Deck 11: Stress, Health, and Coping

Question 1

Unhealthy stress is referred to as eustress. 

Answer 1

False

Question 2

According to the general adaptation syndrome, in the resistance stage, levels of endocrine and sympathetic activity are higher than in the alarm reaction stage. 

Answer 2

False

Question 3

In the context of stress, predictability is of greater benefit to externals-that is, to people who wish to exercise control over their situations-than to internals. 

Answer 3

False

Question 4

Stress elevates blood levels of cortisol and adrenaline (epinephrine) and heightens the probability that a dormant Epstein-Barr virus will be reactivated. 

Question 5

While conducting studies about the immune system's response to the Epstein-Barr virus during the stress of exams, it was found that students who were lonely showed greater suppression of the immune system than students who had more social support. 

Question 6

In the approach-avoidance conflict, each of two goals is desirable, and both are within reach. 

Question 7

When problems assault us, irrational beliefs help diminish their effect. 

Question 8

Psychological states such as anxiety and depression can impair the functioning of the immune system. 

Question 9

In the case of cardiovascular problems and cancer, genes create predispositions toward the health problem. 

Question 10

People who have higher self-efficacy expectations are more prone to be disturbed by adverse events. 

Question 11

Hassles and life changes can predict physical health problems such as heart disease and cancer, and even athletic injuries. 

Question 12

People with higher self-efficacy expectations have biological as well as psychological reasons for remaining calmer than people with lower self-efficacy. 

Question 13

The tendency of a person to catastrophize the extent of loss lowers his blood pressure. 

Question 14

Stress and pathogens interact to influence the immune system. 

Question 15

Hassles can cause us to worry and can affect our moods. 

Question 16

Increasing hypertension and LDL (harmful) serum cholesterol, through medicine if necessary, reduces the risk of coronary heart disease. 

Question 17

Inflammation decreases blood circulation to parts of the body that are injured. 

Question 18

Type B people are highly driven, competitive, impatient, hostile, and aggressive-so much so that they are prone to getting into auto accidents. 

Question 19

Irrational beliefs can lessen an individual's emotional reaction to loss and enhance coping ability. 

Question 20

In the context of the alarm reaction, once a threat is removed, the body returns to a higher state of arousal. 

Question 21

Kevin is in the exhaustion stage of Selye's general adaptation syndrome. Which of the following is most likely to occur?  

A)His heart and respiration rates slow down and his muscles become fatigued. 
B)His endocrine and sympathetic activity is higher than in the alarm stage. 
C)His hypothalamus secretes corticotrophin-releasing hormones, which in turn causes his pituitary gland to secrete cortisol. 
D)His body is activated and he experiences a fight-or-flight reaction.

Question 22

Which of the following hassles is an example of environmental hassles?  

A)Noise  
B)Job dissatisfaction  
C)Terrorism  
D)Shopping

Question 23

Ever since Michelle failed her biology test, she thinks that she will never be able to find a job when she eventually graduates. She feels that she will end up homeless. This situation best demonstrates:  

A)psychological hardiness. 
B)self-efficacy expectations. 
C)the coronary-prone behavior pattern. 
D)irrational beliefs.

Question 24

Sam wants to be a clinical psychologist. He has been accepted at two different graduate schools. Both schools are equally prestigious and will provide him with an outstanding education. However, he is finding it difficult to choose between the two. According to Neal E. Miller, this type of conflict is known as a(n):  

A)avoidance-avoidance conflict. 
B)approach-approach conflict. 
C)approach-avoidance conflict. 
D)multiple approach-avoidance conflict.

Question 25

_____ is best described as a demand made on an organism to adapt, cope, or adjust. 

A)Pathogenicity  
B)Stress  
C)Homeostasis  
D)An equilibrium

Question 26

Feeling lonely and being socially isolated are examples of _____. 

A)health hassles  
B)inner concern hassles  
C)work hassles  
D)security hassles

Question 27

Suppose a person is fired and he harbors beliefs such as: "This job was the most important thing in my life," "What a no-good failure I am," "My family will starve," "I'll never find a job as good," "There's nothing I can do about it." According to Albert Ellis, such irrational beliefs contribute to anxiety and depression by:  

A)creating an approach-approach conflict. 
B)catastrophizing the extent of loss. 
C)lowering an individual's emotional reaction to loss. 
D)reducing hypertension.

