Chapter 11 Psych 2013

Which of the following is a reason why the gap between life expectancies of black and white Americans has been closing over the past few years? A. Lifestyle factors have lowered life expectancy more for white, rural Americans. B. Universal health care has increased life expectancy more for black, urban Americans. C. Increased health care costs have lowered life expectancy more for white Americans. D. Better transportation has increased healthy food options for black Americans.

A. Lifestyle factors have lowered life expectancy more for white, rural Americans.

Which of the following accurately describes how stress impacts the immune system? A. Stress impairs the production of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, leaving the body more vulnerable to illness. B. Stress impairs the production of red blood cells, increasing the body's vulnerability to illness. C. Stress facilitates the development of ulcers, leaving the body more vulnerable to other illnesses. D. Stress produces an imbalance in the ratio of different types of lymphocytes, rendering the body more vulnerable to illness.

A. Stress impairs the production of T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells, leaving the body more vulnerable to illness.

Marysol just had a new baby. She is very tired because has to get up every 2 hours to feed the baby. But Marysol has to get used to this new routine because she will have to do this for a long time. Based on this information, Marysol is most likely experiencing ________. A. a major life stressor B. a daily hassle C. increased well-being D. the alarm stage of the general adaptation syndrome

A. a major life stressor

Roland was hiking in the Alaskan wilderness when he suddenly encountered a mother grizzly bear and her cubs. He rapidly engaged in __________ to determine whether the bear was a threat. He then engaged in __________, during which he considered whether he could run away fast enough to escape being caught by the bears. A. a primary appraisal; a secondary appraisal B. emotion-focused coping; problem-focused coping C. a secondary appraisal; emotion-focused coping D. problem-focused coping; emotion-focused coping

A. a primary appraisal; a secondary appraisal

A group of people jump into Lake Michigan's icy waters every January. The brief and immediate rise in their heart rate is a sign that they have most likely entered the _______ stage of the general adaptation syndrome. A. alarm B. exhaustion C. stressor D. resistance

A. alarm

Research has shown that stress experienced by a woman during pregnancy has A. an effect on the child's physiological responsiveness to stress. B. no effect on the woman's developing child. C. an effect on the child's physiological responsiveness to happiness. D. an effect on the child's physical development.

A. an effect on the child's physiological responsiveness to stress.

One of the problems with the prolonged activation of the HPA axis due to chronic stress is that it A. damages neurons in the hippocampus. B. damages neurons in the thalamus C. damages neurons in the spinal cord D. damage neurons in the amygdala

A. damages neurons in the hippocampus.

One of the reasons why it is so difficult to quit smoking cigarettes is that nicotine may lead to an increased activation of ________ neurons. A. dopamine B. epinephrine C. serotonin D. endorphins

A. dopamine

Sabrina has been recently diagnosed with heart disease. To cope, she compares her own condition to that of her uncle, who has just received a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and has been given only six months to live. Sabrina is apparently engaging in which strategy to make herself feel better? A. downward comparison B. emotion-focused coping C. a primary appraisal D. problem-focused coping

A. downward comparison

Ross is feeling stressed because he has three major exams in one day. Instead of studying for the exams, he avoids studying and hopes that he will do okay on the exams. In this situation, Ross is displaying _______. A. emotion-focused coping B. primary appraisal C. downward comparison D. problem-focused coping

A. emotion-focused coping

According to Selye, if your body's defenses are declining after dealing with a prolonged period of stress, you are at which phase of the general adaptation syndrome? A. exhaustion B. fight or flight C. alarm D. tend and befriend

A. exhaustion

Someone attempts to mug you and steal your cell phone, and you notice your heart rate speeding up and your breathing getting heavier. Which type of stress-related response are you engaging in? A. fight-or-flight response B. tend-and-befriend response C. exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS) D. secondary appraisal

A. fight-or-flight response

John comes from a family in which everyone is overweight, even though people in the family appear to eat only moderate amounts of food. These circumstances are consistent with research showing that A. genes play an important role in who becomes overweight. B. food habits are primarily influenced by family attitudes. C. the environment is more important than our genes in determining eating behavior. D. food habits are determined by what foods are presented to us.

A. genes play an important role in who becomes overweight.

Porche has always been a very trusting person. She also has many close friends whom she can rely on, especially in times of stress. Porche probably has high levels of A. oxytocin. B. dopamine. C. cortisol. D. epinephrine.

