Question 1

People who respond to life events with a laid back, relaxed, easygoing attitude, and are slow to anger are said to have a ________ personality.

Accepted Answer

Type B personality is characterized by being laid back, relaxed, easygoing, and slow to anger. Type A personality, on the other hand, is characterized by being competitive, ambitious, time-conscious, and easily angered. Type S and Type C personalities are less commonly recognized theories of personality.

Question 2

Miranda is questioning whether her upcoming business trip, where she must travel through an area with many mountains, will pose a danger for her. As such, this example illustrates ________.

Accepted Answer

Miranda's questioning whether her upcoming business trip through a mountainous area will pose a danger is an example of primary appraisal, as she is evaluating the potential significance of the situation (i.e., whether it poses a threat).

Question 3

In a recent study, researchers questioned middle-aged men about stress, diet, and lifestyle factors. They were also examined for four biological risk factors for heart disease, including obesity, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low levels of HDL. As a result of this study, which of the following were strongly linked to the four biological risk factors?

Accepted Answer

The study found a strong link between higher levels of stress and the four biological risk factors for heart disease, including obesity, high blood sugar, high triglycerides, and low levels of HDL. Therefore, the more stress these men were exposed to, the more likely they were to have these risk factors.

Question 4

A name for one type of immune system cell that helps to fight cancerous tumors is ________.

Accepted Answer

Natural killer cells are a type of immune system cell that helps to fight cancerous tumors. They recognize and target abnormal cells, including cancerous cells, and release chemicals that destroy them. B cells are responsible for producing antibodies, activator cells are not a specific type of immune system cell, and neuroimmunological cells are not relevant to fighting cancerous tumors.

Question 5

Researchers conducted a study to determine the effects of stress on the immune system by measuring immune system chemicals. To accomplish this goal, they compared college students who were undergoing a stressful series of exams to a group of similar students relaxing during a time of no classes and no exams. The results of this study indicate that ________.

Accepted Answer

The study aimed to determine the effects of stress on the immune system by measuring immune system chemicals. To do so, they compared two groups of college students: one group undergoing a stressful series of exams and another group of similar students relaxing during a time of no classes and no exams. The results of the study would indicate that the exam group tested lower for immune system chemicals because stress can lead to a suppression of immune system function.

Question 6

Research has found that work-related stress is NOT related to several different types of cancer. This study examined all but which of the following types of cancer?

Accepted Answer

The study examined the relationship between work-related stress and colon, lung, and prostate cancer, but did not examine the relationship with testicular cancer.

Question 7

________ health psychology is a subfield of health psychology that focuses on using knowledge gained by researchers in the field to help promote healthy lifestyles, help people maintain their health, and prevent or treat illness.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ________ health psychology is a subfield of...

Question 8

How might stress assist in the growth of a tumor?

Accepted Answer

Stress can reduce the effectiveness of natural killer (NK) cells, which are part of the immune system responsible for recognizing and destroying cancerous cells. This reduction in NK cell activity can allow tumors to grow and spread more easily.

Question 9

According to Lazarus, our first task when faced with a potential stressor is to estimate its severity and to determine whether it is a challenge or threat. This evaluation is referred to as a ________.

Accepted Answer

Lazarus refers to the initial evaluation of a potential stressor as a primary appraisal. This appraisal involves assessing the severity of the stressor and determining whether it presents a challenge or threat. The other options (B, C, and D) do not accurately reflect Lazarus's framework for stress appraisal.

Question 10

Mary just received a traffic ticket but decided it is not worth being upset about. Mary just made a ________.

Accepted Answer

Mary made a primary appraisal, which involves evaluating the significance or meaning of an event, such as deciding that the traffic ticket is not worth being upset about.

Question 11

A person who is ambitious, time conscious, extremely hardworking, easily annoyed, and tends to have high levels of hostility and anger is said to be exhibiting a ________ personality.

Accepted Answer

This behavior is typical of Type A personalities, who are commonly characterized by their competitive nature, urgency, and high-stress levels. Type S and Type C personalities are not well-known or studied personalities in the field of psychology, and Type B personalities are characterized by being more laid-back, relaxed, and less competitive.

Question 12

________ people typically do not live as long as the average life expectancy.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that people who are more aggressive have a higher risk of developing health problems such as heart disease and cancer, which can shorten their lifespan.

Question 13

________ psychology is the field of study devoted to understanding the relationship between physical activities, psychological traits, stress reactions, and social relationships affect overall health and rates of illness.

Accepted Answer

The field of study described in the question is Health Psychology, which focuses on the connection between our physical well-being and our mental state, social relationships, and behavior patterns. Physiological psychology examines the workings of the nervous system, while developmental psychology studies the changes people undergo over the course of their lifetime. Medicinal psychology is not a recognized field of study.

Question 14

After we have decided that a certain event is a stressor, we must decide how we will deal with it and what resources are available for coping with the stressor. This process is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Secondary appraisal involves evaluating our resources and abilities to cope with a stressor, as well as considering the potential outcomes of various coping strategies. Primary appraisal involves determining whether a situation is a stressor, while tertiary appraisal involves assessing the effectiveness of our coping strategies after we have used them. The distress-eustress dichotomy is a concept that refers to the idea that stress can be either negative (distress) or positive (eustress) depending on the circumstances. However, it is not a specific process related to coping with stress.

Question 15

Which of the following traits is associated with people who live to be very old?

Accepted Answer

Being easygoing and having a positive outlook on life have been consistently linked to longevity in research studies. Aggressiveness, inflexibility, and tenseness are not associated with living a long life.

Question 16

Kirima has earned her doctorate in health psychology. Which of the following research questions might she be most likely to investigate?

Accepted Answer

Health psychology focuses on how psychological, behavioral, and cultural factors contribute to physical health and illness. Kirima might investigate why college students are more prone to doing drugs, as it relates to health behaviors and psychological factors.

Question 17

Imagine that you have just flunked a class. You evaluate this situation and decide that flunking a class is stressful and important enough to be upset about. Next, you decide to repeat the class in summer school. You have made ________.

Accepted Answer

The individual has made both a primary appraisal by evaluating the situation as stressful and important enough to be upset about and a secondary appraisal by deciding to take action to repeat the class in summer school. This reflects a two-stage appraisal process, which is characteristic of Lazarus and Folkman's cognitive transactional model of stress. Choices A, C, and D are not accurate descriptions of the individual's appraisal process in this situation.

Question 18

Research on the effects of stress on the immune system suggests which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that stress can suppress immune system functioning, and in some cases, this suppression can continue even after the stressful period is over. This persistence of immune system suppression can increase vulnerability to illness and disease.

Question 19

Stress has been shown to put people at a higher risk for ________.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that prolonged periods of stress can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Stress can lead to changes in blood pressure, inflammation, and other factors that can contribute to cardiovascular disease.

Question 20

Which part of the body clears fat and cholesterol from the bloodstream, preventing clogged arteries and reducing the likelihood of heart attacks and strokes?

Accepted Answer

The liver is responsible for producing and secreting bile, which helps to emulsify and digest fats. Additionally, the liver process and removes cholesterol from the bloodstream, preventing buildup in the arteries and reducing the risk of heart disease.

Quiz 11: Stress and Health