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c. the interaction between stimulus and response.
d. all of these.
26. Which of these is NOT a stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome?
a. resistance stage
b. illness stage
c. exhaustion stage
d. alarm stage
27. One criticism of Selye’s theory of stress is that it emphasizes the ______ factors but
largely ignores the influence of _______ factors.
a. external . . . internal
b. physical . . . psychological
c. psychological . . . individual
d. retrograde . . . proactive
28. Lazarus and Folkman suggested that stress is
a. a nonspecific response.
b. influenced by one’s view of the situation.
c. a transactional process.
d. both b and c are correct
29. According to Lazarus, a person’s perceived ability to cope with harm or threat would be
called
a. primary appraisal.
b. secondary appraisal.
c. reappraisal.
d. vulnerability.
30. According to Lazarus, a person who loses her job but sees the prospect of finding a new
job as a challenge would be
a. more vulnerable to stress than someone who saw the event as a threat.
b. more likely to reappraise the situation than someone who saw the event as a
threat.
c. less vulnerable to stress than someone who saw the event as a threat.
d. unrealistic and less capable of coping with the situation than someone who saw
the situation more realistically.
31. Lazarus saw stress as stemming from
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a. strong emotional reactions to environmental stimuli.
b. negative life events.
c. positive life events.
d. the person’s perception of an event.
32. Both Selye’s and Lazarus’s theories of stress suggest that stress
a. is a nonspecific response.
b. has both environmental and personal sources.
c. is analogous to a pathogen.
d. is characterized by all of these.
33. Several methods have been used to measure stress, but the approach taken by most health
psychologists is
a. self-report scales.
b. performance tests.
c. physiological measures.
d. estimates by close associates.
34. Instruments that measure stress by quantifying physiological reactions are ordinarily
a. highly reliable.
b. highly unreliable.
c. valid predictors of physiological illness.
d. valid predictors of psychological disorders.
35. The Social Readjustment Rating Scale assumes that
a. daily events are more crucial than major life events.
b. change in life adjustment is the key factor in measuring stress.
c. only desirable events are valid predictors of stress.
d. positive life events tend to reduce stress.
36. Which of the following has been used to measure stress?
a. blood pressure
b. daily hassles scales
c. self-reports
d. all of these
37. The Perceived Stage Scale (PSS)
a. consists of 105 items that people have experienced during the past week.
b. measures changes in coping responses, as well as daily hassles and major life
events.
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c. measures events in people’s lives that they perceive as unpredictable and
uncontrollable.
d. measures events in people’s lives that they see as being controllable.
38. Lazarus’s Hassles Scale assumes that
a. stress is an objective environmental stimulus.
b. physiological instruments are more reliable measures of stress than self-reports.
c. the person’s perception of an event is the critical factor in the measurement of
stress.
d. frequency of hassles is more crucial than their intensity.
39. The revised Hassles and Uplifts Scale
a. asks people to rate everyday events either positively or negatively.
b. is longer and more complex than the original Hassles Scale.
c. is less able to predict headaches than the Social Readjustment Rating Scale.
d. shows that the number of hassles is more important than the severity of hassles.
40. If spouses fill out a self-report measure of stress from their spouse’s point of view, and if
scores of the spouses match closely, we can say that the self-report inventory is
a. reliable.
b. valid.
c. both reliable and valid.
d. neither reliable nor valid, based on the information given.
41. Self-report inventories of stress are useful to the extent that
a. they are reliable.
b. they predict future illness.
c. they include the items that people actually find stressful.
d. all of these.
42. Stressful events that are so powerful that they affect large numbers of people fit into the
category of
a. life events.
b. cataclysmic events.
c. daily hassles.
d. unintentional events.
43. Life events produce stress by
a. making the affected person’s life more unpleasant.
b. creating change and requiring adaptation.
c. putting people’s lives in danger.
d. all of these.
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44. Noise is considered a type of pollution because
a. one person’s music is another person’s noise.
b. one person’s noise is another person’s music.
c. it is loud.
d. it is a noxious, unwanted stimulus.
