Question 1

German students had their brains scanned while someone thwarted their opportunity to earn money.Blood flow to brain areas that helped students understand their own emotions and make socially appropriate decisions was enhanced among students who:

Accepted Answer

The answer of German students had their brains scanned while...

Question 2

Reduced feelings of tension following aggressive outbursts are most likely to contribute to:

Accepted Answer

Reduced feelings of tension following aggressive outbursts reinforce the behavior of aggression because the individual has found relief from their tension or frustration through the act of aggression. This can create a cycle of behavior where the individual becomes more likely to use aggression in the future as a means of tension relief.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is consistent with the concept of learned helplessness, which refers to the tendency to give up and cease trying to exert any control over one's environment after repeated exposure to uncontrollable negative events or stimuli. Dogs who were unable to avoid shocks despite their best efforts would likely develop a sense of learned helplessness, leading them to become passive and apathetic to subsequent shocks even if they could potentially avoid them. The other options listed do not accurately describe this phenomenon.

Question 4

A loss of perceived control tends to result in:

Accepted Answer

A loss of perceived control has been shown to reduce immune responses, as chronic stress and feeling out of control can weaken the immune system over time. Options A and D are not directly related to a loss of perceived control, and option C typically involves actively seeking ways to regain control rather than accepting a lack of control.

Question 5

A friend suggests that Theresa can effectively reduce the anger she feels toward her ex-boyfriend by tearing pictures of him into little pieces.The friend most clearly assumes that this action would trigger:

Accepted Answer

The friend assumes that tearing pictures of the ex-boyfriend into little pieces would trigger an emotional catharsis, which can be defined as a release of emotional tension or purging of negative emotions. This process should help Theresa reduce her anger and negative feelings towards her ex-boyfriend. Option A, the General Adaptation Syndrome, refers to the body's response to stress and is not relevant to this situation. Option C, further rumination, would not help reduce Theresa's anger but would rather lead to increased dwelling on negative thoughts and emotions. Option D, reduced lymphocyte production, refers to the negative effects of stress on the immune system and is not relevant to this situation.

Question 6

Coping refers to a variety of methods used to:

Accepted Answer

Coping refers to techniques and strategies used to deal with stress and alleviate its effects. Option A is incorrect as coping does not aim to avoid the adaptation-level phenomenon; it is a psychological phenomenon that occurs due to continued exposure to stimuli, resulting in the brain becoming accustomed to it. Option B is incorrect as coping strategies aim to reduce helplessness by empowering individuals to manage their stressors. Option C is incorrect as cortisol is a hormone released during the stress response, and coping mechanisms aim to reduce the effects of this response rather than prevent it. Therefore, the best choice is D.

Question 7

Rosaria is upset with her husband for not putting his dirty clothes in the laundry basket.Anger experts would most likely recommend that she deal with her frustration by saying to him:

Accepted Answer

Option C is assertive, non-threatening, and directly expresses how Rosaria feels without blaming or attacking her husband. It allows for a productive conversation without escalating the situation. Options A, B, and D are all aggressive and confrontational, which may result in a defensive response from her husband and may escalate the conflict.

Question 8

British workers in executive positions live longer than those in clerical positions.This best illustrates the value of:

Accepted Answer

The fact that British workers in executive positions live longer than those in clerical positions suggests a link between perceived control (having more control over one's work and life) and mortality. This highlights the value of perceived control in promoting health and wellbeing.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Learned helplessness is a state where an individual feels like they have no control over their situation, leading to feelings of hopelessness and depression. This can result in higher cortisol levels, the stress hormone, and increased blood pressure. Option B correctly identifies both of these as being increased in individuals with learned helplessness.

Question 10

Ruminating inwardly about why you are angry is likely to:

Accepted Answer

Ruminating inwardly about why you are angry is likely to increase blood flow in the amygdala, which is the part of the brain associated with processing emotions such as anger. This can lead to intensified feelings of anger rather than reducing them.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

Emotion-focused coping involves seeking social support and managing the emotional distress caused by a stressful situation. Jeremy is seeking support from his friends and family to alleviate the stress caused by failing a college course. This suggests that he is engaging in emotion-focused coping.

Question 12

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:

Accepted Answer

Mr. Sternberg's reaction of giving up and becoming apathetic is a clear example of learned helplessness, which is a psychological state where an individual feels incapable of improving or changing their situation even when they could, due to previous experience of inescapable trauma or difficulties.

Question 13

Rats that received electric shocks were unlikely to develop ulcers if the:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Rats that received electric shocks were unlikely...

Question 14

Attempting to alleviate stress directly by changing the stressor is known as:

Accepted Answer

Problem-focused coping involves attempting to manage or alleviate stress directly by changing the stressor or taking some action to solve the problem causing the stress. Mindfulness meditation is a technique aimed at increasing awareness and acceptance of present moment experiences. Biofeedback involves monitoring and controlling physical responses to stress. The feel-good, do-good phenomenon refers to the tendency for people to be more helpful and charitable when they are in a positive mood.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Problem-focused coping involves taking action to alleviate stressor directly. Enrolling in a work-retraining program that led to full-time employment is an example of problem-focused coping. This is different from learned helplessness, which involves giving up and feeling unable to change one's circumstances, and external locus of control, which involves believing that outside forces control one's life. Type A personality refers to a personality characterized by competitiveness, impatience, and hostility, which is not related to Alicia's situation.

Question 16

A perceived loss of control is associated with ________ stress hormone levels and ________ immune system activity.

Accepted Answer

A perceived loss of control is associated with increased levels of stress hormone (such as cortisol) as the individual experiences a sense of threat or danger, leading to a fight-or-flight response. This, in turn, suppresses the immune system activity needed for the body to protect itself against potential harm.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

The passive resignation that accompanies an inability to avoid repeated aversive events is called learned helplessness. It is characterized by a sense of powerlessness or lack of control over the situation, which can lead to a variety of negative outcomes, including depression and anxiety.

Question 18

Addressing stressors with problem-focused coping would be most characteristic of those:

Accepted Answer

Those who have a sense of personal control are more likely to use problem-focused coping, which involves taking action to address the stressor itself rather than just managing one's emotions or reactions to it. Type B personality, pessimistic outlook, or low oxytocin levels do not necessarily predict coping style.

Question 19

Elderly nursing home residents tend to decline faster and die sooner than they would otherwise if they lack:

Accepted Answer

Perceived control refers to the belief that one has the ability to influence and direct their environment. Research has shown that elderly nursing home residents who have a greater sense of perceived control tend to have better physical and mental health outcomes, including reduced rates of illness and mortality. The other choices (biofeedback, mindfulness meditation, Type A personalities) do not have significant evidence to support their impact on elderly nursing home residents' health outcomes.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Vanessa's behavior of becoming more actively engaged in her work to alleviate stress is an example of emotion-focused coping. This type of coping involves managing and regulating emotions that are associated with stressors. Option A, the faith factor, refers to the idea that religious beliefs or practices can help individuals cope with stress, but this is not evident in the given scenario. Biofeedback (Option B) is a technique in which an individual is given information about their bodily functions, such as heart rate and muscle tension, in an effort to control these functions. There is no evidence that this technique was used by Vanessa. Option D, a Type B personality, refers to individuals who have a more relaxed, easy-going personality. However, this personality trait does not appear to be relevant to this scenario.

Quiz 11: Stress, Health, and Human Flourishing