Deck 10: Stress, Health, and Human Flourishing

Question 1

Psychologists define stress as

A)the experience of realistic anxiety.
B)the process by which we appraise and respond to threatening or challenging events.
C)an attempt to reach some important goal.
D)physical,emotional,or mental exhaustion.

Answer 1

the process by which we appraise and respond to threatening or challenging events.

Question 2

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

A)anxiety.
B)coronary heart disease.
C)stomach ulcers.
D)upper respiratory infections.

Answer 2

anxiety.

Question 3

An emergency reaction when dealing with a threat often includes sympathetic nervous system arousal and the mobilization of one's energy.This is best illustrated by

A)resilience.
B)emotion-focused coping.
C)the fight-or-flight response.
D)the adaptation-level phenomenon.

Answer 3

the fight-or-flight response.

Question 4

When confronted with a stressful event,your sympathetic nervous system

A)speeds up your stomach's digestive activity.
B)triggers an increase in the production of disease-fighting lymphocytes.
C)speeds up the removal of fat from your bloodstream.
D)increases your heart rate and respiration.

Question 5

In a stressful situation,feelings of pain are dulled by the activation of

A)an external locus of control.
B)NK cells.
C)the sympathetic nervous system.
D)lymphocytes.

Question 6

In the 1920s,Walter Cannon discovered that emotion-arousing events trigger an outpouring of ________ from the adrenal glands.

A)stress hormones
B)oxytocin
C)serotonin
D)lymphocytes

Question 7

Who first identified the three-stage general adaptation syndrome?

A)Meyer Friedman
B)Hans Selye
C)Walter Cannon
D)Julian Rotter

Question 8

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?

A)resistance
B)alarm reaction
C)adjustment
D)exhaustion

Question 9

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.

A)parasympathetic
B)sympathetic
C)somatic
D)central

Question 10

While taking a difficult test,Cindy's muscles tense and her heart pounds.These physiological responses are best described as

A)stressors.
B)stress reactions.
C)stress appraisal.
D)immune deficiencies.

Question 11

The general adaptation syndrome describes stages in the

A)production of lymphocytes.
B)development of personal control.
C)body's response to prolonged stress.
D)adaptation-level phenomenon.

Question 12

Luigi minimized the stress of testing positive for HIV by viewing this circumstance as an opportunity for a renewed religious commitment and spiritual growth.His reaction best illustrates the importance of

A)an external locus of control.
B)the Type A personality.
C)the general adaptation syndrome.
D)stress appraisal.

Question 13

The daily hassle of experiencing racial discrimination is best described as

A)a fight-or-flight response.
B)relative deprivation.
C)learned helplessness.
D)a stressor.

Question 14

Walter Cannon observed that a variety of stressors trigger activation of the sympathetic nervous system,which prepares the body for

A)decreased respiration.
B)lowered blood sugar levels.
C)a fight-or-flight response.
D)an increase in the production of lymphocytes.

Question 15

The three successive phases of the general adaptation syndrome are

A)attention,comprehension,and resistance.
B)alarm reaction,resistance,and exhaustion.
C)adrenal release,cognitive appraisal,and self-control.
D)reactive frustration,sympathetic arousal,and parasympathetic inhibition.

Question 16

Rush hour traffic is to upset stomach as ________ is to ________.

A)fight;flight
B)Type B;Type A
C)lymphocyte;macrophage
D)stressor;stress reaction

Question 17

Being confronted by an intruder who has broken into your house late at night is best described as a(n)

A)fight-or-flight response.
B)general adaption syndrome.
C)relative deprivation.
D)stressor.

Question 18

Research on stressful life events indicates that

A)those who live a relatively stress-free life actually suffer a higher-than-average rate of heart attacks.
B)widowed people are at an increased risk of death in the week following their partner's death.
C)survivors of a natural disaster are immunized against stress and have fewer long-term health problems.
D)all of these statements are true.

Question 19

Resistance to stress is greatest during ________ of the GAS.

A)Phase 1
B)Phase 2
C)Phase 3
D)Phase 4

Question 20

One person regards a new job as a challenge,whereas another regards the same new job as a potential threat.These different perceptions best illustrate

A)the general adaption syndrome.
B)stress appraisal.
C)immune deficiencies.
D)psychoneuroimmunology.