45. The experiments with rats living in highly crowded cages suggest that
a. overcrowding leads to changes in social behavior among rats.
b. overcrowding leads to short life spans for most rats in crowded conditions.
c. rats become more fertile, thus leading to even more crowded conditions.
d. crowding eventually reduces the population to about a tenth of its original size.
46. John, a Montana rancher, lives five miles from his nearest neighbor. John’s living
conditions could be described as
a. dense but not crowded.
b. crowded but not dense.
c. both crowded and dense.
d. neither crowded nor dense.
47. During a recent football game, 77,000 people were present in a stadium with a capacity
of 73,000. The accumulation of that number of people in a relatively small area would be
consistent with Stokols’s definition of
a. crowding.
b. learned helplessness.
c. mob behavior.
d. density.
48. Which of these could be a source of stress?
a. noise
b. crowding
c. air pollution
d. all of these
49. The experience of discrimination
a. has been linked to health problems, including cardiovascular disease.
b. creates stress but has little ability to harm physical health.
c. creates stress, which harms physical health but has little ability to produce
psychological distress.
d. occurs mostly in the workplace rather than in the community.
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50. Which of these jobs is ordinarily LEAST stressful?
a. farm worker
b. waiter or waitress
c. chief executive officer
d. construction worker
51. The most stressful occupations are those that offer
a. high demands and low control.
b. high demands and high control.
c. low demands and low control.
d. low demands and high control.
52. Which of the following is NOT a common source of stress for women?
a. occupying multiple roles of employee and mother
b. conflict with husbands over household work
c. having a husband who supports her career goals
d. the expectation that employed women will perform the majority of child care
53. People experience less stress during, and after, a vacation than before a vacation.
However, this “vacation effect” tends to only last
a. one- two days
b. one week
c. two weeks
d. three-four weeks
54. Cataclysmic events, such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, can cause individuals to
experience a prolonged stress response and feelings of depression and anxiety, and after
such events individuals are often diagnosed with
a. posttraumatic stress disorder.
b. social anxiety.
c. stomach ulcers.
d. migraines.
55. In the past year, Kelly has graduated from college, changed jobs, and bought a house. All
of these events can be classified as
a. cataclysmic life events.
b. major life events.
c. daily hassles.
d. none of the above.
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56. Amy faces a long commute to college every day and once there parking is difficult to
find. These everyday events can be classified as
a. cataclysmic life events.
b. major life events.
c. daily hassles.
d. none of the above.
57. Individuals who live closer to “green spaces” in cities report ___________.
a. higher stress
b. worse self-reported health
c. lower stress
d. being victims of crimes, like muggings.
58. Discrimination is a source of stress that may increase the risk for _______.
a. cardiovascular disease
b. mental health problems
c. both a and b
d. none of the above
59. When people use strategies to manage the distressing problems in their lives, they are
a. coping.
b. becoming more vulnerable to stress.
c. dispersing sources of stress.
d. in the alarm stage of the GAS.
60. To Lazarus and Folkman, several factors determine a person’s ability to cope with an
event. Which of these is NOT one such factor?
a. material resources, such as money
b. the belief that one can bring about the desired consequences
c. problem-solving skills
d. the magnitude of the event
61. A combination of emotional concern, instrumental aid, information, and appraisal best
describes
a. social networks.
b. social contacts.
c. social support.
d. all of these.
62. Phyllis is 65 years old, lives alone, and has no close friends or relatives. Her condition is
best described as
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a. social isolation.
b. widowhood.
c. sociopathy.
d. socioeconomic deficiency.
63. The benefits of marriage ________ in terms of health; ___________.
a. are not equal . . . women benefit more than men
b. are not equal . . . men benefit more than women
c. are almost equal . . . college-educated women have an advantage, but other
women do not
d. are equal . . . men and women benefit equally
64. Claudia believes that her own health is mostly due to genetics and germs; she can do very
little to improve her health. This attitude is consistent with
a. an internal locus of control.
b. an external locus of control.
c. a high level of self-efficacy.
d. a low level of self-efficacy.