A. oxytocin.

The human immune system is made up of specialized white blood cells known as lymphocytes, which help to maintain physical health and well-being. Of those, B cells are known to ________, whereas T cells are known to ________. A. produce antibodies; attack foreign intruders B. attack foreign intruders; kill viruses C. kill viruses; attack foreign intruders D. attack foreign intruders; produce antibodies

A. produce antibodies; attack foreign intruders

Hank feels fine when things are going well, but he becomes a grouch whenever adversity hits. Hank appears to be low in which potentially health-promoting attribute? A. resilience B. positivity C. social support D. hardiness

A. resilience

Both of Aiden's parents and all of his grandparents have diabetes. Although Aiden knows he should take care of himself by exercising more and maintaining a healthy diet, he thinks that getting diabetes is inevitable for him. It doesn't help that his mother bakes him cookies every week. As a result of the combination of his poor diet, pessimism about exercise, and genetic predisposition, Aiden gains weight and begins to show symptoms of diabetes. Which of the following best accounts for this case? A. the biopsychosocial model B. body weight being socially contagious C. overeating due to variety D. pessimism adversely affecting health

A. the biopsychosocial model

The decision to use either emotion-focused or problem-focused coping often depends on A. the perceived ability to control the stressor. B. whether the stressor is familiar or unfamiliar. C. the perceived ability to understand the stressor. D. the intensity of the stressor.

A. the perceived ability to control the stressor.

Evidence that humans have a set-point for weight is reflected in the fact that A. when prisoners were fed large amounts of food, they gained less weight than they should have and returned to their normal weight when they resumed a regular diet. B. as less food is consumed, the body's ability to use the energy contained in the food is reduced. C. studies of semi-starvation have shown that long-term reduction in food intake causes people to lose interest in food and eating. D. when people diet frequently, they wind up gaining more weight than those who do not.

A. when prisoners were fed large amounts of food, they gained less weight than they should have and returned to their normal weight when they resumed a regular diet.

Evidence that humans have a set-point for weight is reflected in the fact that A. when prisoners were fed large amounts of food, they gained less weight than they should have and returned to their normal weight when they resumed a regular diet. B. when people diet frequently, they wind up gaining more weight than those who do not. C. studies of semi-starvation have shown that long-term reduction in food intake causes people to lose interest in food and eating. D. as less food is consumed, the body's ability to use the energy contained in the food is reduced.

A. when prisoners were fed large amounts of food, they gained less weight than they should have and returned to their normal weight when they resumed a regular diet.

Why do African Americans have shorter life expectancies than their white counterparts? A. African Americans tend to have a greater genetic susceptibility to certain diseases. B. All of the options are true. C. African Americans have less access to affordable health care. D. African Americans are less likely to have regular cancer screenings.

B. All of the options are true. (African Americans tend to have a greater genetic susceptibility to certain diseases. / African Americans have less access to affordable health care. / African Americans are less likely to have regular cancer screenings.)

Which of the following is a criticism of using body mass index (BMI) to define obesity? A. The scale distinguishes between men and women without any rational support for such a distinction. B. Muscle weighs more than fat, so athletes may have higher BMIs even though they are in better shape than the general population. C. The BMI scale is skewed in favor of those who are older. D. People with a high BMI are far more likely to suffer from other illnesses that may contribute to obesity independently. Therefore, using BMI to define obesity is circular logic.

B. Muscle weighs more than fat, so athletes may have higher BMIs even though they are in better shape than the general population.

Hannah has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She was given only six months to live and is very stressed. If Hannah uses emotion-focused coping to deal with her stress, what would you expect her to do? A. She might begin to get her affairs in order and prepare for death. B. She might attempt to distance herself from the problem by ignoring the diagnosis and continuing to live her life the way she always has. C. She might search for a new, experimental treatment and attempt to beat the disease. D. She might gather a team of cancer experts to get their best opinion prior to exploring treatment options.

B. She might attempt to distance herself from the problem by ignoring the diagnosis and continuing to live her life the way she always has.

Sofia is a refugee from a war-torn nation. She is poor, depressed, and malnourished. Adding to her misery, she is now suffering from pneumonia. According to the biopsychosocial model, her illness can be explained by which of the following? A. Lack of money causes poor nutrition. Once her finances are stabilized, Sofia's health will improve, and the other issues will resolve themselves. B. The stress of being a refugee of war is difficult to bear, and cultural differences and lack of energy (due to poor nutrition) make it harder for her to seek out social support. In other words, all of these stressors worsen the effects of each other. C. Genetic factors and malnutrition, combined with the trauma of war, wore Sofia down. Cultural, environmental, and family influences played no role. D. Once Sofia finds social support, including friends and cultural familiarity, the other issues will fade away and her health will improve.

B. The stress of being a refugee of war is difficult to bear, and cultural differences and lack of energy (due to poor nutrition) make it harder for her to seek out social support. In other words, all of these stressors worsen the effects of each other.

