Question 1

The subfield of psychology that provides psychology's contribution to behavioral medicine is known as:

Accepted Answer

Health psychology is the subfield of psychology that focuses on how biological, psychological, and social factors influence health and illness. It examines the role of behavior in health and disease, as well as the impact of stress, coping, and social support on health outcomes. Health psychology is an important contributor to behavioral medicine, which is an interdisciplinary field that combines psychology, medicine, and public health to promote health and prevent illness.

Question 2

As you are waiting to be interviewed for a job,your heart rate,body temperature,and breathing rate begin to increase.These physiological changes are produced by activation of the ________ nervous system.

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the fight or flight response, which includes physiological changes like increased heart rate, body temperature, and breathing rate. This response is triggered in situations of perceived danger or stress, such as waiting for a job interview. The other options (parasympathetic, somatic, and central) do not produce these specific physiological changes in this situation.

Question 3

The emotional bonding and mutual support that survivors of natural disasters provide to one another best illustrates:

Accepted Answer

The tend-and-befriend response refers to the behavior of seeking emotional support and forming social bonds during times of stress, such as natural disasters. This option best describes the emotional bonding and mutual support that survivors provide to one another. The other options, such as the general adaptation syndrome and psychoneuroimmunology, are related to stress and its effects on the body, but do not specifically address the social and emotional aspects of natural disasters. Catharsis refers to the release of emotional tension, but does not necessarily imply bonding or support among survivors.

Question 4

In response to stress,the adrenal glands release:

Accepted Answer

The adrenal glands release epinephrine (adrenaline) in response to stress. This hormone increases heart rate and blood pressure, providing the body with a burst of energy to deal with the perceived threat.

Question 5

Daily pressures compounded by racism and prejudice take a toll on many African-Americans in the form of:

Accepted Answer

High blood pressure is a common health issue that is often associated with the stress caused by racism and prejudice. This stress can also contribute to other health problems, such as heart disease and diabetes. T lymphocytes and natural killer cells are part of the immune system and would not be directly impacted by these environmental factors. Catharsis, or the release of emotional tension, may be a coping mechanism for individuals experiencing stress, but it is not a measurable health outcome.

Question 6

The three successive phases of the general adaptation syndrome are:

Accepted Answer

The general adaptation syndrome, proposed by Hans Selye, consists of three successive phases: the alarm reaction phase (characterized by the fight-or-flight response), the resistance phase (body's attempt to adapt and cope with the stressor), and the exhaustion phase (where the body's resources are depleted and can no longer cope with the stressor).

Question 7

In a stressful situation,feelings of pain are dulled by:

Accepted Answer

The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for the body's "fight or flight" response to stress, which includes the release of adrenaline and other stress hormones that can temporarily dull feelings of pain. The somatic nervous system, immune system, and carcinogens are not directly responsible for dulled pain in stressful situations.

Question 8

Compared with women,men are more likely to respond to stress with:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compared with women,men are more likely to...

Question 9

Cameron,a 50-year-old electrician,opens his pay envelope and,to his surprise,finds a pink slip inside indicating that he has been fired from his job.Which phase of the general adaptation syndrome is Cameron most likely experiencing?

Accepted Answer

The alarm reaction phase is characterized by the initial shock and stress response to a stressor, such as receiving a pink slip and being fired from a job. This phase is often accompanied by physical and psychological symptoms of stress, such as increased heart rate and anxiety.

Question 10

The general adaptation syndrome describes stages in the:

Accepted Answer

The general adaptation syndrome (GAS) is a three-stage response to prolonged stress, first described by Hans Selye in the 1930s. The stages are alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. During the alarm stage, the body reacts to stress with the fight-or-flight response, which releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. During the resistance stage, the body attempts to cope with the prolonged stress by adapting and releasing more hormones. Finally, if the stress is not relieved, the body enters the exhaustion stage, during which it becomes more susceptible to illness and disease. The GAS is not related to the production of endorphins, the immune system's underreaction, or the action of NK cells.