Question 21

Which immune system cell acts as a "big eater" that traps and destroys worn-out cells?

A)a B lymphocyte
B)an oxytocin
C)a T lymphocyte
D)a macrophage cell

Question 22

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

A)serotonin.
B)cortisol.
C)insulin.
D)oxytocin.

Question 23

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

A)elevated lymphocyte levels.
B)the adaptation-level phenomenon.
C)the tend-and-befriend response.
D)the Type A personality.

Question 24

The third phase of the general adaptation syndrome is characterized by

A)resistance.
B)exhaustion.
C)an alarm reaction.
D)a tend-and-befriend response.

Question 25

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

A)reproductive system.
B)cardiovascular system.
C)immune system.
D)respiratory system.

Question 26

An increased risk of illness is most closely associated with ______ of the general adaptation syndrome.

A)Phase 1
B)Phase 2
C)Phase 3
D)Phase 4

Question 27

Lymphocytes are

A)harmful agents such as viruses and bacteria.
B)stress hormones produced by the sympathetic nervous system.
C)cancer cells that form in the adrenal glands.
D)disease-fighting cells that are part of the body's immune system.

Question 28

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

A)increased empathy.
B)elevated levels of oxytocin.
C)an external locus of control.
D)social withdrawal.

Question 29

The emotional bonding and mutual support that survivors of a deadly storm provide to one another best illustrates

A)the general adaptation syndrome.
B)the tend-and-befriend response.
C)an external locus of control.
D)psychoneuroimmunology.

Question 30

After losing her job,Colleen not only felt stressed out but also repeatedly suffered annoying cold symptoms.This was most likely due to

A)elevated oxytocin levels.
B)reduced cortisol levels.
C)suppressed lymphocyte activity.
D)an elevated NK cell count.

Question 31

Dr.Lee's research focuses on the interactive effects of brain chemistry and depressed mood states on the production of lymphocytes.His research best illustrates the specialty area known as

A)clinical psychology.
B)psychopharmacology.
C)cognitive neuroscience.
D)psychoneuroimmunology.

Question 32

Compared with men,women have ________ immune systems,and they are at ________ risk for self-attacking diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

A)stronger;lower
B)weaker;higher
C)stronger;higher
D)weaker;lower

Question 33

Natural killer cells are part of the body's

A)immune system.
B)endocrine system.
C)digestive system.
D)sympathetic nervous system.

Question 34

Compared with men in similar situations,women in distressed relationships have higher levels of _______,which may help them seek out and receive support from others.

A)cortisol
B)lymphocytes
C)oxytocin
D)NK cells

Question 35

Babby was a wild chimpanzee who was highly stressed when placed in the confinement of a zoo.Her subsequent difficulty recovering from an infectious disease most likely resulted from

A)suppressed lymphocyte activity.
B)elevated oxytocin levels.
C)an elevated NK cell count.
D)reduced cortisol levels.

Question 36

An understanding of how stress affects our resistance to disease is the central focus of the field of

A)biopsychology.
B)psychoneuroimmunology.
C)cognitive psychology.
D)behavioral psychology.

Question 37

An overactive immune system puts women at higher risk of ________ than men.

A)high blood pressure
B)stomach cancer
C)lupus
D)AIDS

Question 38

Immune system cells that pursue and destroy diseased body cells are called

A)stressors.
B)endorphins.
C)oxytocin cells.
D)NK cells.

Question 39

Macrophage cells and lymphocytes are major agents of the

A)sympathetic nervous system.
B)immune system.
C)digestive system.
D)parasympathetic nervous system.

Question 40

B lymphocytes inhibit ________,whereas T lymphocytes inhibit ________.

A)bacterial infections;viral infections
B)heart attacks;strokes
C)NK cells;cancer cells
D)HIV;AIDS

Question 41

Dental students healed more slowly from punch wounds received three days prior to a major exam than from punch wounds received during their summer vacation.The slower healing prior to a major exam is best explained by their

A)elevated oxytocin levels.
B)suppressed lymphocyte activity.
C)elevated NK cell count.
D)reduced cortisol levels.

Question 42

Who is the best example of a Type B personality?

A)George,a self-confident,time-conscious mail carrier
B)Wang Lung,a relaxed,easygoing dentist
C)Henry,an irritable,impatient college professor
D)Stasio,a fun-loving,hard-driving corporation president

Question 43

Those who suppress their negative emotions in order to avoid social disapproval are at increased risk for a heart attack.These individuals have been characterized as ________ personalities.

