Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of stressors?

Accepted Answer

Stressors can be major life events, but they can also be minor events or daily hassles. The other characteristics of stressors are that they can produce a state of feeling overwhelmed, often produce opposing tendencies, and are often uncontrollable.

Question 2

Researchers in the field of _____ study the relationship between the mind and the body,as well as the ways in which these two components respond to challenges from an environment to produce either illness or health.

Accepted Answer

Health psychology specifically focuses on the relationship between the mind and body in relation to health and illness. This field examines how psychological factors, such as stress and emotions, can impact physical health and how behaviors, such as diet and exercise, can affect mental health. It also explores ways to promote health and prevent illness through psychological interventions. The other options are not as directly related to this topic.

Question 3

In the context of the stages of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)as proposed by Hans Selye,which of the following is a characteristic of the resistance stage?

Accepted Answer

The resistance stage is the second stage of GAS and is characterized by bodily resources being used at an above average rate to resist the stressor. This stage requires significant effort and energy, as the body continues to adapt to the stressor. During this stage, the immediate fight-or-flight response dissipates and the body enters a state of sustained arousal. It is during this stage that a person may be able to cope with the stressor, but they may also be at increased risk for illness and disease if they cannot adequately adapt. So, option A, B, and D are incorrect.

Question 4

Which of the following models of the personality-illness connection focuses on the trait of conscientiousness that appears to indirectly influence the relationship between stress and illness?

Accepted Answer

The health behavior model focuses on how certain personality traits, such as conscientiousness, can influence health-related behaviors, which in turn affect health and illness outcomes. Conscientious individuals are more likely to engage in health-promoting behaviors and avoid risky behaviors, indirectly influencing the relationship between stress and illness.

Question 5

In the transactional model,personality can influence:

Accepted Answer

The transactional model suggests that personality can influence how a person copes with an event, how they appraise an event, and even the event itself. Therefore, all of the answer choices are correct.

Question 6

The _____ model is most likely to guide investigators interested in the genetic basis of illnesses.

Accepted Answer

The predisposition model is focused on understanding the genetic contributions to illness and disease. It considers the role of genetic factors in determining an individual's susceptibility to developing certain conditions, and is therefore most relevant for investigations into the genetic basis of illness. The health behavior, interactional, and transactional models focus on other aspects of health and illness.

Question 7

According to Hans Selye (1976),when a person is exposed to a particular stressor day in and day out,the physiological fight-or-flight response is the first step in a chain of events termed:

Accepted Answer

According to Hans Selye's theory, when a person is exposed to a persistent stressor, the body goes through a series of responses known as the general adaptation syndrome (GAS). This includes the initial fight-or-flight response followed by a resistance stage and eventually, exhaustion. The other options, primary and secondary appraisals, are part of Lazarus and Folkman's theory of stress and coping, which is different from Selye's theory of GAS.

Question 8

The reaction of being startled with an increase in blood pressure and other physiological responses is commonly called:

Accepted Answer

The fight-or-flight response is the body's automatic physiological reaction to a sudden, perceived threat. It involves an increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones. This response prepares the body to either fight the threat or flee from it.

Question 9

The _____ model suggests that personality influences the degree to which a person perceives and pays attention to bodily sensations and the degree to which the person interprets and labels those sensations as an illness.

Accepted Answer

The mentioned model is the illness behavior model, which emphasizes how personality factors influence how individuals interpret their bodily sensations and label them as signs and symptoms of an illness. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 10

Stress is the _____ feeling produced by events that are uncontrollable or threatening.

Accepted Answer

Stress is a subjective feeling, as it is experienced differently by each individual.

Question 11

Which of the following statements is true about the transactional model?

Accepted Answer

The transactional model suggests that personality can influence how a person appraises or interprets events. This means that a person's personality can impact how they perceive and respond to various situations, including those related to their health or illness.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a model of the personality-illness connection?

Accepted Answer

The circumplex model is not a model of the personality-illness connection. It is a model used to describe human emotions and personality traits, not specifically how personality is connected to illness. The interactional, transactional, and predisposition models are all theories that explore the relationship between personality and health or illness in various ways.

Question 13

In the United States,researchers suggest that health behavior deficits contribute to more than _____ of all premature deaths.

Accepted Answer

Researchers suggest that health behavior deficits contribute to more than half of all premature deaths in the United States. This highlights the significant impact of lifestyle choices and behaviors on health outcomes.

Question 14

According to the stages of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)proposed by Hans Selye,the _____ stage consists of the fight-or-flight response.

Accepted Answer

The alarm stage of GAS is characterized by the fight-or-flight response, which is an immediate physiological reaction to a perceived threat or danger. During this stage, the body mobilizes its resources to respond to the stressor. The other stages of GAS include the appraisal stage, the resistance stage, and the exhaustion stage.

Question 15

Which of the following models of the personality-illness connection suggests that associations exist between personality and illness because of a third variable,which is causing them both?

Accepted Answer

The predisposition model suggests that a third variable is causing both the personality traits and illnesses to be present, rather than a direct connection between the two.

Question 16

Going to a doctor,taking a day off from work,or complaining to others about one's symptoms are all examples of:

Accepted Answer

These are all examples of illness behaviors, which are actions taken by individuals to relieve or alleviate symptoms of illness.

Question 17

Who among the following is a pioneer in stress research and coined the term general adaptation syndrome (GAS)?

Accepted Answer

Hans Selye is a pioneer in stress research and coined the term general adaptation syndrome (GAS). R.H. Rahe, Richard Lazarus, and T.H. Holmes also made significant contributions to stress research, but they did not coin the term GAS.

Question 18

_____ can take the form of diagrams of key variables,with the causal relations among those variables depicted by arrows.

Accepted Answer

Models can represent complex systems through diagrams of key variables and the causal relationships between them, making it easier to understand and predict the behavior of the system.

Question 19

A limitation of the _____ model is that it does not specifically explain the mechanisms underlying the interactions.

Accepted Answer

The interactional model focuses on the reciprocal interactions between individual and environmental factors in determining health behavior. However, it does not provide a detailed explanation of how these interactions actually occur or operate. This is a limitation of the model.

Question 20

An early model of the personality health relationship is called the interactional model because:

Accepted Answer

The interactional model proposes that personality plays a role in shaping how individuals respond to stress and how stress affects the body. It suggests that personality influences the relationship between stress and illness, rather than being a direct cause of illness or health.

Note: Option D is also a possible answer because the interactional model acknowledges the indirect effect of personality on health through health-promoting behaviors. However, Option B is a more specific and direct answer to the question.

Quiz 18: Stress,Coping,Adjustment,and Health