Psychology Chapter 12

Identify the three specific traits that characterize a hardy personality.

-Viewing life's stressors as a series of challenges -Feeling one has control over one's life and work -Commitment to self, family, and work

Problem-focused coping with stress is

A means of controlling the source of stress.

What is the recommended amount of physical activity each day to remain healthy?

A minimum of 30 minutes of exercise per day

When Rabeya first moved to campus, she was stressed because so much was different than in her home country. The food, the lifestyle, the way people dress, and the expectations of her professor often left Rabeya uncertain and stressed. What type of stress is Rabeya experiencing?

Acculturative

According to Selye's general adaptation syndrome, which type of reaction occurs when we initially appraise an event as stressful?

Alarm

A defense mechanism is

Automatic.

Which type of sexually transmitted infections are transmitted vaginally, anally or through oral sexual activity and can be transmitted from a mother to a newborn baby during delivery?

Bacterial

Based on Holmes and Rahe list of life events that create stress, why are happy events such as marriage and the birth of a child highly stressful for some people?

Because of their reaction to the event

situation in which a person must choose between two or more needs, desires, or demands

Conflict

What is the leading preventable cause of intellectual disability?

Fetal alcohol syndrome

Ramkumar is starting his first year of college and has just moved to campus. Because he feels nervous and anxious about how to find things on campus, he decides to take a walk and learn more about the campus. In this scenario, what is creating stress for Ramkumar?

Moving to campus

Why do those who use nicotine tend to be thinner than nonsmokers?

Nicotine affects neurotransmitters in the brain that increase metabolic rates

Why is optimism an important tool in managing stress?

Optimist have lower levels of cortisol

What is our initial interpretation of an event called?

Primary appraisal

field of study that investigates the connections among psychology and the nervous and immune system

Psychoneuroimmunology

Petra knew she should work on her research paper, but the offer to attend a party sounded much more appealing. Besides, she had worked hard all week, and felt she needed an opportunity to unwind. After, she would get right to work on her paper. What type of defense mechanism is Petra using to justify her actions?

Rationalization

capacity to adapt well to significant stressors

Resilience

phase of the general adaptation syndrome; nervous and endocrine systems continue to be activated

Resistance stage

an evaluation of resources available to cope with a stressor

Secondary appraisal

having close and positive relationships with others

Social support

any environmental stimulus that we respond to because we perceive it as challenging or threatening

Stress

Which of the following is the most frequent reasons given for academic problems, according to Holmes and Rahe?

Stress and anxiety

Strong social relationships help decrease

The effects of stress on an individual.

characterized by aggression, ambition, and competitiveness

Type A personality

When Atmir was four years old, his family lost their home in a hurricane. Since then, he has flashbacks every time there is a bad storm. In which way does Atmir responds to bad storms?

With posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

When Olesia was under stress, she sought out the company of her friends, who always have a calming effect when she is stressed. When her husband is stressed, he just wants to tackle the issue and resolve the problem. Why is Olesia less likely to confront a threat when under stress than her husband?

Women tend to use a "tend and befriend" response

Approach-approach conflict

a situation involving a single goal or option that has both desirable and undesirable aspects or consequences. The closer an individual comes to the goal, the greater the anxiety, but withdrawal from the goal then increases the desire.

Multiple Approach-Avoidance

describes the internal mental debate (sometimes called a conflict) that weighs the pros and cons of differing situations that have both good and bad elements. The name comes from visualizing yourself approaching and avoiding different aspects of situations at the same time.

Approach-approach conflict

describes the situation where a person is trying to make a choice between two desirable options. For example, a student wishes to pursue a graduate degree and has been accepted into two graduate programs and needs to make a decision about which one to attend.

Avoidance-avoidance conflict

refers to making a decision between two equally undesirable choices. A simple example of this could be making a decision between doing a homework assignment or doing housework. This type of conflict would normally be settled by an assessment of the relative importance of the two tasks.

phase of the general adaptation syndrome; immediate activation of the nervous and endocrine systems

Alarm reaction

In which stage of the general adaption syndrome is the HPA axis initially activated?