Sandy has a terrible fear of becoming fat, and so she starves herself. Rhonda, who also is concerned about her body image, alternates between binge eating and purging. If clinically diagnosed, Sandy would likely receive a diagnosis of __________, and Rhonda would probably be diagnosed as having __________. A. binge-eating disorder; anorexia nervosa B. anorexia nervosa; bulimia nervosa C. bulimia nervosa; binge-eating disorder D. bulimia nervosa; anorexia nervosa

B. anorexia nervosa; bulimia nervosa

Immune functioning and the experience of positive events have been shown to A. have a random relationship. B. be positively correlated. C. be negatively correlated. D. be positively correlated in women and negatively correlated in men.

B. be positively correlated.

Joy's company is having financial problems, and she was just told that she must take a pay cut. She feels a lot of stress about the situation until she learns that several coworkers are being fired. Joy feels a little bit better due to the impact of _______. A. positive reappraisal B. downward comparison C. problem-focused coping D. emotion-focused coping

B. downward comparison

Vanessa has been diagnosed with breast cancer. To cope, she has been drinking more alcohol, seeking second and third opinions, and telling herself that there must be some mistake. Vanessa is engaging in which of the following? A. problem-focused coping B. emotion-focused coping C. a primary appraisal D. a Type A response

B. emotion-focused coping

After a long period of prolonged stress, Kerry begins to develop stress-induced migraines. She has reached the stage of Selye's general adaptation syndrome (GAS) called A. alarm. B. exhaustion. C. critical mass. D. resistance.

B. exhaustion.

According to the general adaptation syndrome, if stress continues long enough, A. the organism will learn new methods of dealing with the stress. B. physiological and immune systems will begin to fail. C. the stimuli initially seen as stressful will cease to affect the organism. D. the immune system will become overactive and threaten the organism.

B. physiological and immune systems will begin to fail.

Middle-aged Miles hates his job and is deciding whether or not to change careers. To cope with the stress of his situation, he is talking with a counselor and taking direct action to explore new career and educational opportunities. By so doing, Miles has adopted a(n) __________-focused approach to dealing with his stress. A. emotion B. problem C. career D. social

B. problem

You should use anticipatory coping when A. stress is seen as meaningful in some way. B. stress is predictable. C. stress ultimately has a positive outcome. D. you are dealing with multiple sources of stress at once.

B. stress is predictable.

Which of the following is the correct order of events? A. cortisol production; stressful event; thalamus activation B. stressful event; hypothalamus activation; cortisol production C. stressful event; cortisol production; hypothalamus activation D. hypothalamus activation; stressful event; serotonin production

B. stressful event; hypothalamus activation; cortisol production

The fact that oxytocin is a more prevalent hormone in women's stress response provides evidence for the A. theory that testosterone is a relatively unimportant hormone in stress responses. B. tend-and-befriend hypothesis. C. conclusion that women do not engage in the fight-or-flight response. D. importance of excluding women from stress research studies.

B. tend-and-befriend hypothesis.

Among the following, who most likely has a Type A personality? A. Gerry, who is relaxed and easygoing B. Jack, who tends to feel depressed and lonely C. Jerome, who is aggressive and competitive D. Jessie, who is a deep thinker and a puzzle solver

C. Jerome, who is aggressive and competitive

Betsy is a high-powered attorney and is under considerable stress for prolonged periods of time. Her sister Bernice is an organic farmer and leads a very quiet, relatively stress-free life. Unlike Bernice, who never seems to get sick, Betsy is constantly catching colds. Which of the following does the above scenario best illustrate? A. Urban life is more stressful than rural life. B. Stress can lead to negative responses like drinking and overeating, which cause health problems. C. Prolonged periods of stress weaken the immune system. D. The immune system is weak during the alarm and resistance stages of stress response

C. Prolonged periods of stress weaken the immune system.

Jacqueline has just moved from Kansas to Illinois to attend college. She is having a lot of trouble settling in, but some people in her dorm seem friendly and helpful. Research concerning social support suggests which of the following? A. Jacqueline should not rely on her friends and instead should be on her own when possible. B. The more Jacqueline reaches out to them, the more likely her new friends are to help her. C. Simply knowing that she has friends in her dorm who care about her will reduce Jacqueline's stress. D. Having friends in her dorm will have no effect on Jacqueline's stress or coping.