Question 28

After returning from work, Greg contemplates whether he should stay at home or exercise at the gym. He wants to stay at home because he likes to relax, but feels guilty about not getting enough exercise. He knows that if he goes to the gym, he will be glad that he is exercising but unhappy because he does not enjoy the activity. According to Neal E. Miller, this is an example of a(n) _____. 

A)avoidance-avoidance conflict  
B)approach-approach conflict  
C)interpersonal conflict  
D)multiple approach-avoidance conflict

Question 29

Unlike Type A people, Type B people:  

A)are more reluctant to delegate authority in the workplace and thus increase their own workload. 
B)feel rushed and pressured and keep one eye glued to the clock. 
C)are highly driven, competitive, impatient, hostile, and aggressive. 
D)are less ambitious and less impatient.

Question 30

The hassles of retirement and investments are examples of__________. 

A)time-pressure hassles  
B)security hassles  
C)inner concern hassles  
D)environmental hassles

Question 31

Which of the following is a risk factor for coronary heart disease?  

A)Overeating  
B)Low blood pressure  
C)Sunbathing  
D)Type B behavior

Question 32

According to Selye's theory, if the alarm reaction mobilizes the body and the related stressor is not removed, we enter the__________stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS). This stage precedes the last stage of the GAS. 

A)formal operational  
B)exhaustion  
C)resistance  
D)preoperational

Question 33

Peggy Blake and her colleagues constructed a scale of "life-change units" to measure the impact of life changes among college students. Surveys with students revealed that:  

A)they considered unwanted pregnancy to be less stressful than major financial problems. 
B)they considered academic failures to be more stressful than the beginning of college. 
C)100 percent of them considered graduating from college a stress-free event. 
D)some of them considered academic success to be stressful.

Question 34

__________such as pathogens, injuries, age, gender, and a family history of disease may strike us as the most obvious causes of illness. 

A)Psychological factors  
B)Sociocultural factors  
C)Biological factors  
D)Environmental factors

Question 35

Which of the following is one of Selye's three stages in the general adaptation syndrome?  

A)The latency stage  
B)The stagnation stage  
C)The exhaustion stage  
D)The resilience stage

Question 36

Which of the following is true of corticosteroids?  

A)They combat allergic reactions. 
B)They suppress inflammation. 
C)They are beneficial for the cardiovascular system. 
D)They cause the adrenal cortex to secrete adrenocorticotrophic hormone.

Question 37

In the context of stress, which of the following is true of humor?  

A)Research suggests that humor can moderate the effects of stress. 
B)A sense of humor helps reduce the output of endorphins. 
C)A sense of humor helps suppress the functioning of the immune system. 
D)Research suggests that a sense of humor helps reduce the production of cortisol.

Question 38

According to the general adaptation syndrome, during the resistance stage, a person typically feels like a heavy burden has been removed from his or her mind. 

Question 39

Which of the following is Hans Selye's term for stress that is healthful?  

A)Fixation  
B)Eugenics  
C)Eustress  
D)Catharsis

Question 40

In the context of stressors, Albert Ellis referred to situations such as losing a job as an activating event. 

Question 41

Which of the following is a difference between Type A people and Type B people?  

A)Type A people are more likely to continue to strive for more and more as compared to Type B people. 
B)Type A people show lower blood pressure than Type B people in response to stressors. 
C)Type A people relax more readily and focus more on the quality of life as compared to Type B people. 
D)Type A people earn lower grades and less money than Type B people who are equal in intelligence.

Question 42

__________is best defined as a cluster of traits that buffer stress and are characterized by commitment, challenge, and control. 

A)Catharsis  
B)Self-actualization  
C)Self-defeating behavior  
D)Psychological hardiness

Question 43

While conducting experiments to study the effect of humor on stressed students, it was found that exposing students to humorous videotapes raised the level of__________in their saliva. 

A)corticosteroids  
B)adrenocorticotrophic hormone  
C)immunoglobulin A  
D)cortisol

Question 44

In the context of the general adaptation syndrome, the hormones adrenaline and noradrenaline are secreted by the__________. 

A)adrenal cortex  
B)hypothalamus  
C)pancreas  
D)adrenal medulla

Question 45

Which of the following is true of the immune system?  

A)It is made stronger by prolonged stress. 
B)It remembers how to battle antigens, often for years. 
C)It cannot recognize pathogens in case of a reoccurring infection. 
D)It is typically weakened by short-term stress.

Question 46

In the context of the general adaptation syndrome, which of the following is true of the fight-or-flight reaction?  

A)It stems from a period in human prehistory when many stressors were life threatening. 
B)It involves the slowdown of the heart rate. 
C)It stems from a sudden lack of sugar in the blood. 
D)It is accompanied by a deceleration of the respiration rate.