A)Type A
B)Type B
C)Type C
D)Type D

Question 44

Stress is most likely to speed the progression from HIV to AIDS by

A)stimulating the release of endorphins.
B)accelerating the production of NK cells.
C)suppressing lymphocyte activity.
D)slowing heart rate and respiration.

Question 45

Persistent stress reduces the capacity of the ________ to remove cholesterol and fat from the blood.

A)liver
B)thyroid gland
C)pancreas
D)adrenal glands

Question 46

Persistently high levels of ________ are an indication that a person is at high risk for a future heart attack.

A)cortisol
B)oxytocin
C)natural killer cells
D)B lymphocytes

Question 47

Avoiding stress is LEAST likely to inhibit the progression of ________ in humans.

A)bacterial infections
B)viral infections
C)coronary heart disease
D)advanced cancer

Question 48

The infectious agent that triggers AIDS is called

A)cortisol.
B)an NK cell.
C)HIV.
D)a macrophage cell.

Question 49

Rodents who experienced inescapable shocks were more prone to developing cancer if they had previously been exposed to

A)natural killer cells.
B)T lymphocytes.
C)macrophage cells.
D)tumor cells.

Question 50

Programs that reduce stress have been found to ________ the progression from HIV infection to AIDS.Compared with available drug treatments,these stress-reduction programs have proven to be ________ effective for this purpose.

A)slow;equally
B)almost completely prevent;more
C)slow;less
D)almost completely prevent;equally

Question 51

Heart disease and depression may both result when chronic stress triggers

A)persistent inflammation.
B)reduced cortisol levels.
C)the production of lymphocytes.
D)elevated oxytocin levels.

Question 52

Who is the best example of a Type A personality?

A)Valentin,a self-confident,intelligent journalist
B)Kane,a relaxed,easygoing mail carrier
C)Philip,a competitive,hot-tempered corporation president
D)Thomas,a withdrawn,inhibited mental patient

Question 53

In a nine-year longitudinal study,Friedman and Rosenman reported that,compared with Type A men,Type B men were

A)at higher risk for stomach ulcers.
B)at lower risk for stomach ulcers.
C)at higher risk for heart attacks.
D)at lower risk for heart attacks.

Question 54

Friedman and Rosenman referred to competitive,hard-driving,impatient,and easily angered individuals as ________ personalities.

A)Type A
B)Type B
C)Type C
D)Type D

Question 55

Anger is the toxic core of

A)an internal locus of control.
B)the Type A personality.
C)an external locus of control.
D)the Type B personality.

Question 56

Sophia hopes to minimize her stress levels,thinking it will help her to avoid ovarian cancer,which claimed the life of her grandmother.Sophia would be best advised to remember that

A)an optimistic attitude has a greater impact on cancer survival than any medical treatment.
B)an external locus of control reduces the body's production of stress hormones.
C)Type B personality traits inhibit the growth and spread of malignant tumors.
D)stress does not cause cancer.

Question 57

Persistent anger ________ the risk of heart disease,and persistent depression ________ the risk of heart disease.

A)increases;decreases
B)increases;increases
C)has no effect on;increases
D)increases;has no effect on

Question 58

Bernice is an ambitious,highly competitive corporate lawyer who recently had a heart attack.She tends to be impatient and a perfectionist,and she gets angry over little things.Research suggests that Bernice's susceptibility to heart attacks may be most closely linked to her

A)ambition.
B)anger.
C)perfectionism.
D)competitiveness.

Question 59

Coronary heart disease involves

A)an immunodeficiency virus.
B)overproduction of macrophage cells.
C)the clogging of blood vessels.
D)excess oxytocin secretions.

Question 60

The risk of coronary heart disease is increased by

A)an internal locus of control.
B)a Type B personality.
C)high blood pressure.
D)natural killer cells.

Question 61

A sense that one can exert an influence on his or her environment is called

A)problem-focused coping.
B)subjective well-being
C)personal control.
D)resilience.

Question 62

Vanessa relieved some of the stress associated with the death of her husband by becoming more actively engaged in her work.Her response best illustrates

A)the faith factor.
B)an external locus of control.
C)emotion-focused coping.
D)a Type B personality.