C. Simply knowing that she has friends in her dorm who care about her will reduce Jacqueline's stress.

Three doctors are arguing about the development of heart disease in their patients. Dr. Jenkins suggests that it has a genetic basis, Dr. Rice argues that it has to do with personality type, and Dr. Aaron claims it has to do with living in a stressful environment. Who is most correct? A. Dr. Aaron is most correct, as stress can increase the risk of heart disease. B. Dr. Rice is most correct, as heart disease tends to be higher in Type A people. C. They all are correct, because disease has biological, psychological, and social origins. D. Dr. Jenkins is most correct, as heart disease tends to run in families.

C. They all are correct, because disease has biological, psychological, and social origins. (Dr. Aaron is most correct, as stress can increase the risk of heart disease. / Dr. Rice is most correct, as heart disease tends to be higher in Type A people. / Dr. Jenkins is most correct, as heart disease tends to run in families.)

Even though she admits that she fears becoming fat and alternates between binge eating and vomiting, Rebecca does not believe she has an eating disorder, and she actually believes she has a rather normal body shape and size. However, she would possibly receive a clinical diagnosis of which of the following? A. binge-eating disorder B. anorexia nervosa C. bulimia nervosa D. binge-eating disorder along with anorexia nervosa

C. bulimia nervosa

Gilbert finds his coworkers intrusive and annoying. When a coworker asks whether Gilbert has seen the stapler, Gilbert responds in a loud, hostile tone, "How dare you accuse me of taking the stapler!" Research indicates Gilbert is most likely to have increased risk for which of the following? A. early-onset diabetes B. the common cold C. coronary heart disease D. alcohol abuse

C. coronary heart disease

Engaging in primary appraisal allows us to A. often be emotionally aroused. B. probably engage in secondary appraisal instead. C. enact coping behaviors only for stimuli that are relevant. D. have difficulty expressing our emotions.

C. enact coping behaviors only for stimuli that are relevant.

Van has been working for several years at a high-paying but very stressful job. He has recently been diagnosed with high blood pressure and heart disease. Hans Selye would say that this negative health effect is associated with Van's being in the _______ stage of the general adaptation syndrome. A. alarm B. trauma C. exhaustion D. resistance

C. exhaustion

According to ________, people who receive direct emotional support from others are better able to cope with stress. A. the emotional trust hypothesis B. the social networking hypothesis. C. the buffering hypothesis D. the broaden-and-build theory

C. the buffering hypothesis

According to the broaden-and-build theory, which of the following is correct? A. People with higher resilience have a more accurate assessment of life's problems, since they focus on the "silver lining" (potentially positive aspects). B. Highly resilient people are less likely than those low in resilience to consider novel solutions to life's problems. C. People lower in resilience assess life's problems more accurately, since they do not focus on the "silver lining" (potentially positive aspects). D. Highly resilient people are more likely than those low in resilience to consider novel solutions to life's problems.

D. Highly resilient people are more likely than those low in resilience to consider novel solutions to life's problems.

Julio is stressed because he just lost everything in a terrible earthquake. Bill is stressed because there was a traffic jam on his route to work, his washing machine just broke, and his landlord recently raised his rent. In terms of the effects of different types of stressors, who will have a harder time coping? A. Julio, because major stressors always have a greater impact than daily hassles B. Bill, because daily hassles always have a greater impact than major stressors C. Julio, because natural disasters invoke more stress than any other major stressor D. It is difficult to say: The combined effect of daily hassles can have as great an impact as major stressors.

D. It is difficult to say: The combined effect of daily hassles can have as great an impact as major stressors.

Wilt and Lim are both feeling stressed because they are preparing to take a test that they believe is critical to their future success. Both are married, but Lim is happily married while Wilt is unhappily married. All else being equal, which of the following outcomes is most likely? A. Wilt will cope better with the stress than Lim. B. Lim will score lower on the test than Wilt because he will be less optimistic. C. Lim will score higher on the test than Wilt because he will be more optimistic. D. Lim will cope better with the stress than Wilt.

D. Lim will cope better with the stress than Wilt.

Which of the following people is most likely to develop coronary heart disease at some point in his life? A. John, a counseling psychologist who is laid-back and enjoys his job B. Jarrod, who is an elementary school teacher and is easygoing C. Erik, a CEO of a Fortune 500 company who takes frequent vacations D. Louis, a competitive poker player who is aggressive, impatient, and thrives on beating the competition

D. Louis, a competitive poker player who is aggressive, impatient, and thrives on beating the competition

Which of the following is true about the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis? A. The hypothalamus releases cortisol and norepinephrine directly into the bloodstream. The pituitary gland and adrenal gland then respond with serotonin and oxytocin to return the body to homeostasis. B. The HPA axis is the body's response to stress. The hypothalamus signals the pituitary gland to release endorphins to start to return the body to homeostasis. C. The hypothalamus interprets the stressful input and then alerts the pituitary gland and adrenal glands. The pituitary gland prepares to release oxytocin and dopamine to attempt to return the body to homeostasis, while the adrenal glands release cortisol and norepinephrine to prepare for a fight-or-flight response. D. The hypothalamus messages the pituitary gland to signal the adrenal gland to release cortisol and norepinephrine into the bloodstream. These and other hormones account for some of our physical symptoms of stress.

