Question 1

The pioneering stress theorist _____ proposed the general adaptation syndrome to describe the body's response to stressors.

Accepted Answer

Hans Selye proposed the general adaptation syndrome in his stress theory, which describes the body's response to stressors. Ray Rosenhan is known for his experiments on psychiatric diagnosis, Meyer Friedman is known for his research on heart disease, and Richard Lazarus is known for his cognitive appraisal theory of stress.

Question 2

Which stage of the general adaptation syndrome is correctly matched with an example?

Accepted Answer

Exhaustion is characterized by physical and emotional exhaustion, as well as decreased immune system functioning. Abdul's cold is a physical symptom that suggests he has reached the exhaustion stage. Option A describes the alarm stage, and option C describes resistance.

Question 3

Catecholamines include:

Accepted Answer

Catecholamines are hormones that are released by the adrenal glands in response to stress. The main catecholamines are epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline). Leptin and ghrelin are involved in regulating hunger and satiety, while melatonin is a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

Question 4

Anders owns a struggling coffee shop and has just received devastating news. Things seem very bleak because a nationally known competitor is moving in on the same block. Anders has many debts to pay and his wife is expecting their fourth child. When he hears the bad news, his heart rate zooms and he feels faint, like he is in shock. According to Hans Seyle, Anders is in the _____ stage of the general adaptation syndrome.

Accepted Answer

The alarm reaction stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is characterized by the body's initial response to a stressor. In this case, Anders has just received devastating news about a competitor moving in on his block, which is a stressor that triggers the alarm reaction. The physical symptoms such as increased heart rate and feeling faint are also indicative of the alarm stage. The resistance stage is characterized by an attempt to cope with the stressor, while the exhaustion stage happens when the body's resources are depleted after prolonged exposure to the stressor. The appraisal stage is not part of the GAS model, as it is a cognitive process of evaluating a stressor.

Question 5

Which of the following is closest to the correlation coefficient one would likely find between the number of hassles survey respondents report experiencing during a given period and the number of sick days they say they've used?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is closest to...

Question 6

Brendan must give an oral presentation at the start of his class in 10 minutes. In response to this threat:

Accepted Answer

When faced with a threatening situation, the sympathetic nervous system responds by releasing catecholamines, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline. This prepares the body for "fight or flight" response by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration rates. This physiological response helps to prepare Brendan to deal with the stress of giving an oral presentation.

Question 7

Maya owes the credit card company $20,000, her adjustable rate mortgage has just gone up, and she has been out of work for 3 months. Her husband of 15 years came home today to tell her he was having an affair and wants a divorce. With that news, she collapsed and had to be taken to the emergency room. According to Hans Selye, Maya is in which stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

Accepted Answer

Maya is in the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome, which is characterized by the body's inability to maintain the stress response over time, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion. The combination of financial stress, job loss, and marital problems has likely led to chronic stress, which has now manifested in a physical collapse.

Question 8

Ellen receives a large tip from a customer. Ellen has experienced a(n):

Accepted Answer

Ellen received a positive and unexpected event, which is known as an uplift. It can lead to eustress, which is a positive form of stress.

Question 9

Which is NOT one of the physiological responses to stress?

Accepted Answer

Digestion actually decreases during the physiological response to stress as blood is redirected away from the digestive system and towards the muscles and vital organs needed for the "fight or flight" response.

Question 10

At which stage of Selye's general adaptation model (GAS) are individuals MOST likely to show the negative consequences of stress?

Accepted Answer

During the exhaustion stage of GAS, the body's resources are depleted due to prolonged exposure to stress. This can lead to negative consequences such as physical and mental health problems, depression, and decreased performance.

Question 11

In the psychology of health and stress, Hans Selye is associated with the study of:

Accepted Answer

Hans Selye is known for his work on the general adaptation syndrome, which is a theoretical framework that describes the body’s response to stress. The general adaptation syndrome proposes that the body goes through three stages in response to stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Selye’s work on the general adaptation syndrome is considered foundational to the field of stress and health psychology.

