Chapter 4—Personal Stress Management
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. Stress is a(n) ____.
a.
adaptive response to the body
b.
resistant force on the body
c.
nonspecific response on the body to any demand that is made
d.
homeostasis response
2. Which phrase best describes eustress?
a.
chronic stress
b.
positive stress
c.
a nonspecific response
d.
negative stress
3. Caroline is terrified of public speaking, but must give a brief report in front of the class. In this
situation, giving the public talk is a(n) ____.
a.
chronic stressor
b.
brief naturalistic stressor
c.
stressful event sequence
d.
distant stressor
4. New parents Frida and Justen are completely exhausted after the first night home with their newborn
twins. While the babies are napping the next day, Frida and Justen remain wide awake and
overwhelmed, yet strangely thrilled and happier at the same time. This best illustrates ____.
a.
chronic stress
b.
distant stress
c.
acute stress
d.
eustress
5. Distress refers to the ____.
a.
negative effects of stress
b.
alarm reactions of the body
c.
happy events in our life
d.
adaptation of harmful events
6. Dara explains to her friend that she is under tremendous stress because she has been unable to find a
new job after being laid off. She vividly describes her initial sense of terror as she realized the
implications of her job loss, her long period of searching for a new job and trying to remain optimistic,
and how now, several months later, she falls apart with the slightest stress. What stress model is Dara
describing?
a.
adaptive response system
b.
cognitive-transactional model
c.
alarm reaction
d.
general adaptation syndrome
7. Homeostasis refers to keeping our bodies in a(n) ____.
a.
unstable physiological state
b.
stable and consistent physiological state
c.
constant state of exhaustion
d.
constant state of alertness
8. The body attempts to restore homeostasis during the ____.
a.
alarm reaction
b.
fight-or-flight response
c.
adaptive response
d.
resistance phase
9. Cristof just heard on the TV that a major winter storm is moving in and is likely to cause serious
disruptions and substantial danger. Cristof’s pulse and blood pressure have increased and he is feeling
stress. What phase of stress is he most likely experiencing?
a.
adaptive
b.
alarm
c.
resistance
d.
exhaustion
10. Paula’s three year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment. After the
initial shock wore off, Paula became determined to keep life as normal as possible for herself and her
daughter. What phase of stress does this illustrate?
a.
adaptive
b.
alarm
c.
resistance
d.
exhaustion
11. Harrison lists the stressors he has experienced in the past year: roommate problems, having to move to
a new apartment, academic problems, the break-up of a long-term romantic relationship, and so on.
What approach to stress is Harrison illustrating?
a.
general adaptation
b.
cognitive transactional
c.
diathesis stress
d.
life events
12. Ingrid’s motto seems to be, “always be prepared,” and she has great confidence in her ability to cope.
As a result, when she faces stress, she typically believes she can cope with the stress without harm to
herself. What stress model does this exemplify?
a.
general adaptation
b.
cognitive transactional
c.
diathesis stress
d.
life events
13. Lillian, raised by a single mother who suffered from terrible depression and was often hospitalized,
has, herself, often struggled. After a semester filled with academic and interpersonal problems, Lillian
is diagnosed with major depression. What model of stress does this best illustrate?
a.
general adaptation
b.
cognitive transactional
c.
diathesis stress
d.
life events
14. Christopher is working his way through college and barely making it financially. He has, however,
retained his status in the honors program and seems reasonably contented and healthy. Which element
below is likely to contribute to Christopher’s ability to cope with workplace, academic, and financial
stress?
a.
good self-esteem
b.
psychiatric medication
c.
having a few beers after work
d.
being too tired to care
15. Stress can shorten your life when it alters DNA by ____.
a.
shortening telomeres
b.
scrambling the genetic code
c.
causing mutations
d.
widespread destruction
16. Which of the following is considered a stress hormone?
a.
TSH
b.
testosterone
c.
cortisol
d.
progestin
17. The body undergoes many physiological changes that occur during the fight-or-flight response. What
is one of these?
a.
The heart pumps less blood.
b.
Breathing slows.
c.
The brain becomes extra alert.
d.
The digestive system speeds up.