Question 47

The__________activates the adrenal medulla, causing it to release a mixture of adrenaline and noradrenaline during the alarm reaction stage of the general adaptation syndrome. 

A)parasympathetic nervous system  
B)sympathetic nervous system  
C)somatic nervous system  
D)central nervous system

Question 48

Type A people:  

A)readily delegate authority in the workplace and thus decrease their own workload. 
B)eat, walk, and talk slowly. 
C)are highly driven, competitive, impatient, hostile, and aggressive. 
D)are not prone to getting into auto accidents.

Question 49

The__________is the third stage in a group of bodily changes that occur in the general adaptation syndrome. In this stage, the muscles become fatigued. 

A)alarm reaction stage  
B)formal operational stage  
C)concrete operational stage  
D)exhaustion stage

Question 50

Many couples who repeatedly break up and reunite recall each other fondly when apart and swear that they could make the relationship work if they got together again. But after they do spend time together, they again wonder, "How could I ever have believed that this so-and-so would change?" This best exemplifies the _____. 

A)avoidance-avoidance conflict  
B)approach-approach conflict  
C)approach-avoidance conflict  
D)interpersonal conflict

Question 51

Emily is on a diet. For lunch, she has the choice of a salad with fat-free dressing or a fruit plate. However, she does not like either of them. This situation is an example of a(n) _____. 

A)avoidance-avoidance conflict  
B)approach-approach conflict  
C)approach-avoidance conflict  
D)multiple approach-avoidance conflict

Question 52

According to the different kinds of support for coping with stress,__________involves listening to people's problems and expressing feelings of sympathy, caring, understanding, and reassurance. 

A)appraisal  
B)instrumental aid  
C)emotional concern  
D)socializing

Question 53

Who among the following exhibits a characteristic of psychological hardiness?  

A)Rose, who feels alienated from her co-workers  
B)Roanne, who sees change as an opportunity to grow  
C)Robert, who feels helpless at work  
D)Rufus, who believes that stability is normal

Question 54

Influenza is caused by a virus. This virus is an example of a broad category of disease-causing organisms called _____. 

A)pathogens  
B)antibodies  
C)antigens  
D)leukocytes

Question 55

__________engage in search-and-destroy missions in which they "recognize" and eradicate foreign agents and unhealthy cells. 

A)Erythrocytes  
B)Blood platelets  
C)Red blood cells  
D)White blood cells

Question 56

According to the general adaptation syndrome, the__________is first triggered by perception of a stressor. 

A)exhaustion stage  
B)alarm reaction  
C)resistance stage  
D)flight reaction

Question 57

_____ are best described as people who perceive the ability to attain reinforcements in stressful situations as being largely outside themselves. 

A)Externals  
B)Internals  
C)Type A people  
D)Type B people

Question 58

Which of the following statements is true of approach-approach conflicts?  

A)They are the most stressful type of conflicts. 
B)Both goals involved in these conflicts are attainable. 
C)Both goals in these conflicts are negative. 
D)They involve several alternative courses to resolve conflicts, each with both positive and negative aspects.

Question 59

Which of the following is true of coronary heart disease (CHD)?  

A)People with a family history of CHD are less likely to develop the disease themselves. 
B)People who are highly prone to anger are less likely than other people to have CHD. 
C)Overtime work, assembly line labor, and exposure to conflicting demands can all contribute to CHD. 
D)CHD is typically associated with hypotension.

Question 60

Which of the following is a difference between life changes and daily hassles?  

A)Life changes are always negative, whereas daily hassles are sometimes positive. 
B)Life changes occur at irregular intervals, whereas daily hassles occur regularly. 
C)Life changes can adversely affect one's mood, whereas daily hassles do not affect the mood. 
D)Life changes predict health problems, whereas daily hassles do not predict health problems.

Question 61

The__________is the first stage in a group of bodily changes that occur in the general adaptation syndrome. 

A)alarm reaction stage  
B)exhaustion stage  
C)latency stage  
D)resistance stage

Question 62

__________is characterized by the development of abnormal, or mutant, cells that may take root anywhere in the body. 

A)Cancer  
B)Cardiovascular disease  
C)Macroglossia  
D)Dyspraxia

Question 63

Many health problems are affected by__________such as attitudes, emotions, and behavior. 