Question 11

Following a catastrophic earthquake,residents of one community came together and provided each other with emotional support.This reaction best illustrates:

Accepted Answer

The tend-and-befriend response is a stress response characterized by social support seeking and nurturing behaviors, often seen in women. This is the best choice as it describes the community's reaction of providing emotional support to each other following a catastrophic event like an earthquake.

Question 12

Resistance to stress is greatest during ________ of the GAS.

Accepted Answer

Phase 2, or the resistance phase, is when the body's resources are mobilized to cope with stress. During this phase, the body adapts to the stressor and resistance to the stress is at its greatest. Phase 1 is the alarm reaction, when the body first recognizes the stressor and prepares for a response. Phase 3, or the exhaustion phase, is when the body's resources are depleted and the individual is vulnerable to physical and emotional illness. Phase 4 is not a recognized phase of the GAS.

Question 13

The third phase of the general adaptation syndrome is characterized by:

Accepted Answer

The answer of The third phase of the general adaptation...

Question 14

Fifty-eight percent of Americans responding to surveys taken in the three weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks reported experiencing heightened symptoms of:

Accepted Answer

The surveys conducted in the three weeks after the 9/11 attacks revealed that 58% of Americans reported experiencing heightened symptoms of anxiety. There is no evidence to suggest that coronary heart disease, stomach ulcers, or upper respiratory infections were prevalent as a result of these attacks.

Question 15

In the 1920s,Walter Cannon discovered that stress produced an outpouring of ________ into the bloodstream.

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon discovered that stress produced an outpouring of epinephrine (also known as adrenaline) into the bloodstream. This hormone prepares the body for a "fight or flight" response by increasing heart rate, constricting blood vessels, and releasing glucose into the bloodstream.

Question 16

A stress-moderating hormone released by cuddling and associated with pair-bonding is known as:

Accepted Answer

The stress-moderating hormone released by cuddling and associated with pair-bonding is oxytocin. Serotonin and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters associated with mood and behavior, while cortisol is a stress hormone.

Question 17

Walter Cannon observed that a variety of stressors trigger:

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon observed that a variety of stressors trigger the fight-or-flight reaction, which involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. This response prepares the body to either confront the stressor or flee from it.

Question 18

Psychoneuroimmunology is most broadly concerned with how the psychological,neural,and endocrine systems together affect the:

Accepted Answer

Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of how stress, emotions, and the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems interact with each other. Therefore, it is most concerned with how these systems affect the immune system, which is responsible for fighting off disease and infection.

Question 19

Research on stressful life events indicates that:

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that widowed individuals are at an increased risk of death in the week following their partner's death, likely due to the intense stress and emotional upheaval of the loss. Option A is false; research has shown that those who live a peaceful life typically have lower rates of heart attacks. Option C is also false; while surviving a natural disaster can lead to short-term immunity to stress, it can also cause long-term health issues.

Question 20

In recent years,Hispanics relocating to the United States have faced the challenges of mastering a new language as well as new social customs and legal requirements.Adjusting to these challenges most clearly entails:

Accepted Answer

Acculturative stress refers to the psychological stress and disorientation experienced by individuals who are trying to adapt to a new cultural environment, such as moving to a new country where different languages, customs, and legal requirements are present. This is a common challenge faced by Hispanics relocating to the United States. The tend-and-befriend response (A) refers to a stress response that involves seeking social support and nurturing behaviors, which may occur in response to stress but is not directly related to acculturation. Increased lymphocyte production (B) refers to a physiological response to stress that is associated with the immune system, but is not directly related to the challenges of adjusting to a new cultural environment. Catharsis (D) refers to the release of emotional tension by expressing oneself, but is not directly related to the challenges of adjusting to a new cultural environment.

Quiz 11: Stress, Health, and Human Flourishing