Deck 3: Stress and Health Psychology

Question 1

A "stressor" is defined as _______.

A) a trigger that prompts a stressful reaction
B) the physiological reaction of the body to environmental factors
C) a negative emotion resulting from environmental unpleasantness
D) the nonspecific response of the body to any demand made on it

Answer 1

a trigger that prompts a stressful reaction

Question 2

As you approach an attractive woman whom you'd like to meet, your heart starts racing and your pupils dilate. In this situation, _____ is (are) the stressor, and _____ is (are) the stress.

A) you; your attraction to the woman
B) approaching the attractive woman; your racing heart and dilated pupils
C) your racing heart and dilated pupils; the attractive woman
D) none of these options; this is an enjoyable experience

Answer 2

approaching the attractive woman; your racing heart and dilated pupils

Question 3

The total absence of stress would ultimately lead to _______.

A) a state of deep relaxation
B) death
C) lifetime happiness
D) unconsciousness

Answer 3

death

Question 4

The most stressful jobs are those that make great demands on performance, but allow little _______________.

A) control
B) opportunity for advancement
C) personal choice
D) freedom

Question 5

An idealistic person who is exposed to chronic stress in an emotionally draining job, such as an air traffic controller, is likely to experience _____________ as a result of this situation.

A) burnout
B) frustration
C) technostress
D) work hassles

Question 6

Which of the following is an approach-avoidant conflict?

A) Choice A $\rightarrow$ positive result; Choice B $\rightarrow$ positive result
B) Choice A $\rightarrow$ positive result; Choice B $\rightarrow$ negative result
C) Choice A $\rightarrow$ negative result; Choice B $\rightarrow$ negative result
D) Choice A or B $\rightarrow$ positive and negative result

Question 7

Since the sympathetic nervous system acts quickly in response to a stressor, but is soon overridden by the parasympathetic nervous system, the primary system that best deals with chronic stresses is the ______.

A) epinephrine axis
B) norepinephrine axis
C) HPA axis
D) EPA axis

Question 8

What stage of the GAS corresponds to the HPA axis?

A) alarm
B) resistance
C) exhaustion
D) b and c

Question 9

What stage of the GAS corresponds to the SAM system?

A) alarm
B) resistance
C) exhaustion
D) b and c

Question 10

Which phase of the GAS is John experiencing, if he realized that he is totally unprepared as he takes his first major exam?

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

Question 11

The risk of developing cancer can be reduced by _______________________.

A) reducing stress levels
B) enhancing the immune system
C) enhancing the GAS
D) a and b

Question 12

Cancer can result from _________.

A) problems metabolizing oxygen
B) abnormal pancreatic functioning, which can alter hormone levels
C) the adrenal glands releasing insufficient cortisol
D) stress, which releases hormones that suppresses immune functioning

Question 13

Which of the following can help to increase or replenish the number of natural killer cells in the body?

A) alcohol
B) sleep
C) sex
D) shouting

Question 14

A type of blood cell that can kill cancer cells is called (a) ________.

A) red blood cell
B) natural killer cell
C) nutriferon
D) Beta cell

Question 15

Chest pain due to an insufficient blood supply to the heart, blood flowing slowly to the heart due to blocked arteries, and the death of some of the heart muscle tissue are examples of ________.

A) angina
B) atherosclerosis
C) heart attack
D) angiosclerosis

Question 16

Which of the following is a controllable factor contributing to heart disease?

A) obesity
B) smoking
C) heredity
D) a and b

Question 17

Which of the following is among the characteristics associated with Type-A personality?

A) time urgency
B) patience
C) calm
D) relaxed

Question 18

Which of the following personalities is related to heart disease?

A) type A
B) type B
C) type C
D) a and c

Question 19

People who interpret stress as challenging and interesting rather than threatening or frustrating are exhibiting _____.

A) Type B thinking
B) Type A thinking
C) hardiness
D) foolishness

Question 20

Which of the following is one of the characteristics associated with hardiness?

A) challenge
B) competition
C) competence
D) creativity

Question 21

If Charles is eager to start a new career, committed to solve any problems that come his way, and believes he has control over what happens in his life, he probably ________.