A)psychological factors  
B)sociocultural factors  
C)biological factors  
D)environmental factors

Question 64

Connor was anxious because his taxi was stuck in traffic. The impact of the sympathetic activity, which was triggered due to anxiety, eventually stabilized as his body attempted to restore lost energy and repair damage. Connor is most likely in the _____ of the general adaptation syndrome. 

A)alarm reaction stage  
B)resistance stage  
C)exhaustion stage  
D)resilience stage

Question 65

When an individual experiences fatigue because of ongoing stress and becomes ill, he or she has most likely reached the__________of the general adaptation syndrome. 

A)resistance stage  
B)alarm stage  
C)exhaustion stage  
D)reaction stage

Question 66

According to Albert Ellis, _____. 

A)one's cognitive appraisal at the present time has no influence on one's mood  
B)the belief that one must be preoccupied by threats is a prescription for perpetual emotional upheaval  
C)believing that we cannot overcome the influences of the past helps us overcome our feelings of helplessness  
D)childhood experiences cannot explain the origins of irrational beliefs

Question 67

__________is the feeling of being pulled in two or more directions by opposing motives. 

A)Homeostasis  
B)Self-actualization  
C)Self-efficacy  
D)Conflict

Question 68

Suzanne Kobasa and her colleagues studied business executives who seemed able to resist illness despite stress. In one phase of the research, executives completed a battery of psychological tests, and the researchers found that the psychologically hardy executives tended to:  

A)feel alienated from what they were doing. 
B)have an external locus of control. 
C)appraise change as an interesting incentive to personal growth. 
D)be low in perceived control over their lives.

Question 69

Carole is a healthy teenager. She is able to resist illness despite being severely stressed at times. She believes that change is normal and can face adverse situations well. Psychologists would say that Carole:  

A)exhibits low self-efficacy expectations. 
B)is psychologically hardy. 
C)is indulging in irrational beliefs. 
D)is catastrophizing.

Question 70

In addition to his normal duties, a professor actively participates in the extra-curricular activities of the college where he teaches. According to Suzanne Kobasa, which of the following characteristics of psychological hardiness does the professor exhibit?  

A)Commitment  
B)Challenge  
C)Control  
D)Humor

Question 71

__________is an environmental hassle. 

A)Job security  
B)Illness  
C)Isolation  
D)Crime

Question 72

In the context of the general adaptation syndrome, the mixture of adrenaline and noradrenaline:  

A)slows down the respiration rate. 
B)forces the body to enter the exhaustion stage. 
C)arouses the body by accelerating the heart rate. 
D)suppresses the release of glucose from the liver.

Question 73

Eric has high blood pressure, and his doctors have found no specific cause. Eric most likely has:  

A)generalized anxiety. 
B)hypotension. 
C)essential hypertension. 
D)bipolar disorder.

Question 74

__________can be positive or negative, occur at irregular intervals, and create stress. 

A)Irrational beliefs  
B)Life changes  
C)Daily hassles  
D)Avoidance-avoidance conflicts

Question 75

According to a study by the UCLA Higher Education Research Institute, which of the following is true of first-year college students?  

A)They are now encountering a record level of stress. 
B)Their stress levels have remained the same over the last 30 years. 
C)Their stress levels have been falling consistently for the past 30 years. 
D)They feel that the beginning of college is more stressful than the death of a spouse.

Question 76

__________is referred to as the coronary-prone behavior pattern. 

A)Type A behavior  
B)Type B behavior  
C)Passive behavior  
D)Insecure behavior

Question 77

Serena has an internal locus of control. This means that she:  

A)can only control her inner emotions. 
B)can only control her outward appearance. 
C)feels controlled by others. 
D)feels in control of her own life.

Question 78

The immune system combats diseases:  

A)by producing red blood cells, which engulf and kill pathogens. 
B)by generating antibodies, which attach themselves to antigens, deactivating them and marking them for destruction. 
C)by decreasing the flow of blood, cells, and natural chemicals to the damaged area, causing the redness, swelling, and warmth that characterize inflammation. 
D)by inhibiting endocrine and sympathetic activity.

Question 79

In the context of the experimental research by Neal E. Miller, which of the following types of conflicts is the most complex?  

A)The multiple approach-avoidance conflict  
B)The approach-avoidance conflict  
C)The approach-approach conflict  
D)The avoidance-avoidance conflict

Question 80

In the context of the general adaptation syndrome, which of the following statements is true?  

A)Long-term stress typically helps prevent infection from wounds. 
B)Short-term stress can enhance the functioning of the immune system. 
C)Short-term stress inhibits the functioning of the endocrine system. 
D)Stress suppresses the hypothalamus and adrenal cortex.