18. Prolonged stress can ____.
a.
cause brain cells to multiply
b.
reduce the effectiveness of cancer treatment
c.
lead to lower blood pressure
d.
cause telomeres to lengthen
19. Ginny has been under severe stress for a prolonged period of time when she is diagnosed with
metabolic syndrome and told that she is at high risk for diabetes. What hormone may be responsible?
a.
androgen
b.
dopamine
c.
progestin
d.
cortisol
20. Burton is under extreme stress and has just been diagnosed with an ulcer. How are ulcers and stress
related?
a.
They are not. Burton’s diagnosis is a coincidence.
b.
Stress causes erosion of the lining of the stomach.
c.
Stress increases susceptibility to Helicobater pylori infection.
d.
Stress increases activity of the digestive system.
21. Fawn eats when she is stressed and knows she will be really stressed during exam week. Which food
would be healthiest for her to stock up on?
a.
cola
b.
chocolate
c.
whole-grain crackers
d.
ice cream
22. If your college is similar to those included in the recent American College Health Association’s
assessment of stress, ____.
a.
female students are nearly twice as likely as male students to report their stress is less than
average.
b.
more than half of students, overall, report average levels of stress.
c.
male students are nearly twice as likely as female students to report higher than average
levels of stress.
d.
nearly one in 10 students, overall, feel they are under tremendous stress.
23. Daniel’s sophomore year seems to be especially stressful. If he is like most college students, what is
more likely to be causing his stress?
a.
academics
b.
health
c.
social relationships
d.
family relationships
24. Who among the following is most likely to experience test-related stress?
a.
Laurice, a perfectionist who has never gotten a grade below an A minus
b.
Harrison, who is facing academic suspension but feels he is likely to do poorly on his
exams
c.
Sharan, who is an average student but wants to do better
d.
Andreas, who is a good student and wants to do well academically while having a good
time at college
25. The process of psychosocial change by which an ethnic minority changes as a consequence of contact
with the ethnic majority is called ____.
a.
integration
b.
revisionism
c.
acculturation
d.
passing
26. Recent changes in the economy has created an epidemic of financial stress. According to the
American Psychological Association, what proportion of Americans describe their stress level as
extreme?
a.
about one in ten
b.
one-quarter
c.
one-third
d.
two-thirds
27. According to the American College Health Association, what percentage of students report
experiencing overwhelming anger in the past 12 months?
a.
16%
b.
26%
c.
36%
d.
46%
28. Studies of college students with learning disabilities have found that, in comparison to students
without learning disabilities, those with disabilities ____.
a.
report more stress
b.
are more resilient
c.
have a lower need for achievement
d.
show less initiative
29. Ilene just failed a test and when she gets home, snaps at her roommate for failing to put her dirty
dishes in the sink. What defense mechanism does this illustrate?
a.
projection
b.
denial
c.
rationalization
d.
displacement
30. Brittanie, who has herself occasionally cheated on tests and not felt badly about it, joins in harshly
condemning a group of students who have been caught cheating. What defense mechanism does this
illustrate?
a.
denial
b.
repression
c.
rationalization
d.
reaction formation
31. You want to apply a relaxation technique that works by intentionally increasing and then decreasing
tension in the muscle. What technique would you use?
a.
biofeedback
b.
guided imagery
c.
progressive relaxation
d.
meditation
32. When you use a relaxation technique that involves creating mental pictures that calm you down and
focus your mind, you are using ____.
a.
visualization
b.
mindfulness
c.
meditation
d.
biofeedback
33. Biofeedback typically employs which of the following techniques?
a.
visualization of pleasant images to counteract negative emotions
b.
destressing exercises with significant physical movement
c.
meditation and yoga technique with little physical movement
d.
electronic monitoring device to gain control over muscle tension and heart rate
34. A modern form of an ancient Asian technique called mindfulness focuses on ____.
a.
visualizing positive thoughts
b.
maintaining an awareness of the present moment
c.
meditating on prayers or chants
d.
incorporating biofeedback
35. Which statement best describes the practice of yoga?
a.
Yoga is less effective than aerobic exercise in producing feelings of well-being.
b.
Yoga is regularly practiced by more than 25 million Americans.
c.
While enjoyable, yoga has no reliable impact on physical or psychological health.
d.
Yoga may reduce compounds associated with inflammation.