D. The hypothalamus messages the pituitary gland to signal the adrenal gland to release cortisol and norepinephrine into the bloodstream. These and other hormones account for some of our physical symptoms of stress.

Which of the following best describes the relationship between distrust and health? A. The more someone distrusts others, the better his or her own health is. B. None of the statements is correct. C. There is no significant relationship between distrust and health. D. The more someone distrusts others, the poorer his or her own health is.

D. The more someone distrusts others, the poorer his or her own health is.

Lainey has a part-time job working in a restaurant after school. The chef constantly gets orders wrong, and the customers blame Lainey, which makes Lainey feel very stressed. As a result, she has learned to very carefully check each dish before taking it to the customers. For Lainey, the chef's mistakes are __________, and checking each order is a __________ response. A. distress; fight-or-flight B. distress; coping C. a stressor; fight-or-flight D. a stressor; coping

D. a stressor; coping

Selye's general adaptation syndrome (GAS) has three stages. Which of the following lists the stages in their correct order of occurrence? A. exhaustion; resistance; alarm B. resistance; exhaustion; alarm C. resistance; alarm; exhaustion D. alarm; resistance; exhaustion

D. alarm; resistance; exhaustion

In distinguishing between the body mass index (BMI) and the body shape index (BSI), you know that the BMI is a calculation of ________, whereas the BSI is a measure that mainly takes into consideration ________. A. abdominal fat relative to height; one's age B. body weight relative to height; one's height C. abdominal fat relative to height; one's hip measurement D. body weight relative to height; the amount of one's abdominal fat

D. body weight relative to height; the amount of one's abdominal fat

Ashley is slightly overweight, but she constantly worries about her size. She often overeats and then makes herself vomit. She exercises much more than other women her age. Ashley is most likely experiencing _________. A. obesity B. anorexia nervosa C. binge-eating disorder D. bulimia nervosa

D. bulimia nervosa

Jerome is irritated at all the bad things that have happened to him today. On his way to work, he got a flat tire. Then he spilled coffee on his trousers. Later on, his computer crashed and lost the files that he had been working on. Jerome seems to be experiencing ________. A. the fight-or-flight response B. the tend-and-befriend response C. major life stressors D. daily hassles

D. daily hassles

Which of the following would help an individual alleviate mild depression, lose weight, and improve his or her health? A. taking antidepressants B. becoming a smoker C. reducing his or her caloric intake by half D. exercising regularly

D. exercising regularly

David is about to teach his own class for the very first time, and he has had little experience speaking in front of groups. Shortly before his class begins, his heart rate increases, his palms sweat, and his stomach aches. Which stress response is David experiencing? A. fear B. immune response C. negative stress D. fight or flight

D. fight or flight

The brain region that experiences the most growth in response to aerobic exercise is the A. pituitary gland. B. hypothalamus. C. amygdala. D. hippocampus.

D. hippocampus.

According to the traditional medical model, individuals are ________ recipients in their health and well-being, whereas in the biopsychosocial model individuals take a(n) ________ role in their health and well-being. A. neutral; passive B. active; neutral C. active; passive D. passive; active

D. passive; active

Exercise is ________ associated with well-being, because it leads to ________. A. negatively; production of synaptic connections B. positively; decreased hippocampus activity C. negatively; decreased immune response D. positively; decreased risk of diabetes and heart disease

D. positively; decreased risk of diabetes and heart disease

Hardy individuals tend to view life events as less stressful than those who are low on this personality dimension. An important aspect of how they view their daily life is that A. they have varying levels of commitment to their daily activities. B. when stressed, they focus on negative thoughts and feelings. C. they tend to resist negative changes. D. they feel they are largely in control of what happens to them.

D. they feel they are largely in control of what happens to them.

Which of the following terms concerns a positive state that includes striving for optimal health and life satisfaction? A. resilience B. hardiness C. optimism D. well-being

D. well-being

Which of the following does NOT contribute to well-being and ability to cope? A. being single B. being able to trust others C. having many friends D. being a member of a religious organization

being single

One difference between anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa involves A. the degree of psychological disturbance present. B. whether periods of dieting occur. C. the race and class of the people who engage in each. D. the amount of food that is typically consumed.

the amount of food that is typically consumed.