Alarm reaction stage

unconscious, emotional strategy used to reduce anxiety and maintain a positive self-image

Defense mechanism

As indicated by research on personality, what is the most beneficial way to deal with stress so that it is advantageous to our mental and physical health?

Develop hardiness

How many hours of sleep are required per day for adults and teenagers?

Eight

behaviors aimed at controlling the internal reactions to a stressor

Emotion-focused coping

While walking alone through a dark parking lot, Destani became very alert to any noise or movement, and was very nervous about her safety. Which type of stress reaction did Destani experience?

Fight-or-flight

reduction in activity of the immune system

Immunosuppression

Marlee wants to improve her outlook on life, increasing her happiness and well-being. What can Marlee do to promote happiness and life satisfaction?

Incorporate elements of healthy living

Raj had a tough childhood but has been able to successfully recover from the stressor his early life through hard work and resilience. In what way will this affect him when he has subsequent stress to deal with?

Increased ability to navigate future stressors

What is the effect of eating breakfast on a regular basis?

Increased attention span

When under a great deal of stress, what is the body's effect on the immune system?

Increased immunosuppression

Tariq was assigned a presentation for class on a topic he knew well. While most of the students became very stressed about this, Tariq didn't because he did not view the presentation as related to his happiness or safety. What was Tariq's appraisal of the event?

Irrelevant

What do people with hardy personalities tend to do with stressful situations?

Turn them into opportunities for learning and growth

Teresita is very relaxed and easy going most of the time. She rarely feels stress, and is generally very patient and flexible. What type of personality does Teresita have?

Type B

characterized by patience, flexibility, and an easygoing manner

Type B personality

Montazar is typically very cautious, and is overly patient in his efforts to avoid negative emotions such as anger. Which type of personality does Montazar have?

Type C

characterized by negative emotions and social inhibition

Type D personality

general physical responses we experience when faced with a stressor

General adaptation syndrome (GAS)

Which of the following are life event stressors? Check all that apply.

Getting fired Becoming widowed Graduating from college

Helga has learned that when her boss is angry, she is better off using a passive response than helping her boss see the error of his ways. What does Helga use to manage her response to her boss?

Learned helplessness

Who is most at risk for contracting a sexually transmitted infection (STI)?

People between the ages of 15 and 24

Which of the following is a cost of problem-focused coping?

Possible misdiagnosis of the problem.

Amina was stressed about her upcoming finals. She knew she would have difficult exams in several classes, so she reviewed her options in managing the workload to figure out how to best reduce the stress. What type of stress response did Amina use?

Secondary appraisal

Nour comes from a collectivist culture. What might Nour place more value on as she works to achieve well-being?

Social engagement

Why is it important to develop strong social support and close and positive relationships with others?

Social support buffers the effects of stress and reduces health risks

Hans Selye developed his general adaptation system in order to describe

The stages in which the body responds to stress.

Why would a Type D personality have a higher stress hormone level, especially in social situations?

They have more difficulty making friends and often withdraw from social situations.

Why are excessive amounts of sugar, salt, oil, and fat in a diet considered unhealthy?

Those substances can increase cholesterol levels.

To manage his stress, Nenad writes down all the tasks and errands he needs to accomplish for the day, and for the week. He also includes leisurely activities to he is not tempted to neglect another important task. Which stress management practice does Nenad use?

Time management

When is problem-focused coping most useful?

When we feel we can do something about a situation

When do stressors threaten physical and mental health?

When you experience many of them within a year

Marah has been invited to a weekend at her roommate's family beach house, and to a concert by her favorite band. The only problem is, they are happening at the same time, and she has to choose between the two. Which type of conflict is Marah experiencing?

Approach-approach

Azim has not been doing well in class as he should. He now has to decide if he should drop the class which will preserve his high GPA but will delay graduation, or take a poor grade, which will affect his GPA but allow him to graduate on time. What type of conflict is Azim facing?