A) has a Type A personality
B) is psychologically hardy
C) is at risk for a heart attack
D) suffers from delusions of grandiosity

Question 22

Hardiness is _____.

A) based on genetics
B) learned
C) undesirable
D) positively correlated with cancer and heart disease

Question 23

What can we do to decrease our risk for heart disease?

A) Keep abreast of medical advances.
B) Keep our weight within normal range.
C) Quit smoking.
D) b and c

Question 24

Which neurotransmitter is released during exercise that promotes the alleviation of stress and relaxation?

A) norepinephrine
B) dopamine
C) serotonin
D) cortisol

Question 25

People with cynical hostility have more interpersonal conflicts that can lead to _____________________.

A) an increase in autonomic activation
B) a decrease in autonomic activation
C) an increase risk of cardiovascular disease
D) a and c

Question 26

A person at or above the 80th percentile on hostility has _____ the risk of having a coronary heart disease episode as a person with a score between the 40th and 59th percentiles on hostility.

A) twice
B) three times
C) almost four times
D) almost six times

Question 27

The essential feature of PTSD is ________.

A) emotional numbing
B) nightmares
C) flashbacks
D) severe anxiety

Question 28

_____ out of 5 Americans who experience a severe traumatic event will develop PTSD in their lives.

A) 1
B) 2
C) 3
D) 4

Question 29

Which of the following people are most likely to experience PTSD?

A) Susan, who witnessed her child being brutally murdered
B) Eric, who failed a psychology exam
C) Joe, who broke his leg while skiing
D) Yvette, who lost her wallet at the store

Question 30

Some victims of PTSD will experience which of the following?

A) schizophrenia
B) drug abuse
C) alcohol abuse
D) b and c

Question 31

Ulcers are associated with _____.

A) personality type
B) an increase in stress hormones and hydrochloric acid
C) an increase in blood flow to the stomach
D) genetics

Question 32

The fact that H. pylori bacterium, increases in stress hormones and hydrochloric acid, and a decrease in blood flow to the stomach all contribute to ulcers supports the __________.

A) cognitive model
B) psychodynamic model
C) psychosociosomatic model
D) biopsychosocial model

Question 33

Health psychology __________________.

A) studies how biological factors affect health and illness
B) studies how psychological factors affect health and illness
C) studies how social factors affect health and illness
D) all of the above.

Question 34

If you are mounting a campaign to prevent young people from taking up smoking, you are likely to get the BEST results if you emphasize the _____.

A) serious, unhealthy, long-term effects of tobacco use
B) number of adults who die from smoking
C) value of having a relatively healthy retirement
D) short-term detrimental effects of tobacco use

Question 35

The effects of nicotine are related to the release of _____ in the brain.

A) acetylcholine
B) serotonin
C) epinephrine
D) GABA

Question 36

Rewards for smoking come from ______.

A) the relief of withdrawal symptoms
B) an association with pleasant social events
C) inhibiting the release of dopamine
D) a and b

Question 37

Antismoking laws _____.

A) have had no effect on smokers
B) have made it easier for smokers to quit
C) may make it harder for smokers to quit
D) have caused withdrawal symptoms in second-hand smokers

Question 38

The antismoking laws have had unintended effects that may make quitting more difficult for some people, including _________________.

A) giving smokers the best side of the restaurant
B) enhancing the formation of a strong social bond
C) giving smokers strong senses of self-identity
D) allowing longer breaks to go outside to smoke

Question 39

Health psychologists may implement a behavioral modification program that involves ______.

A) the patient
B) the patient's family
C) the patient's coworkers
D) both a and b

Question 40

Health psychologists may work as ______ physicians, physical therapists, and other health care workers to help a client.

A) independent clinicians at the same time as
B) consultants alongside
C) the only practitioners and discourage patients from meeting with
D) both a and b

Question 41

Health psychologists provide information about the effects of ______.

A) smoking
B) alcohol
C) stress
D) all of the above

Question 42

Emotion-focused forms of coping are based on changing your _____ when faced with stressful situations.

