Question 1

Which of the following is true regarding cigarette smoking?

Accepted Answer

Most people who quit smoking do so without formal treatment, relying on personal motivation and self-help methods.

Question 2

In what ways can personality characteristics influence physical health and illness?

Accepted Answer

Personality characteristics can influence physical health and illness in various ways: they can lead to unhealthy behaviors (e.g., smoking, poor diet) that increase disease risk, they can be a result of disease processes affecting one's mental state or behavior, and third variables (e.g., socioeconomic status) may influence both personality and health outcomes, indicating a complex interplay between personality, behavior, and health.

Question 3

ALL BUT WHICH of the following has been a common criticism of biofeedback?

Accepted Answer

While A, B, and D are all common criticisms of biofeedback, the notion that it may be harmful depending on the health condition is less commonly cited as a criticism. However, like any treatment, biofeedback may have potential risks or effects that need to be considered.

Question 4

Which of the following best illustrates the application of operant conditioning principles in health psychology?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning involves modifying behavior through the use of reinforcement or punishment. In choice C, family members reinforce positive behavior (attempts to become more physically active) and ignore negative behavior (complaints), which is a direct application of operant conditioning principles to encourage more adaptive behavior in the chronic pain patient.

Question 5

Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding ethnicity and cancer?

Accepted Answer

Both statements are accurate. Different ethnic groups have varying incidences and mortality rates for various forms of cancer. For example, African Americans have a higher incidence and mortality rate for colorectal cancer compared to white Americans, while Asian Americans have a higher incidence of liver cancer. Understanding these differences can aid in the development of targeted interventions and treatments.

Question 6

Dr.McAndrew has decided to use systematic desensitization to treat his client's tension headaches.Which of the following treatment components MUST be present in order for Dr.McAndrews's intervention to be considered systematic desensitization?

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a type of therapy used to treat anxiety disorders, and involves gradually exposing the client to feared stimuli while they engage in relaxation techniques. Therefore, the necessary component in this process is extensive training in and use of relaxation techniques, which is letter C. Although the other options may be helpful in addressing tension headaches, they are not specific to the systematic desensitization intervention.

Question 7

In __________,an aspect of the patient's physiological functioning is monitored and fed back to the patient in the form of a signal,which he/she then attempts to modify.

Accepted Answer

Biofeedback is the process where a patient's physiological functioning is tracked and then the feedback is given to the patient in the form of a signal, which the patient then attempts to modify. This can help the patient learn to control bodily functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension, and can be used to treat a variety of conditions like anxiety, chronic pain, and headaches. Self-monitoring and virtual reality paradigms also involve tracking physiological functions, but they don't necessarily involve giving feedback to the patient to modify those functions. Obesity treatment is not directly related to monitoring physiological functions.

Question 8

Dr.Baker is a health psychologist,and he is developing a program for the local elementary schools to deter children from taking up smoking.Based on the available research,which of the following interventions is likely to be LEAST effective for this purpose?

Accepted Answer

Focusing on dire health consequences may not be effective for elementary school-aged children as they may not fully comprehend the long-term effects of smoking. It may be more effective to focus on more immediate consequences and social influences.

Question 9

In explaining the relationship between hostility and health,Dr.Billings asserts that more hostile individuals have poorer health habits,and it's these habits that increase their susceptibility to coronary heart disease.Evidently,Dr.Billings is an adherent of the __________.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Billings' assertion about the relationship between hostility and health habits aligns with the health behavior model, which emphasizes the importance of individual choices and behavior in determining health outcomes. This model suggests that hostile individuals may engage in unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, overeating, and lack of exercise, which can increase their risk for coronary heart disease.

Question 10

Cognitive-behavioral methods have been demonstrated as effective for the treatment of

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral methods have been found to be effective for the treatment of chronic pain, bulimia, and smoking cessation, as well as a range of other psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, the best choice is D, all of the above.

Question 11

According to research on demographic characteristics of cigarette smokers,which person below is most likely to be a smoker?

Accepted Answer

Research on demographic characteristics of cigarette smokers indicates that smoking rates are higher among individuals with lower income levels. Jared, with a family income of $30,000 per year, fits the profile of being more likely to be a smoker compared to the other options provided, which include higher income levels, higher education, or demographic groups with typically lower smoking rates.

Question 12

__________ is an example of a respondent technique used by health psychologists,and __________ is an example of an operant technique used by health psychologists.

Accepted Answer

The answer of __________ is an example of a respondent...

Question 13

Individuals with Type A personality tend to

Accepted Answer

Type A personality is characterized by traits such as competitiveness, urgency, and aggression, which can lead to hostility when frustrated.

Question 14

The best predictor of coronary heart disease is

Accepted Answer

The anger-hostility component of Type A personality is considered the best predictor of coronary heart disease, as it is associated with increased stress and physiological responses that can contribute to heart disease.

Question 15

Which of the following best illustrates extinction?

Accepted Answer

Extinction in psychology refers to the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response. In choice A, the person's fear (a conditioned response) diminishes over time through repeated exposure to the feared stimulus (doctors' offices) in a non-threatening context, which is a classic example of extinction.

Question 16

Carmen,a chronic pain patient,completes a self-monitoring record,and the health psychology professional helps her to challenge and correct her maladaptive beliefs.The treatment Carmen is receiving is best labeled

Accepted Answer

The treatment that Carmen is receiving involves self-monitoring and correcting maladaptive beliefs, which are principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT aims to change the negative thoughts and behaviors that contribute to psychological and physical distress. Therefore, the correct choice is C, cognitive-behavioral.

Question 17

Dr.Perez,a health psychologist,would like to evaluate the social support available to her new client,Camden.In other words,she will assess

Accepted Answer

Evaluating the social support available to Camden would include assessing both the number and quality of his social relationships. This provides a more comprehensive understanding of the type and level of support available to him.

Question 18

According to the psychosocial vulnerability model of the relationship between hostility and health,

Accepted Answer

The psychosocial vulnerability model suggests that hostility is not directly related to poor health outcomes, but rather that hostile individuals create a stressful environment by mistrusting others and scanning their environments for potential mistreatment. This leads to increased physiological arousal, such as elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and stress-related hormones, which can increase the risk for coronary artery disease. Hostile individuals may also have smaller social support networks and may take worse care of themselves/their bodies, but these are not the primary mechanisms by which hostility is thought to impact health.

Question 19

Because Delilah experiences severe headaches,she undergoes treatment that involves the placement of electrodes on her forehead.Delilah is most likely receiving

Accepted Answer

The placement of electrodes on Delilah's forehead implies that she is receiving biofeedback treatment, which involves teaching individuals to control physiological responses such as muscle tension, heart rate, and brainwaves. The electrodes would measure her brain activity, and she would receive feedback to help her learn to control her response and alleviate her headaches.

Question 20

Which of the following is true regarding the relationship between health and social support?

Accepted Answer

Several studies have shown that social support can act as a "buffer" against adverse health outcomes, including physical and mental health problems. This means that having a strong social support network can help individuals better cope with stressful situations and health challenges. Option B is incorrect because research has consistently shown that the relationship between social support and health outcomes persists even after controlling for demographic variables and medical risk factors. Option C is incorrect because the relationship between social support and health is bidirectional - social support can affect health outcomes, but health status can also impact social support networks.

Quiz 17: Health Psychology and Behavioral Medicine