Question 63

Google's Innovation Time Off program has been found to increase employees'

A)mindfulness meditation.
B)cholesterol levels.
C)personal control.
D)pessimism.

Question 64

One U.S.longitudinal study followed 1306 men (ages 40 to 90)over a 10-year period.The study found that __________ were twice as likely as __________ to develop heart disease.

A)married men;single men
B)those with Type B personalities: those with Type A personalities
C)pessimists;optimists
D)those with an internal locus of control;those with an external locus of control

Question 65

The stress of her husband's death and her increased work responsibilities led Irene to start overeating junk foods that triggered high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.This best illustrates that persistent stress often

A)diverts blood from the skeletal muscles to the body's digestive organs.
B)prevents the release of fat from the body's stored energy reserves.
C)encourages behaviors that contribute to poor health.
D)stimulates increased production of natural killer cells.

Question 66

To reduce the stress he feels after failing a college course,Jeremy seeks social support from his friends and family.Jeremy's behavior best illustrates

A)learned helplessness.
B)a Type A personality.
C)problem-focused coping.
D)emotion-focused coping.

Question 67

Coping refers to a variety of methods used to

A)avoid the adaptation-level phenomenon.
B)inhibit learned helplessness.
C)prevent the release of oxytocin.
D)reduce stress.

Question 68

Psychologists used _________ to study the development of learned helplessness in dogs.They used __________ to study differences between people with a more internal locus of control and those with a more external locus of control.

A)naturalistic observation;correlational research
B)correlational research;experimental research
C)correlational research;naturalistic observation
D)experimental research;correlational research

Question 69

Attempting to reduce stress directly by changing the stressor is known as

A)mindfulness meditation.
B)the adaptation-level phenomenon.
C)problem-focused coping.
D)the feel-good,do-good phenomenon.

Question 70

A habit of playing video games to take your mind off of your worry about keeping up with class reading assignments best illustrates a maladaptive

A)internal locus of control.
B)Type B personality.
C)adaptation-level phenomenon.
D)emotion-focused coping strategy.

Question 71

Depression increases the risk of death,especially death from

A)lupus.
B)multiple sclerosis.
C)coronary heart disease.
D)stomach cancer.

Question 72

After experiencing inescapable brutalities as a prisoner in a Nazi concentration camp,Mr.Sternberg became apathetic,stopped eating,and gave up all efforts to physically survive the ordeal.Mr.Sternberg's reaction most clearly illustrates

A)the adaptation-level phenomenon.
B)the faith factor.
C)learned helplessness.
D)an internal locus of control.

Question 73

Learned helplessness is likely to be accompanied by ________ cortisol levels and ________ blood pressure.

A)increased;decreased
B)increased;increased
C)decreased;decreased
D)decreased;increased

Question 74

To reduce the stress of losing her job,Alicia enrolled in a work-retraining program that led to full-time employment.Alicia's behavior best illustrates

A)learned helplessness.
B)an external locus of control.
C)problem-focused coping.
D)a Type A personality.

Question 75

Dogs strapped in a harness and given repeated shocks that they could not avoid developed

A)a Type B personality.
B)an internal locus of control.
C)learned helplessness.
D)problem-focused coping.

Question 76

After a lengthy period of stress that involved breaking up with his girlfriend,Todd came down with an especially severe respiratory infection.The severity of his infection is most likely because his

A)blood pressure levels have been lowered.
B)oxytocin levels have been elevated.
C)immune system has been suppressed.
D)cortisol levels have been reduced.

Question 77

The passive resignation that accompanies an inability to avoid repeated aversive events is called

A)an internal locus of control.
B)emotion-focused coping.
C)the adaptation-level phenomenon.
D)learned helplessness.

Question 78

Prolonged stress can increase one's vulnerability to illness in part because recurrent autonomic nervous system arousal leads to

A)an elevated NK cell count.
B)inflammation of body tissues.
C)reduced cortisol levels.
D)an increased production of lymphocytes.

Question 79

The loss of personal control is most likely to be accompanied by elevated levels of

A)oxytocin.
B)lymphocytes.
C)serotonin.
D)cortisol.

Question 80

A loss of perceived control tends to result in

A)low blood pressure.
B)weakened immune responses.
C)problem-focused coping.
D)low blood sugar levels.