Question 1

After reading Hans Selye's work on the concept of stress, you are required to summarize his general views. What did he call his concept of the physiological effects of stress over time?

Accepted Answer

Hans Selye's general view was that stress is responsible for many physiological responses in the body and that prolonged exposure to stress can lead to a state of exhaustion. He called this concept the general adaptation syndrome.

Question 2

What is emotion-focused coping?

Accepted Answer

Emotion-focused coping refers to efforts aimed at managing one's own emotional responses to a stressor. This may involve regulating emotions through mindfulness, distraction, or seeking social support. It is contrasted with problem-focused coping, which involves addressing the stressor itself. Option A is an example of problem-focused coping, while options C and D are not accurate descriptions of coping strategies.

Question 3

How could we describe the resistance stage of the general adaptation syndrome?

Accepted Answer

During the resistance stage of the general adaptation syndrome, the body continues to respond to the stressor with physiological arousal and activation, but at a lower level than during the alarm stage. The body is still mobilizing its resources to cope with the ongoing stressor, but it is also attempting to replenish its energy stores and maintain a state of equilibrium.

Question 4

What are the stages of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)?

Accepted Answer

The stages of the general adaptation syndrome are alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. This model describes the body's response to stress and how it adapts over time. The alarm stage is the initial reaction to stress, where the body prepares for the perceived threat. The resistance stage is when the body attempts to cope with the stressor and maintain homeostasis. Finally, the exhaustion stage occurs when the body becomes overwhelmed and depleted from the ongoing stress, potentially resulting in illness or burnout.

Question 5

Health psychologists had newly married couples engage in a 30-minute discussion of marital problems. What did they find when they compared couples who were more hostile and negative with those who had more positive conversations?

Accepted Answer

Hostile interactions were associated with immunosuppression, indicating that negative and hostile conversations can have a detrimental effect on the immune system.

Question 6

Which of the following describes the process by which stress is thought to impair immune functioning?

Accepted Answer

Stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, leading to increased production of stress hormones, including cortisol. Cortisol and other adrenal hormones have been shown to suppress T-cells, which are key players in immune functioning. Therefore, option A correctly describes the process by which stress impairs immune functioning.

Question 7

What are lymphocytes?

Accepted Answer

Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that plays a crucial role in the immune system by producing antibodies and fighting off antigens, including bacteria, viruses, and other harmful substances.

Question 8

Which of the following are likely to occur during the fight or flight response?

Accepted Answer

The fight or flight response is the body's automatic response to a perceived threat. The sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing increased respiration, a rise in blood pressure, and pupil dilation. These responses are designed to prepare the body for action and enhance physical performance.

Question 9

According to Hans Selye, what is the mechanism through which stress causes physical illness?

Accepted Answer

According to Hans Selye, the mechanism through which stress causes physical illness is exhaustion. This occurs after the body's initial alarm response and subsequent resistance stage, which can lead to prolonged stress and eventually exhaustion of the body's resources. This exhaustion can manifest itself in physical illness or disease.

Question 10

When a perceived threat is registered in the brain's cortex, it sends a signal to the part of the brain responsible for activating the stress response known as the

Accepted Answer

The amygdala is the part of the brain responsible for activating the stress response when a perceived threat is registered in the brain's cortex.

Question 11

What do we call substances such as bacteria that invade the body?

Accepted Answer

Antigens are substances that invade the body and can trigger an immune response. This includes bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens.

Note: Allergens are substances that can cause an allergic reaction, but they may not necessarily invade the body like antigens do. Immuno-agents and anti-infectious agents are not commonly used terms in immunology.

Question 12

Andy is dealing with a situation over which he really has no control and which has no real solution; nonetheless, he still insists on trying to solve it. In this instance, his problem-focused coping will probably

Accepted Answer

When dealing with situations that cannot be solved, problem-focused coping can increase distress by causing a person to focus on the problem and the inability to solve it. It may be more effective for Andy to use emotion-focused coping strategies to manage his distress instead.

Question 13

Which of these is the best analogy of Walter Cannon's theory of chronic stress?

Accepted Answer

Walter Cannon's theory of chronic stress is often referred to as the "fight or flight" response. This is like a car in which the engine continues to race instead of idling down after running fast. The body's stress response is designed to help us react quickly in dangerous situations, but chronic stress keeps the body in a constant state of activation, which can lead to negative health outcomes. The other choices do not accurately reflect Cannon's theory of chronic stress.

Question 14

What is the body's major defense against "foreign invaders" such as bacteria or viruses?

Accepted Answer

The immune system is responsible for identifying and eliminating foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. It does this through a complex set of mechanisms including identifying and engulfing foreign particles, producing antibodies specific to the invader, and activating immune cells to attack and destroy the invader. The pituitary gland, circulatory system, and central nervous system are important in regulating other bodily functions, but do not play a major role in the body's defense against foreign invaders.

Question 15

What is the most important distinction in types of coping that Lazarus and Folkman identified?

Accepted Answer

Lazarus and Folkman identified two primary types of coping strategies: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. Problem-focused coping involves efforts to change or manage the stressor itself, while emotion-focused coping involves efforts to regulate one's emotional reactions to the stressor. The distinction between problem-focused and emotion-focused coping is considered the most important distinction in types of coping by Lazarus and Folkman.

Question 16

Which of the following represents a project that a researcher in psychoneuroimmunology might undertake?

Accepted Answer

Psychoneuroimmunology studies the interaction between psychological processes, the nervous system, and the immune system. Measuring T-cells in response to stressors like loud noise fits this field.

Question 17

Which best describes the current thinking about the stress response and the immune system?

Accepted Answer

The current thinking suggests that short term stressors can enhance the immune response that is quick (such as inflammation), while chronic stressors can create immunosuppression, which impairs the immune system and makes it less effective in fighting off infections and diseases.

Question 18

Which of the following is known as the "stress hormone"?

Accepted Answer

Cortisol is known as the "stress hormone" because it is released by the adrenal glands in response to stress and helps the body to respond to it. Adrenalin (A) and epinephrine (B) are alternative names for the hormone known as adrenaline, which is involved in the "fight or flight" response. Norepinephrine (D) is also involved in the stress response, but it is not typically referred to as the "stress hormone."

Question 19

Which of the following is the best analogy of Han Selye's theory of chronic stress?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is the best...

Question 20

Earl works in an office where his office mate smokes. This irritates and frustrates Earl. Which of the following behaviors is an example of problem-focused coping?

Accepted Answer

Putting in a filter and opening a window is an action-oriented approach to directly address the problem of second-hand smoke in the office. This is an example of problem-focused coping. B is an example of emotion-focused coping as Earl is trying to empathize with his office mate rather than finding a solution to the problem. C is also an example of emotion-focused coping as relaxation techniques help manage the frustration, but do not address the source of the problem. D is not a helpful coping strategy as it interferes with work and does not lead to a resolution of the problem.

Quiz 8: Stress and Physical Health