 76

Marge was not being asked for a follow-up interview to her job applications. She asked her friend Homer to help her solve the problem. Homer asked her if she was sure what the problem was. Homer was helping Marge

A) generate an alternative course of action.
B) evaluate her alternatives.
C) clarify the problem.
D) take action, but be flexible.

Question 77

Positive reinterpretation uses

A) a commonsense strategy.
B) a positive comparison strategy.
C) imagining yourself in a similar situation with a worse outcome.
D) all of these.

Question 78

Helena often used humor to point out faults in others and shortcomings. It is most likely that her use of humor

A) will increase her depression.
B) will create a social support system for her.
C) is highly adaptive.
D) is related to her better mental health.

Question 79

According to Albert Ellis, the goal of therapy is to replace catastrophic thinking with more low-key,_____ analysis.

A) intuitive
B) natural
C) rational
D) congruent

Question 80

Which of the following is NOT one of the main components of Ellis's model of catastrophic thinking?

A) Consequence.
B) Unconditioned response.
C) Belief system.
D) Activating event.