Question 1

Arthur takes a protein pill every day for weeks. Research suggests that the more positive events in Arthur's life, the

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that positive events in one's life can boost their immune system. Therefore, the more positive events in Arthur's life, the stronger his immune system will be in creating antibodies in response to the protein pill he takes every day.

Question 2

A depressive explanatory style is marked by attributions for negative events that are

Accepted Answer

A depressive explanatory style involves attributions that are internal (blaming oneself), stable (believing the cause of events will not change), and global (believing the cause applies to many areas of life).

Question 3

Lucille lives in a nursing home where she gets to choose her daily activities. Peggy Sue lives in a nursing home where the staff schedules all activities. Research suggests that compared to Peggy Sue, Lucille will be

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that giving residents autonomy and choice in their daily activities can lead to improved mood, sense of control, and overall well-being. This, in turn, can lead to better physical health outcomes. Therefore, Lucille, who has the ability to choose her daily activities, is likely to be both happier and healthier than Peggy Sue, who has no control over her daily schedule.

Question 4

When Don passes an exam, he thinks his success is due to his hard work. When he fails an exam, he thinks his failure is due to a lack of hard work. These perceptions reflect a sense of _____ and make it _____ likely that Don will get sick.

Accepted Answer

Don's perception reflects a sense of control over his outcomes, as he attributes both success and failure to his own efforts. This sense of control is associated with reduced stress and a lower likelihood of getting sick.

Question 5

Stress may weaken the immune system in part by increasing

Accepted Answer

Stress can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as overeating, smoking, and lack of exercise, which can weaken the immune system over time. A, B, and D are not directly related to the immune system's response to stress.

Question 6

The habitual tendency to attribute negative events to causes that are stable, global, and internal is characteristic of

Accepted Answer

The tendency to attribute negative events to causes that are stable (unlikely to change), global (affect many areas of life), and internal (blaming oneself) is known as a depressive explanatory style. This is often seen in individuals with depressive symptoms or a diagnosis of depression. Hardiness is a personality trait characterized by resilience and the ability to cope well under stress, while optimism is a general tendency to view situations in a positive light. Type A behavior is a personality trait characterized by competitiveness, impatience, and hostility.

Question 7

According to Seligman (1975), depression results primarily from

Accepted Answer

Seligman's theory of learned helplessness suggests that depression results from the belief that one's actions do not have an impact on the outcomes they experience. This feeling of helplessness can lead to a sense of hopelessness and ultimately depression.

Question 8

Waylon was just fired from his job. If he is depressed, then he is likely to believe that

Accepted Answer

When someone is depressed, they often have negative thoughts and beliefs about themselves and their situation. Option D reflects this negative thinking, with Waylon catastrophizing about his future and believing that everything is ruined. Options A and B involve blaming others for the situation, which may be a defense mechanism but is not necessarily indicative of depression. Option C reflects a more optimistic outlook, which someone who is depressed may struggle with.

Question 9

Ralph has had a stressful month. His girlfriend dumped him, he failed three exams, and someone stole his car. According to Abramson et al.'s (1989) notion of hopelessness, Ralph's reactions to these events depend on his

Accepted Answer

Abramson et al.'s (1989) notion of hopelessness focuses on the negative attributions people make about the causes of negative events in their lives. Ralph's reactions to his girlfriend dumping him, failing exams, and having his car stolen may depend on whether he attributes these events to internal or stable causes (e.g., "I am a failure" or "bad things always happen to me"), which can lead to feelings of hopelessness and depression.

Question 10

In an experiment that tested the effects of negative emotions on the immune system, experimenters gave each participant a blister using a vacuum pump. Which were the participants that took the longest to heal?

Accepted Answer

The answer of In an experiment that tested the effects...

Question 11

Monty signs up for an experiment in which he is supposed to learn a series of word pairs. When he is later tested on his memory for these words, Monty is given a shock after every answer he gives, even when he gets the answer correct. In a different memory task the following week, Monty does not even try to study the photos he is given, even though he is told that he will receive shocks for every incorrect response he makes. Monty is demonstrating

Accepted Answer

Monty's behavior shows learned helplessness, which is the belief that one cannot control the outcomes of a situation and therefore gives up trying. This is evidenced by his lack of effort in the second task despite being threatened with punishment for incorrect responses. Problem-focused coping, hardiness, and self-efficacy all involve taking action to control a situation, which Monty is not doing in either task.

Question 12

Which of the following concerning the link between stress and illness is true ?

Accepted Answer

The statement that stress can influence both short-term and long-term illnesses, including colds, coronary heart disease, and cancer is true. Research has shown that stress can weaken the immune system, leading to increased vulnerability to illness, and also contribute to the development and progression of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

Question 13

Although Helloise would like to quit smoking, she is convinced that she is addicted and will never be able to stop. With respect to smoking, Helloise is

Accepted Answer

Helloise's belief that she will never be able to stop smoking indicates low self-efficacy, which is defined as a person's belief in their ability to successfully perform a behavior or achieve a goal, in this case quitting smoking. High self-efficacy would be reflected in a belief that she can successfully quit smoking. Choices C and D are not related to self-efficacy and therefore are incorrect.

Question 14

Percival loses his job. As he thinks about getting laid off, he considers how he has been rejected in other areas of his life. He focuses on his previous girlfriend and remembers that she was the one to end the relationship. He begins to blame himself for getting fired and feels lousy about himself. This example illustrates how attributions to negative events that are _______ can contribute to learned helplessness.

Accepted Answer

Percival's attributions to negative events are global (affecting multiple areas of his life) and internal (blaming himself rather than external factors). This type of attribution can contribute to learned helplessness, as individuals believe that their failures are due to inherent flaws in themselves and feel powerless to change their situation.

Question 15

Marsha, an advertising executive, believes that her outcomes are controlled by her actions. She also perceives change as normal and life as meaningful. Marsha has the attribute of

Accepted Answer

Marsha exhibits the characteristics of hardiness, which include a belief in personal control over outcomes, seeing change as normal and meaningful, and a commitment to one's activities or goals.

Question 16

The expectation that our behaviors can produce satisfying outcomes is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Self-efficacy refers to our belief in our ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish specific tasks. It is related to the expectation that our behaviors can produce satisfying outcomes.

Question 17

Research in Israel on resilience in the face of terrorism and violence indicates that ______ tend to be more resilient than _______ .

Accepted Answer

Research in Israel suggests that those with higher levels of education are more likely to be resilient in the face of terrorism and violence when compared to those with lower levels of education. Other factors such as ethnicity or gender did not show a significant difference in resilience.

Question 18

Based on research concerning the link between stress and illness, which of the following people is most likely to actually contract a cold if exposed to a cold virus?

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that chronic stress, such as unemployment, significantly impairs the immune system and increases the likelihood of contracting illness. The other options do not provide clear indications of chronic stress or a weakened immune system.

Question 19

Which of the following best characterizes the relationship between stress and illness?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that stress increases the levels of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which can suppress immune cell activity and increase susceptibility to illness. This is why chronic stress has been linked with numerous health problems, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer.

Question 20

If Maurice has a depressive explanatory style, then he is likely to attribute his failures to

Accepted Answer

Maurice's depressive explanatory style involves attributing negative events or failures to stable (unlikely to change over time), global (expecting similar outcomes in other areas of life), and internal (personal characteristics or abilities) factors. This type of attribution can lead to a negative cycle of thoughts and feelings, contributing to the development or exacerbation of depressive symptoms.

Quiz 14: Health