Question 1

According to Hans Selye and the general adaptation syndrome, our response to stress has both a rapid phase and slower, continued phase. The rapid portion is ________ while the continuing portion is ______.

Accepted Answer

Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome describes our response to stress in three stages: the alarm reaction stage, where the body reacts to the stressor immediately; the resistance stage, where the body attempts to adapt to the stressor; and finally, the exhaustion stage, if the stress continues for a long time. The correct pairing according to this model is the alarm reaction as the rapid phase and resistance as the continuing phase.

Question 2

Julie wants to stop smoking. She has decided to do but has not yet stopped buying cigarettes or smoking them. According to the transtheoretical model, Julie is in which of the following stages?

Accepted Answer

Julie's decision to stop smoking but not yet taking action (such as stopping buying cigarettes or smoking them) places her in the Preparation stage of the transtheoretical model. This stage involves intending to take action in the near future.

Question 3

High dropout rates are a major problem in treating substance abuse. When a lapse occurs and is followed by a person being upset and self-blaming, it is referred to as

Accepted Answer

The term "abstinence violation effect" describes the situation where an individual who has been abstaining from substance use experiences a lapse and then undergoes feelings of guilt and self-blame. This psychological phenomenon can contribute to the continuation of substance use because the individual may feel they have already failed, reducing their motivation to maintain abstinence.

Question 4

Roberto has just been notified that he is losing his job because the car manufacturing plant where he is employed is closing. Currently Roberto is trying to decide whether or not he finds this situation stressful. As such, Roberto is currently engaging in

Accepted Answer

C) Primary appraisal is the process by which an individual evaluates the significance of a situation or event as a potential threat, challenge, or harm, determining whether it is stressful and requires coping. Roberto is in this stage, deciding whether the job loss is a stressor.

Question 5

Let's say that you are a therapist and have a patient who is young, female, and from an Asian country. What kind of coping strategy would you expect her to be using?

Accepted Answer

Emotion-focused coping strategies are often observed in collectivist cultures, including many Asian countries, where emotional regulation and maintaining harmony are emphasized. This approach involves managing emotions related to the stressor rather than trying to change the stressor itself.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a response to prolonged stress?

Accepted Answer

Prolonged stress typically leads to negative health outcomes such as blockage of arteries, deterioration of the hippocampus, an increase in chronic health conditions, and in extreme cases, sudden death. Increased regulation of diet is not a direct response to prolonged stress; in fact, stress often leads to poorer diet choices rather than improved regulation.

Question 7

Jessie has had a problem with cocaine. He went to rehab and stopped taking the drug, but following a particularly stressful event he relapsed and started using coke again. According to the text, a critical process resulting in this relapse probably was

Accepted Answer

The abstinence violation effect describes a situation where an individual, after breaking their commitment to abstain from a substance or behavior, experiences feelings of failure and guilt, which can lead to further use of the substance or behavior. In Jessie's case, the stressful event likely led to a relapse, and the abstinence violation effect could explain why this relapse might have resulted in continued cocaine use.

Question 8

Which stage of the change process is marked by a desire to change, but with no plan or action having been taken?

Accepted Answer

The contemplation stage is characterized by the individual recognizing a problem and considering making a change, but not yet having committed to taking action.

Question 9

Student "A" coped with the stress of a relationship problem by going to the beach to forget about it. Student "B" coped with the same type of stress by getting some help from a counselor, while Student "C" went directly to the relationship partner to try to resolve the problem. In the order Student "A", Student "B", and Student "C", the students' coping strategies most closely conform to

Accepted Answer

Student "A" used emotion-focused coping by going to the beach to distract themselves from the problem. Student "B" sought social support by getting help from a counselor. Student "C" engaged in problem-focused coping by addressing the issue directly with their partner.

Question 10

In the final phase of Selye's general adaptation syndrome called ______, we are most likely to

Accepted Answer

In the final phase of Selye's general adaptation syndrome, known as exhaustion, the body's resources are depleted from trying to fight a stressor, leading to an increased likelihood of becoming ill.

Question 11

According to Hans Selye and the general adaptation syndrome, our response to stress has both a rapid phase and slower, continued phase. If you are in the rapid portion, what is happening?

Accepted Answer

The rapid response to stress involves the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of cortisol from the adrenal glands. This is part of the "fight or flight" response, which prepares the body to face or escape from immediate threats.

Question 12

All of the following are considered protective factors against stress EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Type A personality is characterized by a high level of competitiveness, impatience, and a sense of urgency, which are not protective factors against stress. In fact, individuals with a Type A personality may be more prone to stress-related illnesses. Control, challenge, social support, and hardiness are all considered protective factors that can help individuals cope with stress more effectively.

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a method used in the multimodal treatment of substance abuse?

Accepted Answer

Situational attributions are not typically considered a method used in the multimodal treatment of substance abuse. Multimodal treatment often includes techniques like aversion therapy, stress-management training, social skills training, and positive reinforcement to address various aspects of addiction, but situational attributions, which involve attributing behavior to external circumstances rather than to internal traits or motivations, do not directly apply to treatment methods.

Question 14

According to the general adaptation syndrome, stress has a beneficial effect in the ______ phase, because _____.

Accepted Answer

The general adaptation syndrome, proposed by Hans Selye, describes three stages of response to stress: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. In the alarm phase, the body recognizes the stressor and initiates a fight-or-flight response, which is beneficial because it primes the body to deal with the stressor.

Question 15

Let's say that you are a therapist and have a patient who is young, male, and from a North American country. What kind of coping strategy would you expect him to be using?

Accepted Answer

Young males from North American cultures are often socialized to use problem-focused coping strategies, which involve tackling the problem directly to reduce stress.

Question 16

We all experience stress in our lives. According to the text, stress

Accepted Answer

Stress is defined as a pattern of appraisals (how we interpret stressors), physiological responses (how our bodies react), and behaviors (how we act) in response to perceived threats or challenges. This definition encompasses a broad range of experiences, not just major life events or long-term exposure, and involves more than just changes in cortisol levels or being unrelated to daily hassles.

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT a method to increase happiness, according to the text?

Accepted Answer

Avoiding new experiences is not a method to increase happiness. On the contrary, seeking new experiences can contribute to personal growth, excitement, and overall happiness. The other options (spending time with others, seeking meaning in work, cultivating optimism, and helping others) are all recognized ways to enhance one's happiness.

Question 18

In the treatment of substance abuse, the method in which the goal is not necessarily to stop the drug-taking behaviour, but to eliminate the dangerous behaviours that coincide with the drug-taking behaviour, is referred to as

Accepted Answer

Harm reduction focuses on reducing the negative consequences associated with drug use rather than stopping the drug use itself. It aims to minimize the risks and harm associated with substance abuse.

Question 19

Which of the following is NOT one of the major symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Accepted Answer

The major symptoms of PTSD include experiencing anxiety, arousal, and distress not present before the trauma, "survivor guilt," avoidance of reminders of the trauma, and reliving the traumatic event through flashbacks or dreams. The loss of the ability to learn new information after the trauma is not recognized as a major symptom of PTSD.

Question 20

Why is social support an effective protective factor when considering stress?

Accepted Answer

Social support helps reduce exposure to risk factors such as loneliness, which can exacerbate stress, by providing emotional, informational, or practical assistance, thereby acting as a buffer against stress.

Quiz 15: Stress, Coping, and Health

According to Hans Selye and the general adaptation syndrome, our response to stress has both a rapid phase and slower, continued phase. The rapid portion is __ while the continuing portion is .