Question 1

The use of defense mechanisms is a way to ____.

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms are psychological strategies used to keep emotions and thoughts unconscious, protecting the individual from anxiety or stress.

Question 2

What do meditation and progressive muscle relaxation techniques have in common?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What do meditation and progressive muscle relaxation...

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT a recommended method of stress management?

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms are not a recommended method of stress management because they involve avoiding or denying stress rather than addressing and reducing it. Examples of defense mechanisms include repression, denial, and projection. It is important to develop healthy coping mechanisms that address the root of the stress and help manage it effectively. Exercise, progressive relaxation, and developing social support are all recommended methods for managing stress.

Question 4

Which mechanism relies least on changing one's thought processes in order to manage stress?

Accepted Answer

Progressive relaxation focuses on systematically tensing and then relaxing muscle groups, which is more about physical relaxation than changing thought processes.

Question 5

As an adult, dealing with stress by throwing a child-like temper tantrum would be an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

The behavior of throwing a temper tantrum is a regressive behavior as it is characteristic of childhood behavior.

Question 6

Calisto cannot remember the specific events of several of his battles during the Iraqi war. Calisto is engaging in which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Repression involves pushing memories or emotions into the unconscious mind. Calisto's inability to remember specific events from his battles suggests that he may be repressing those memories as a defense mechanism.

Question 7

Refusing to deal with, or even be aware of, the stress associated with something traumatic would be an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

Repression is a defense mechanism in which a person forces uncomfortable or negative thoughts, memories, or emotions out of their conscious mind in order to avoid dealing with them. This can manifest as a complete denial or refusal to acknowledge the stress associated with a traumatic event.

Question 8

Taking your anger out on something or someone other than the person that caused your anger would be an example of ____.

Accepted Answer

Taking your anger out on something or someone other than the person that caused your anger is an example of a defense mechanism. Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological strategies used to cope with anxiety, stress, or emotional pain.

Question 9

Progressive relaxation training involves ____.

Accepted Answer

Progressive relaxation training involves alternately tensing and relaxing the muscle groups. It does not involve the use of medications or free weights, and although time management may be useful for reducing stress, it is not specifically a part of progressive relaxation training.

Question 10

Franklin is homophobic and often bashes gay people as an attempt to conceal his own sexual interest in men. Franklin is most likely engaging in the defense mechanism of ____.

Accepted Answer

In reaction formation, a person unconsciously switches unacceptable impulses into their opposites as a way to deal with anxiety or internal conflict. In this case, Franklin's hatred of gay people is the opposite of his true desire for men, which he is likely trying to repress or deny. Therefore, Franklin is engaging in the defense mechanism of reaction formation.

Question 11

Martha often cooks when she is angry at her husband. Martha is most likely engaging in the defense mechanism of ____.

Accepted Answer

Sublimation is a defense mechanism where negative or unacceptable impulses are transformed into positive actions or behaviors. In this case, Martha channels her anger into cooking, a constructive activity, rather than acting out on her anger directly.

Question 12

Annette often accuses other college students of being immature when in fact Annette acts quite childish herself. Annette is most likely engaging in the defense mechanism of ____.

Accepted Answer

Annette is projecting her own insecurities and flaws onto others by accusing them of being immature when she herself is acting immature. Projection is a defense mechanism where an individual attributes their own unacceptable thoughts or feelings onto others.

Question 13

Physical exercise has been found to increase the body's production of ____.

Accepted Answer

Physical exercise has been found to increase the body's production of serotonin, which is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood, appetite, and sleep. Exercise has been shown to increase the availability of tryptophan, an amino acid used to synthesize serotonin, in the brain. This increase in serotonin can lead to feelings of happiness and improved mood.

Question 14

Cognitive reappraisal is to ____, as defense mechanisms are to ____.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive reappraisal involves consciously changing one's thoughts and perceptions about a situation in order to better cope with it. Defense mechanisms, on the other hand, are unconscious strategies for dealing with emotional distress. Therefore, the best answer is C.

Question 15

After Linus failed several courses and then dropped out of college near the end of his first year, he told his friends that he had been planning to transfer to a smaller school anyway. Linus is engaging in the defense mechanism of ____.

Accepted Answer

Linus is using rationalization as a defense mechanism to justify his dropping out of college. Instead of acknowledging his failures and taking responsibility for them, he is coming up with a seemingly logical reason for his decision to transfer to a smaller school.

Question 16

Physical exercise has been shown to ____.

Accepted Answer

Physical exercise has been shown to produce a number of beneficial effects on the body and mind, including reducing both the physical effects of stress (such as elevated heart rate and blood pressure) and the emotional effects of stress (such as anxiety and depression). Therefore, option A is the most suitable choice.

Question 17

Paige is a young woman who wants her parents to treat her like an adult. But as soon as a problem arises in Paige's life, she runs home and asks her parents to solve her problems. Paige is engaging in which defense mechanism?

Accepted Answer

Paige is reverting back to an earlier stage of development in which she relied on her parents to solve her problems. This is known as regression.

Question 18

Encarna frequently lashes out at her younger brother when she gets yelled at by her parents. Encarna is engaging in the defense mechanism of ____.

Accepted Answer

Encarna is redirecting her frustration onto her brother instead of confronting the source of her anger, which is her parents. This is an example of displacement.

Question 19

Which of the following is a disadvantage of the use of defense mechanisms?

Accepted Answer

Defense mechanisms can prevent us from acknowledging the true source of our stress, which can hinder our ability to confront and address the problem effectively.

Question 20

Which of the following neurotransmitters acts as a natural painkiller and mood elevator?

Accepted Answer

Endorphins act as a natural painkiller by binding to the same receptors in the brain that opioids, such as morphine, bind to. Endorphins are also known to contribute to feelings of pleasure and mood elevation. Cortisol is a stress hormone, leptin regulates appetite and metabolism, and adrenaline is involved in the body's fight or flight response.

Quiz 12: Health, Stress, and Coping