A) feelings
B) perceptions
C) strategies
D) thinking

Question 43

Unconscious strategies used to distort reality and relieve anxiety and guilt are called _____.

A) defense mechanisms
B) cognitive reappraisals
C) juvenile thinking
D) primary process thinking

Question 44

Rationalization is a(n) _____ that can be ineffective or dangerous even though it may reduce short-term anxiety or guilt.

A) problem solving strategy
B) extrinsic excuse
C) defense mechanism
D) cognitive-behavioral strategy

Question 45

A small plane has crashed in your neighborhood and you take a fire extinguisher and blankets to the scene. You then stand back and pray when you realize there is nothing you can do to help. In this situation, praying is an example of _____ coping.

A) problem-focused
B) emotion-focused
C) active
D) passive

Question 46

Problem-focused forms of coping strategies emphasize _____.

A) the problem-solving set
B) decreasing or eliminating the source of stress
C) eliminating the pain caused by the stressor
D) the problem-solving component

Question 47

Which of the following is among the coping resources listed in your text?

A) religious commitment
B) money
C) social skills
D) b and c

Question 48

A person's ability to cope effectively depends on the _____ of the stressor?

A) complexity
B) intensity
C) duration
D) all of the above

Question 49

A person's ability to cope effectively depends on the stressor and the ______.

A) coping strategy used
B) available resources
C) ethnicity of the person
D) a and b

Question 50

You can use progressive relaxation techniques______.

A) only in the privacy of your own home
B) only at church
C) anytime, anywhere
D) never

Question 51

Progressive relaxation should be done while you are ______.

A) sitting
B) standing
C) laying on your stomach
D) asleep

Question 52

How should you breathe during progressive relaxation?

A) sporadically
B) slowly and deeply
C) heavy panting
D) hold your breath

Question 53

How often does your text suggest practicing progressive relaxation?

A) once a week for 15 min
B) twice a week for 15 min
C) twice a day for 15 min
D) once a day for 15 min

Question 54

Define stress. Using your college experience, describe sources of eustress and distress in the life of a college student (include definitions and examples of daily hassles and frustrations). State two ways you could cope with each type of distress.

Question 55

Your task is to create an instrument that can accurately capture the stress level of college students. What items would you include in your questionnaire, and why?

Question 56

Define conflict and the three basic types of conflict, and state which is usually the hardest to resolve. Using your own life experiences, provide an example of each of these conflicts, and discuss which was the hardest to resolve and why.

Question 57

Compare and contrast the SAM system and the HPA axis and how they contribute to the stress response that takes place in the body.

Question 58

Describe the general adaptation syndrome and discuss how stress suppresses the immune system.

Question 59

Define Type A and Type B personality characteristics. State the characteristics that place Type A personalities at risk for heart disease. Briefly explain the shotgun and target behavior treatment approaches.

Question 60

Describe the characteristics of the hardy personality and how each might help reduce the negative effects of stress on the body.

Question 61

Identify two reactions mentioned in your text that are disorders resulting from stress. Compare and contrast each of these disorders, and explain how stress generates these disorders in the body.

Question 62

Imagine that you are a health psychologist speaking to a group of eager psychology students who want to know what you do that is so helpful to others. Define health psychology for them, and describe one imaginary client who has benefited from your work, as well as two services you perform in your community or with other professionals as a health psychologist.

Question 63

Imagine you are a health psychologist speaking to parents of elementary school children about cigarette smoking. Describe to them the social and biological factors that lead to smoking. Then provide them with a list of things they can do to prevent their children from smoking.

Question 64

Contrast emotion-focused and problem-focused coping strategies. Provide an effective and ineffective example of each coping strategy for taking this test.

Question 65

List and describe the six resources for coping with stress that were presented in your text. Discuss how having each resource can affect your ability to cope if you had to move across the country in the next 30 days.

Question 66

Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using defense mechanisms as a means of emotion-focused coping.

Question 67

If a client lacks material resources, such as money, how might you encourage them to cope with stress of expensive cancer treatments?

Question 68

How would you encourage a fellow college student to deal with the stress of working full-time, going to school full-time, and raising a family?

Question 69

In what ways could your campus implement more programs to help college students cope with stress?