Approach-avoidance

What does the phrase "health-promoting behaviors" refer to?

Behaviors that decrease one's chances of becoming ill or dying

After a difficult semester full of stress, Petra is exhausted. She has constant headaches and indigestions, and her muscles are always tense. How does prolonged exhaustion affect the body?

By lessening the effectiveness of the immune system

When a stressor has passed, how does the body respond?

By returning to the parasympathetic mode

While John was away on vacation, his house burned down to the ground, destroying everything he owned. What kind of stressor did he experience?

Catastrophe

What affect does physical activity have on the human body?

Cognition improvement

What do we use to consciously alter out interpretation of stressful events in order to reduce negative feelings?

Cognitive reappraisal

active and conscious process in which we alter our interpretation of a stressful event

Cognitive reappraisal

everyday irritation and frustration that individuals face

Daily hassle

Kaia was late for class again. This time it was due to a traffic jam, last time it was a flat tire. Walking in to class is stressful for Kaia as she knows her professor gets annoyed and it is effecting her grade. What type of stress is Kaia experiencing?

Daily hassles

According to research, what is the advantage of a Type A personality having a hardy personality?

Decreased stress levels

Jewel is angry at her partner because of his late nights at work, and his lack of attention on weekends. Jewel is trying to control her reaction to the stress caused by this relationship issue. What type of coping strategy should Jewel use to contain her internal subjective reactions to stress?

Emotion-focused

At which stage of the body's response to stress does the individual become vulnerable to physical and mental illness?

Exhaustion stage

phase of the general adaptation syndrome; bodily resources are drained and bodily wear begins

Exhaustion stage

When someone experiences learned helplessness, what is one of the greatest influence one's perceived level of stress, their response to stress, and their health?

Expectation of failure

Now that midterms are here, Ramon spends a lot of time studying. However, all this studying makes him tired, and he finds he lacks energy in the middle of the day. What can Ramon do to manage his stress and reduce the negative emotions he may feel, which increases his energy levels?

Go for a walk

When Jewel feels stressed, she looks at her vacation photo's and imagines herself on the beach. She can almost feel the sun and hear the waves crashing. This helps Jewel become more relaxed and release stress and tension. What is the process Jewel is using to manage her stress?

Guided imagery

technique focusing on a calming image to achieve a state of relaxation when stressed

Guided imagery

the major system that controls the stress response

HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis

high in the traits of commitment, control, and challenge; associated with strong stress resistance

Hardy personality

subfield that investigates the relationship between people's behaviors and their well-being

Health psychology

Nour frequently checks her texts while driving even though she knows this is dangerous. What type of behavior does this exhibit on Nour's part?

Health-defeating

actions that increase the chance of illness, disease, or death

Health-defeating behavior

actions that decrease the chance of illness, disease, or death

Health-promoting behavior

Which feature of a Type A personality is likely to contribute to heart-related health problems and a shorter life span?

Hostility

passive response to stressors based on exposure to previously uncontrolled, negative events

Learned helplessness

good or bad change that requires readjustment

Life event

Which of the following is an example of a daily hassle stressor?

Living next door to dog that barks all day

initial interpretation of an event as irrelevant, positive, or stressful

Primary appraisal

What stress-coping strategy is most likely to be used by one with a hardy personality?

Problem-focused coping

behaviors that aim to control or alter the environment that is causing stress

Problem-focused coping

stress management technique that involves systematically tensing and releasing muscle groups

Progressive relaxation training

characterized by caution, seriousness, sensitivity to criticism, and suppresses negative emotions such as anger

Type C personality

When Ahmed is under stress, he finds he gets very tense and often gets headaches. Which type of stress management technique would help Ahmed learn to alternately tense and then relax muscle groups to better understand where he feels tension?

Use progressive relaxation training

People tend to be happier when they

View stressors as opportunities.