65. A study by Ellen Langer and Judith Rodin of nursing home residents showed that older
people were more likely to retain good health if they
a. had plants in their rooms.
b. received flowers at least once a week from family members.
c. were responsible for caring for plants in their rooms.
d. received attention from the nursing staff in the form of frequent rearrangement of
room furniture.
66. According to Ellen Langer and Judith Rodin’s research about personal control and older
people, the degree of control that is necessary to produce health benefits
a. may be created by decisions about relatively minor matters.
b. should include decisions about where to live.
c. should include choosing one’s personal physician.
d. are so extensive that it is not feasible for most elderly people to be allowed such
control due to safety concerns.
67. The _________________ suggests that social support lessens or eliminates the harmful
effects of stress.
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a. stress-buffering hypothesis
b. personal control hypothesis
c. tend and befriend hypothesis
d. emotion focused coping hypothesis
68. A recent meta-analytic review found that social support buffered the effects of
discrimination on __________ but not __________.
a. mental health; physical health
b. mental health; environmental stressors
c. physical health; mental health
d. physical health; environmental stressors
69. Marty believes that he has control of events that shape his life. Psychologists would say
that Marty has high ____________.
a. problem-solving skills
b. social support
c. free will
d. personal control
70. People who own a _____ are 8 times more likely to be alive 1 year after their heart attack
than those who do not own one.
a. bicycle
b. dog
c. pedometer
d. heart monitor
71. Individuals who frequently face situations that offer little control have increased
production of ___________.
a. adrenocorticotropic hormone
b. cortisol
c. norepinephrine
d. oxytocin
72. _______ is the better coping strategy to deal with chronic stressors, such as
discrimination, HIV infection, and diabetes.
a. Problem-focused coping
b. Emotion-focused coping
c. Avoidance-orientated coping
d. Meaning-focused coping
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73. Individuals are more likely to use this form of coping when they appraise the situation as
controllable.
a. Problem-focused coping
b. Emotion-focused coping
c. Avoidance-orientated coping
d. Meaning-focused coping
74. The Alameda County Study was the first study to show a strong link between _______
and longevity.
a. self-esteem
b. narcissism
c. social support
d. social isolation
75. People who are ________ are more likely to use problem-focused coping and adjust their
coping strategies to meet the demands of specific situations.
a. pessimistic
b. optimistic
c. narcissistic
d. healthy
76. People who experience a trauma, such as losing a loved one, but then can find positive
aspects concerning their trauma, often experience better psychological adjustment. This
type of coping is:
a. problem-focused coping
b. emotion-focused coping
c. avoidance-orientated coping
d. meaning-focused coping
77. Erin is worried about her grade in a psychology class. To receive her best grade, Erin
needs to make and follow a study schedule. Folkman and Lazarus would call this
preferred approach:
a. danger control.
b. emotion-focused coping.
c. problem-focused coping.
d. reappraisal.
78. Rather than make a study schedule, Erin spends a lot of time complaining to her
roommates about how hard her psychology course is and how worried she is about her
grade. Folkman and Lazarus would call this approach
a. danger control.
b. emotion-focused coping.
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c. problem-focused coping.
d. reappraisal.
79. In general, which type of coping strategy is related to good health?
a. emotion-focused coping
b. problem-focused coping
c. avoidant coping
d. danger control
80. Research has confirmed that cultural differences in personal coping strategies exist for
a. people from Asian cultures, who are less likely than Westerners to seek social
support from families.
b. African Americans, who are more likely than Whites to use emotion-focused
coping.
c. Hispanic Americans, who are more likely than African Americans to use emotion-
focused coping.
d. all of these.
81. Research evidence suggests that relaxation training
a. is not an effective pain analgesic.
b. is useful for a variety of people as well as for a variety of problems.
c. works best when patients are trained in groups rather than individually.
d. is less effective than biofeedback.
82. Cognitive behavioral therapy
a. works toward changing attitudes and behavior.
b. emphasizes attitudes and minimizes the role of behavior.
c. focuses on the analysis of irrational beliefs and thoughts rather than behavior.
d. both b and c.
