Deck 15: Application Module-Social Psychology and Health

Question 1

In psychology, the term rumination refers to the

A) tendency to eat food thoroughly to aid digestion.
B) tendency to think about a stressful event over and over again.
C) digestive system dysfunction associated with exposure to multiple stressors.
D) illusion that we are in control of events.

Answer 1

tendency to think about a stressful event over and over again.

Question 2

If we know that Jon left school after the eighth grade and has been working as a janitor for the past twenty years, what research-based predictions could we make about his health status?

A) Jon is more likely to have chronically low levels of cortisol.
B) Jon is more likely to die at an earlier age than those in higher-status jobs.
C) Jon is less likely to develop heart disease because his job involves less stress.
D) If Jon has children, they will be less likely to die in infancy.

Answer 2

Jon is more likely to die at an earlier age than those in higher-status jobs.

Question 3

Mikell has been thinking over and over again about a conflict she had with a coworker. As a consequence, she has allowed that stressful conflict to pervade her evenings and weekends when she is not at work. Her sister, Tori, also had a conflict with a coworker but seemed to forget about it almost immediately. When their friends are catching the common cold, which of these two will be more vulnerable to catching the cold as well?

A) Mikell, because her elevated stress levels will make her immune system less effective
B) Tori, because her elevated stress levels will make her immune system less effective
C) Tori, because she is likely to spend more time socializing with her sick friends
D) Mikell, because she is likely to spend more time socializing with her sick friends

Answer 3

Mikell, because her elevated stress levels will make her immune system less effective

Question 4

Eliot is from a lower socioeconomic status (SES) neighborhood than Carl. Which of the following is a likely reason why Eliot is at greater risk for increased stress and poorer physical health outcomes than Carl?

A) Eliot is more likely to be exposed to violent crime.
B) Eliot is less likely to have access to recreational spaces and parks.
C) Eliot is less likely to have easy access to health care centers.
D) All of the above are correct.

Question 5

Psychologist Shelley Taylor proposed that we can reduce stress and improve our own health by connecting with and providing support to others. The term she used for this approach is

A) tend-and-befriend.
B) seek-and-assist.
C) self-distancing.
D) tit-for-tat.

Question 6

Supporting and connecting with others ________ oxytocin, which in turn ________ cortisol levels.

A) increases; decreases
B) decreases; decreases
C) increases; increases
D) decreases, increases

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT likely a mechanism by which optimism is associated with better physical health?

A) Optimists are more likely to engage in good health practices.
B) Optimists are more likely to respond to stress with less HPA axis activity.
C) Optimists are less likely to need to rely on others for support.
D) Optimists are more likely to develop good social support networks.

Question 8

Because Kesa has been experiencing increased, prolonged stress as a result of going over negative events again and again in her mind, her psychologist has recommended that she try self-distancing. This means that she should

A) engage in distracting activities to divert attention away from herself.
B) think more about her friends and family and less about herself.
C) jog regularly to take her mind off of her problems.
D) focus on her feelings from the perspective of a detached observer.

Question 9

Which of the following was found in breast cancer patients who were evaluated by their physicians as having better responses to the disease?

A) They relinquished control of their treatment to their doctors.
B) They reported having a sense of control over the course of the disease.
C) They were more likely to deny that they had cancer.
D) They were more likely to report intense anger at the cancer.

Question 10

Which of the following best summarizes the purpose of activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which involves increased cortisol and temporary immune system suppression?

A) to propagate the species through increased drive for reproduction
B) to increase survival value by storing up rather than expending energy reserves
C) to increase survival value by quickly responding to threats
D) to improve psychological health by suppressing memories of threatening events

Question 11

Gabriel is experiencing psychosocial stress during a job interview. Which area of Gabriel's brain is responsible for initially processing information related to this threat?

A) the amygdala
B) the basal ganglia
C) the fusiform gyrus
D) the pineal gland

Question 12

Glenda was recently placed in a nursing home, and her physical health has been gradually deteriorating. Accordingly to the textbook, which of the following would be most likely to improve her health?

A) having the staff ensure that she is pampered
B) encouraging her to conserve her strength by resting
C) allowing her a greater sense of control
D) reducing stress by minimizing the amount of time visitors can stay

Question 13

Some patients in a nursing home were given opportunities that increased their sense of control. Compared with nursing home patients who did not have these same opportunities, those with an increased sense of control

A) showed improvement in overall functioning.
B) were more likely to refuse opportunities to participate in group activities.
C) showed reduced happiness.
D) showed a decline in physical health.

Question 14

Richard is a fairly wealthy man. As part of a research study, Richard is asked to indicate which rung of a ladder best represents his socioeconomic rank. How is Richard most likely to respond?

A) He will select one of the highest rungs.
B) He will select one of the middle rungs.
C) He will select one of the lowest rungs.
D) His response will depend on his subjective construal of his relative rank.

Question 15

Diana and Julie are asked to give presentations at work with only ten minutes to prepare. Diana has a good friend in the audience, whereas Julie does not. Who is likely to become the most stressed during the presentation?

A) Julie
B) Diana
C) They are likely to feel equally stressed.
D) Neither is likely to feel stressed.

Question 16

Which of the following is an immediate effect of increased cortisol levels?

A) reduced blood pressure
B) increased immune system activity
C) increased heart rate
D) blockage of the formation of traumatic memories

Question 17

Which of the following was NOT among the findings of Shelley Taylor's research on women with breast cancer?

A) Most women passively accepted their condition.
B) Older women felt grateful that they had been diagnosed as older rather than younger women.
C) Younger women felt grateful that they had more physical robustness to fight the disease.
D) Most women felt that they could control the course of the disease through diet and exercise.

Question 18

Sidney and Jane are suffering from a similar health condition. Sidney is optimistic that her health will improve, while Jane's approach is to prepare herself for the worst. Which of the following outcomes is most likely?

A) Sidney's health condition will improve more than Jane's.
B) Jane's health condition will improve more than Sidney's.
C) Though Sidney and Jane take different approaches, both approaches are likely to benefit their health.
D) Neither Sidney nor Jane's approach will affect their health conditions.

Question 19

Which of the following pieces of advice is likely to be most helpful for reducing stress and improving health outcomes?

A) "Your good health is in your hands."
B) "Just let go and leave your health up to fate."
C) "Think positive."
D) Both a and c are likely to be helpful.

Question 20

Which of the following does the textbook NOT recommend as a means of reducing stress?

A) seeking out stressful situations to stimulate resilience
B) practicing meditation
C) exercising regularly
D) cultivating positive emotions

Question 21

Describe research that supports the role of perceived control in promoting good physical health.

Question 22

Imagine that you are designing a comprehensive stress reduction intervention for college students who are suffering from chronic health conditions. List two specific approaches that could be included in this intervention and describe how you would implement them. For each approach, provide one piece of evidence from the textbook that supports its role in reducing stress.

Question 23

What does research suggest about the relationship between close social connections and health outcomes? What factors are believed to explain this relationship?

Question 24

Explain how rumination may contribute to chronic stress and then describe one way that rumination can be reduced.

Question 25

Explain how differences in the social and physical environments of upper- and lower-SES neighborhoods can contribute to health disparities.