Question 12

The Hassles and Uplifts Scale was created by:

Accepted Answer

The Hassles and Uplifts Scale was created by DeLongis and colleagues to measure daily hassles and uplifts as a way to understand how everyday minor events impact stress and well-being.

Question 13

Which sequence correctly orders the stages of the general adaptation syndrome, from first to last?

Accepted Answer

The general adaptation syndrome involves three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. The sequence of events occurs in the order of alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. The individual first experiences alarm, where the body prepares itself to fight off or flee from the stressor. This stage is followed by resistance, where the body adapts to the stressor and tries to maintain its normal functioning. If the stressor persists, the body eventually enters the exhaustion stage, where it becomes depleted of resources and is no longer able to cope with the stressor. Choice B correctly orders the stages from first to last.

Question 14

When catecholamines are released in the human body:

Accepted Answer

Catecholamines, such as adrenaline, are released in response to stress and lead to several physiological changes, including the slowing down of digestion. This is because the body prioritizes blood flow to muscles and other areas critical for a fight or flight response, reducing blood flow to the digestive system.

Question 15

Sydney is on her way to a meeting with her boss. Responding to this anxiety-provoking situation, Sydney's:

Accepted Answer

Anxiety triggers the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline, which causes the blood to flow more easily to the muscles in preparation for fight or flight response.

Answer: D
 In an anxiety-provoking situation, the sympathetic nervous system is activated, which causes the pupils to dilate in order to take in as much light as possible for enhanced vision. Therefore, the opposite of this would be that the pupils would constrict, which is not a common response in anxiety-provoking situations.

Therefore, only A is the correct answer.

Question 16

Which stage of the general adaptation syndrome is correctly matched with its description?

Accepted Answer

The alarm stage is when an individual perceives a threat or stressor and triggers the body's fight or flight response.

Answer: B
 The resistance stage is when the body attempts to cope with the stressor and experiences negative physical and psychological consequences such as fatigue and irritability.

Answer: C
 The exhaustion stage is when the body's resources become depleted from prolonged exposure to stress and individuals may experience physical and emotional exhaustion.

Answer: D
 All of the stages of the general adaptation syndrome are correctly matched with their descriptions.

Question 17

Roger works full-time, has a part-time second job, and has started a new consulting company in response to his son's special needs. He seems to be coping with everything quite well for the moment. According to Hans Selye, Roger is in which stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

Accepted Answer

The resistance stage of the general adaptation syndrome is characterized by the body's continued efforts to cope with stressors. Roger is still able to cope with his multiple responsibilities at the moment, indicating that he is in the resistance stage. The alarm stage is characterized by initial shock and stress, appraisal stage involves evaluating the stressor, and exhaustion stage is the result of prolonged stress and inability to cope.

Question 18

When a stressful situation occurs, the brain's _____ activates the _____ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The hypothalamus is responsible for initiating the stress response and activating the sympathetic nervous system, which triggers the “fight or flight” response. The hippocampus is involved with memory and does not have a direct role in activating the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the “rest and digest” response and does not initiate the stress response.

Question 19

When a threatening situation occurs, the _____ nervous system becomes active. When the threat is over, the _____ nervous system becomes active.

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system becomes active during a threatening situation as it prepares the body for a fight or flight response. Once the threat is over, the parasympathetic nervous system becomes active to return the body to its normal resting state. Option A represents the opposite sequence of events, while options B and D are not specific to the situation described.

Question 20

Everyday positive experiences that usually make people happy are called:

Accepted Answer

Uplifts are positive experiences that bring happiness or pleasure to people, such as receiving a compliment, spending time with loved ones, or enjoying a favorite hobby.

Answer A is incorrect because hassles are everyday stressors that may cause irritation or frustration, such as traffic or long lines at the grocery store.

Answer B is incorrect because eustresses are positive stressors that can motivate and energize people, such as starting a new job or training for a marathon.

Answer D is incorrect because life events are significant and often unpredictable events that may be positive or negative, such as getting married or experiencing a major illness.

Quiz 12: Social Psychology