36. After a major trauma, most people ____.
a.
recover fully
b.
require the assistance of psychotherapists to recover
c.
will suffer from PTSD for 5–10 years
d.
develop a mild form of schizophrenia
37. A common response to a trauma is ____.
a.
faster decision-making
b.
apathy and emotional numbing
c.
an increase in the amount one sleeps
d.
refocusing on work
38. A psychological response to an out-of-the-ordinary stressor is one definition for ____.
a.
psychosis
b.
an adjustment disorder
c.
distress
d.
posttraumatic stress disorder
39. What proportion of Iraq and Afghanistan combat veterans develop post-traumatic stress disorder?
a.
less than one-tenth
b.
one-quarter to one-third
c.
one-third to one-half
d.
one-half to two-thirds
40. Which statement accurately describes the treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder?
a.
Only medication is effective.
b.
No treatment is best; it will resolve naturally.
c.
Debriefing is the most effective approach.
d.
No single approach works for all.
41. People who deal well with adversity often have had previous experiences coping with adversity that
has toughened them. What is this called?
a.
stress inoculation
b.
self-efficacy
c.
exhaustion
d.
practice-effects
42. Odell has just been diagnosed with cancer. Which response to the diagnosis reflects a high degree of
self-efficacy?
a.
having a “so what” attitude
b.
believing that, with the help of doctors, he can beat the cancer
c.
refusing to believe the diagnosis is fatal
d.
believing that the will of a higher power will be done no matter what
43. After his daughter Polly was kidnapped and murdered, Marc Klaas became an advocate for missing
and endangered children. What does this illustrate?
a.
repression
b.
resilience
c.
regression
d.
reaction formation
44. Which statement is true of procrastination?
a.
Procrastination has no benefits.
b.
Students who procrastinate have fewer health problems.
c.
In the short-term, procrastination results in low stress periods.
d.
Younger students are more likely to procrastinate than older students.
45. To overcome procrastination, which of the following might be useful?
a.
Develop ground rules for meeting your own needs.
b.
Do what you like most first.
c.
Tackle the whole task rather than breaking it down.
d.
Forget schedules and calendars.
COMPLETION
1. ____________________ stressors include anxiety-provoking situations such as public speaking.
2. ____________________ stressors are serious challenges such as meeting a project deadline.
3. When stressors are ongoing with no clear endpoint, they are considered to be ____________________.
4. ____________________ stressors are traumatic experiences that occurred long ago.
5. ____________________ stress is an individual’s view of how challenging life is.
6. The ____________________ model explains behaviors as a result of both biological factors and
nurturing factors.
7. Under immediate stress, the adrenal glands produce ____________________.
8. _________________ encounter more problems with social adjustment and are less likely to share
their experiences with family and friends, resulting in lessened social support.
9. Violent, aggressive driving is called ____________________.
10. ____________________ is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion brought on by
constant emotional pressure.
11. Terrorism is considered to be a(n) ____________________ stressor.
12. A defense mechanism that people use when they refuse to accept a painful reality is
____________________.
13. Adopting attitudes and behaviors that are the opposite of what you feel is called
____________________.
14. Writing your feelings down is a way of working through stress, called ____________________.
15. Mentally picturing a calm image of a lake is an example of ____________________.
16. ____________________ is the union of the mind, body, and spirit.
17. A severe out-of-the-ordinary stressor such as military combat and war can lead to
____________________.
18. Surviving and thriving in the face of serious trauma or adversity is known as ____________________.
19. Living a better, more spiritual life involves good ____________________ coping.
20. Practicing better time management can help to eliminate ____________________ in your life and
reduce stress.
MATCHING
Match the items:
a.
mindfulness
f.
journaling
b.
cortisol
g.
repression
c.
defense mechanisms
h.
displacement
d.
projection
i.
guided imagery
e.
homeostasis
j.
denial
1. The body’s natural state of balance
2. One of the stress hormones
3. Keeping threatening feelings from becoming conscious
4. Creating mental pictures
5. Mental processes that help us cope with stress
6. Putting feelings into words
7. Refusal to accept a painful reality
8. Attribution of unacceptable feelings or impulses to someone else
9. Redirection of feelings
10. Experiencing the physical and mental sensations of the present moment
ESSAY
1. Define stress and stressors. Give examples of an event that would cause eustress and distress.
2. Explain the biological theory of stress as developed by Hans Selye.
3. Describe the relationship between stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
4. Suppose a close friend has just experienced a severely stressful natural disaster such as a massive
tornado, hurricane, flood, or earthquake. Your friend is extremely upset and asks for your help.
Identify three methods for coping with stress and explain them to your friend.
5. Explain the ways you could cope with having witnessed an act of violence.