Question 1

The best way to increase the production of serotonin is to

Accepted Answer

Engaging in aerobic exercise has been shown to increase the production of serotonin in the brain. This is because exercise increases the availability of tryptophan, an amino acid necessary for the production of serotonin, in the blood. Exercise also promotes the release of endorphins, which can improve mood and reduce stress. Emotion-focused coping and an external locus of control do not directly impact serotonin production, and while meditation can have some benefits for mental health, it may not be as effective as aerobic exercise for increasing serotonin production.

Question 2

Maria has survived her first hurricane.While she is thankful to be alive,her property was severely damaged,and she had no running water or electricity for weeks after the storm.Maria experienced a

Accepted Answer

Maria experienced a catastrophe as a result of the severe damage to her property and the prolonged lack of basic utilities.

Question 3

More than half of Americans responding to surveys taken in the three weeks after the 9/11 terrorist attacks reported experiencing heightened symptoms of ________ and anxiety.

Accepted Answer

The sentence states that after 9/11, more than half of Americans reported experiencing heightened symptoms of "arousal" and anxiety.

Question 4

The theorist who coined the term extrinsic locus of control to describe people who believe their fate is controlled by outside forces is

Accepted Answer

Julian Rotter coined the term extrinsic locus of control in his social learning theory. This theory suggests that individuals with an external locus of control believe that their outcomes are determined by external factors, such as luck or other people's actions, rather than their own abilities or effort.

Question 5

Estée's legs are paralyzed,but she is able to minimize the stress that the inability to walk might have caused by viewing this handicap as a challenge rather than a threat.This illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The scenario described emphasizes the importance of stress appraisal, which refers to an individual's evaluation of a stressor and their ability to cope with it. In this case, Estée has chosen to view her paralysis as a challenge, which suggests that she has appraised the situation in a positive way and is less likely to experience negative stress-related outcomes. The other options (A, C, and D) are not directly relevant to this scenario.

Question 6

Jill is pregnant and has been under a great deal of stress during her entire pregnancy.Which of the following can be expected?

Accepted Answer

High levels of stress during pregnancy have been linked to shorter gestation periods, potentially leading to preterm births.

Question 7

Physical and emotional responses to threatening and challenging events are referred to as

Accepted Answer

Physical and emotional responses to threatening and challenging events are referred to as stress reactions, which are the result of stressors - events or situations that cause stress. Immune responses are the body’s natural defense mechanism against disease and infection, while carcinogens are substances that are known to cause cancer.

Question 8

A celebrity actress experiences ever-increasing levels of professional acclaim following each successful movie role.Yet with each success,she experiences no more than a temporary surge of subjective well-being.This is best explained in terms of

Accepted Answer

The pattern of experiencing temporary boosts in well-being following success, but then returning to a baseline level of happiness, is consistent with the adaptation-level phenomenon. This theory suggests that our happiness is based on a comparison to a reference point, or adaptation level, that changes over time in response to our experiences. Therefore, as the actress achieves new levels of professional success, her adaptation level shifts upward, leading to a temporary increase in happiness, but eventually returning to her previous level of happiness.

Question 9

In the four months after Hurricane Katrina,New Orleans' rate of ________ reportedly tripled.

Accepted Answer

The trauma of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, including displacement, loss of homes and loved ones, and a sense of hopelessness, led to an increase in suicides in New Orleans. According to a study by the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, the suicide rate in the city tripled in the four months after the hurricane compared to the same period in the previous year.

Question 10

Ben has been offered a new job out of state.He is very excited about the new opportunity.As he plans his move he realizes that he does not have enough money to pay a deposit and the first month's rent for a new apartment.He also does not have enough money to rent a truck to move his belongings.He begins to feel panic and frustration.Which of the following is the stressor?

Accepted Answer

The stressor in this scenario is not having enough money for a successful move. This is causing panic and frustration for Ben, and is an obstacle to him successfully taking the new job out of state.

Question 11

Compared with their less happy peers,the happiest 20-year-olds are subsequently ________ likely to marry and ________ likely to divorce.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that happier individuals are more likely to marry in the first place, and are also less likely to get divorced if they do get married. Therefore, the happiest 20-year-olds are more likely to marry and less likely to divorce.

Question 12

Brenda exercised regularly.Which of the following is probably NOT true of Brenda?

Accepted Answer

Regular exercise can actually improve sleep quality, so it is unlikely that Brenda is sleep deprived.

Question 13

A sporting event that participants perceive as highly challenging or threatening is best described as a(n)

Accepted Answer

A sporting event that participants perceive as highly challenging or threatening is a stressor, as it induces stress in individuals.

Question 14

A general sense of happiness or life satisfaction is most unrelated to whether people

Accepted Answer

Several studies have found that life satisfaction is not strongly related to factors such as sleeping well or having a happy marriage, and that the correlation between life satisfaction and religious faith is weak or inconsistent across different studies. However, age has been found to have a weak but positive correlation with life satisfaction, with older people generally reporting higher levels of life satisfaction than younger people.

Question 15

Religiously active people tend to live longer than those who are not religiously active.This is known as

Accepted Answer

The concept of religiously active people living longer is known as the faith factor, which suggests that having faith and participating in religious activities may have a positive impact on one's physical and mental health. Mindfulness meditation, biofeedback, and neurogenesis are all related to mental health and wellbeing, but not specifically linked to religious activity and longevity.

Question 16

When she missed her morning bus to work,Shelly's blood pressure rose,and she experienced a throbbing headache.Her physical responses to missing the bus were

Accepted Answer

Shelly's physical responses, such as increased blood pressure and headache, are examples of stress reactions. Stressors are external events or situations that can cause stress, while stress appraisals refer to how a person perceives and evaluates the stressor. Fight-or-flight responses are automatic physiological reactions that occur in response to perceived danger.

Question 17

Meyer Friedman and his colleagues used ________ to help Type A heart attack survivors reduce their risk of future attacks.

Accepted Answer

Meyer Friedman and his colleagues used relaxation techniques to help Type A heart attack survivors reduce their risk of future attacks by managing stress and promoting a calmer lifestyle.

Question 18

A stressor is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A stressor is an environmental event or situation that causes stress or anxiety. This could include things like a challenging work project, a difficult conversation with a loved one, or a traumatic event. It is not a physical muscle, exercise program, or hormone.

Question 19

Malcolm is driving to work on the interstate when a truck cuts in front of him.Malcolm slams on the brakes and avoids an accident.His heart is racing and he feels relief and anger simultaneously.In this instance,the stressor is

Accepted Answer

The truck cutting in front of Malcolm is the stressor because it triggered his physical and emotional response. The other options, such as the interstate, Malcolm's pounding heart, and his anger, are simply reactions to the stressor.

Question 20

The process by which we perceive and respond to events that threaten or challenge us is called

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question is known as stress.

Quiz 11: Stress, Health, and Human Flourishing