83. James Pennebaker has demonstrated that
a. writing or talking about traumatic events can produce positive results.
b. relaxation techniques are more effective than temperature biofeedback in reducing
headache pain.
c. social support is critical in helping pain patients cope.
d. social support is not critical in helping pain patients cope.
84. Emotional expression improves not only _____________ but also _____________.
a. social support . . . number of close friends
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b. feelings of distress . . . physical symptoms
c. fever . . . hepatic indicators
d. difficulties in sleeping . . . number of negative life events
85. Rosario participated in a program in which she wrote about a traumatic event in her life
as a way to improve her distress about this event. Maxime participated in the same
program, but in addition to writing about a traumatic event in her life, she received
instructions to focus on finding something positive about this negative experience.
Research indicates that
a. both women will benefit from the program equally.
b. Rosario will profit more than Maxime because trying to find a positive aspect to a
negative situation will detract from the value of emotional expression.
c. Maxime will profit more than Rosario because focusing on something positive
has additional benefits to emotional expression.
d. neither woman will profit from the program as much as a man would have.
86. Research on the topic of emotional disclosure has demonstrated its effectiveness
a. in reducing the symptoms of asthma.
b. is enhanced when people find some positive aspect of their experience.
c. with psychological but not with physical problems.
d. both a and b.
87. A recent meta-analytic review showed that emotional disclosure is more effective in
helping people with __________ than _________problems.
a. physical, psychological
b. psychological, physical
c. emotional, physiological
d. psychological, emotional
88. ________ is the most effective therapy for stress management.
a. Progressive muscle relaxation
b. Autogenics training
c. Cognitive behavioral therapy
d. Emotional disclosure
89. ________ has been shown to be an effective intervention for posttraumatic stress
disorder, chronic back pain, and chronic fatigue syndrome.
a. Progressive muscle relaxation
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b. Autogenics training
c. Cognitive behavioral therapy
d. Emotional disclosure
True/False Questions
1. Neurons are more like a chain than like a net.
2. The two major divisions of the nervous system are the central nervous system and the
peripheral nervous system.
3. Catecholamines are a class of chemicals containing epinephrine and norepinephrine.
4. The first stage of the general adaptation syndrome is alarm.
5. According to Richard Lazarus, people’s perception of their ability to cope with a stressful
event can diminish their feelings of stress.
6. According to the Social Readjustment Scale, a person who wins $50,000 in the lottery
may experience increased stress.
7. Cataclysmic events such as hurricanes and earthquakes are more stressful than those
caused by intentional acts.
8. Life events and everyday hassles are two terms for similar sources of stress.
9. The more workplace decisions a person must make each day, the more stress that person
will experience.
10. Whenever Preston faces a major source of conflict, he “drowns” his problems by drinking
alcohol. Such a tactic is referred to as problem-focused coping.
11. Cognitive behavior therapy includes components of cognitive therapy and behavior
modification.
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12. Emotional expression such as crying, laughing, yelling, or throwing objects leads to
improved psychological and physical health.
13. Research has confirmed a gender difference in responses to stress.
14. New physiological measures that assess cortisol in human hair allow researchers to
examine cortisol production over the preceding 6 months.
15. Physiological measures, such as measuring epinephrine or norepinephrine in blood
samples, can provide a reliable index of stress.
16. Perceived discrimination can result in mental and physical health problems and this may
be due to maladaptive health behaviors that people use to cope with experiences of
stigma and discrimination.
17. Social support influences stress in just one-way; having more people around you
encourages you to eat healthy.
18. There are relatively small differences between men’s and women’s coping strategies.
19. People who experience less stress benefit from emotional disclosure more than those
who experience more stress.
20. The effect of emotional disclosure does not differ based on gender, age, or ethnicity.
1. Describe the physiology of stress reactions.
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2. Compare and contrast the views of stress of Selye and Lazarus.
3. What types of hassles arise from the psychosocial environment to produce stress?
4. In what ways does social support influence health?
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5. What are the advantages of problem-focused coping? Does emotion-focused coping have any
advantages?
6. Evaluate the behavioral interventions for managing stress, addressing the types of stress-
related problems for which each is successful.
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