PSYCH 111: Introduction to Psychology: Week 2: Chapter 14 Quizzes: Stress, Lifestyle, and Health

Correct Answer

B. Type A: competitive, impatient, and hostile; Type B: relaxed and laid back

Explanation

Type A individuals are characterized by high competitiveness, impatience, time urgency, and hostility, often leading to higher stress levels and increased risk for cardiovascular problems. Type B individuals, in contrast, exhibit a relaxed, calm, and easygoing approach to life, showing lower stress reactivity and less aggressive behavior. These personality patterns influence how individuals respond to stress and life challenges.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

A. Type A: relaxed and laid back; Type B: competitive, impatient, and hostile

This reverses the definitions. Type A is not relaxed, and Type B is not hostile or impatient, making this option incorrect.

C. Type A: creative and introspective; Type B: anxious and perfectionistic

These descriptions do not match the standard Type A/Type B personality theory and incorrectly associate personality traits.

D. Type A: socially withdrawn; Type B: socially dominant and aggressive

Type A and B patterns are primarily defined by competitiveness, impatience, and stress response, not social dominance or withdrawal, so this option is inaccurate.

Correct Answer

C. Daily hassles

Explanation

Daily hassles are the routine, minor irritations and inconveniences of everyday life that can accumulate and contribute to stress. Paul’s experience—waiting in line, dealing with insufficient funds, returning home, and facing traffic—represents multiple small, irritating events that are temporary but frequent, making them classic examples of daily hassles.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

A. Chronic stressors

Chronic stressors involve long-term, persistent sources of stress, such as ongoing financial difficulties or a high-pressure job, not temporary inconveniences like Paul experienced.

B. Acute stressors

Acute stressors are short-term but significant stress events, such as a sudden accident or an unexpected emergency; Paul’s situation is irritating but not severe.

D. Readjustment occurrences

Readjustment occurrences involve major life changes requiring adaptation, such as moving, changing jobs, or divorce, which is more significant than the minor events Paul faced

Correct Answer:

d. problem-focused

Explanation

The correct answer is d. problem-focused. Problem-focused coping directly addresses the source of stress by taking practical actions to eliminate or reduce it. Brizan is actively searching for new employment and adjusting his budget, both of which target the problem itself rather than just the emotions it produces. This shows he is tackling the stressor head-on rather than avoiding or only soothing the emotional impact.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

a. proactive

While Brizan is proactive in his actions, “proactive coping” usually refers to preventing stress before it occurs. Here, the stressor (job loss) has already happened, so his actions are best categorized as problem-focused coping.

b. stress reduction

Stress reduction techniques aim to decrease physical or emotional stress responses, such as meditation, relaxation exercises, or mindfulness. Brizan isn’t using relaxation techniques—he is making practical changes to deal with the stressor directly.

c. emotion-focused

Emotion-focused coping manages the emotional response to stress rather than the source of stress. Examples include seeking emotional support, venting, or using distraction. Brizan isn’t just managing his feelings; he is actively addressing the job loss problem.

Correct Answer:

C. Job Burnout

Explanation

The correct answer is Job Burnout. Burnout occurs when prolonged job-related stress leads to emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a reduced sense of personal accomplishment. Taylor feels overwhelmed by his caseload and expresses a loss of belief in the impact of his work, which directly reflects burnout’s hallmark symptoms. Unlike acute stress, burnout develops gradually from sustained demands without sufficient recovery, making it the best match for Taylor’s situation.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

A. Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is more specific to emotional exhaustion from repeated exposure to others’ trauma and suffering. While Taylor may work with clients in distress, his primary complaints center on workload and hopelessness about his job’s value, not vicarious trauma.

B. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)

MDD involves a broad range of symptoms including persistent sadness, loss of pleasure, changes in sleep or appetite, and feelings of worthlessness across multiple life areas. Taylor’s symptoms are directly tied to his work environment and professional exhaustion, making MDD an inaccurate diagnosis.

D. Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

GAD is marked by chronic, excessive worry about diverse aspects of life. Taylor does not report constant worrying or anxiety; instead, he shows emotional depletion and disengagement from his work. These are core features of burnout, not GAD.

Correct Answer:

B. The body’s immediate physiological response to a threat, similar to the fight-or-flight reaction

Explanation:

The alarm reaction is the first stage of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome. It occurs immediately when a person encounters a threatening or emergency situation. Physiological changes, such as increased heart rate, rapid breathing, adrenaline release, and heightened alertness, prepare the body to either confront or flee from the danger. This stage is analogous to Cannon’s fight-or-flight response. For example, waking in the middle of the night to discover a house fire triggers the alarm reaction, giving the person the energy and focus needed to respond to the emergency.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A gradual adjustment to long-term stressors that occurs over weeks or months

This describes the resistance stage, not the immediate alarm reaction.

C. A stage in which chronic stress leads to exhaustion and physical collapse

This refers to the exhaustion stage, which occurs after prolonged stress, not the initial alarm reaction.

D. The cognitive evaluation of how to cope with a stressor before taking action

This describes secondary appraisal, which involves thinking about coping strategies, not the immediate physiological alarm reaction.

Correct Answer:

c. Caroline experiences stress because she is home alone and hears unusual noises outside.

Explanation

The correct answer is c. A stimulus-based definition of stress focuses on the external event or condition that triggers the stress response. In this case, the unusual noises outside act as the stimulus causing Caroline to feel stress. The emphasis is on the stressor itself rather than the person’s internal reaction or coping mechanisms, which aligns with the stimulus-based approach to defining stress.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

a. Laura experiences stress because she gasped and had difficulty breathing when she saw a spider.

This example highlights Laura’s physiological reaction (gasping and breathing difficulty), which reflects a response-based definition of stress. The focus is on her body’s response rather than the external stimulus of the spider.

b. Carrie experiences stress because she notices her car is almost out of gas and worries about being stranded on the highway, but then she feels better when she sees a gas station nearby.

This represents a transactional or appraisal-based perspective on stress. Carrie evaluates the situation, perceives it as stressful, and then reappraises when the gas station appears. The focus is on her interpretation, not purely the stimulus.

d. Grace experiences stress when she notices her heartbeat increasing in response to being separated from her parents at the amusement park.

This describes a response-based definition of stress, as the emphasis is on Grace’s physiological response (increased heartbeat) rather than the external event of separation itself.

The Correct Answer is:

B. A gradual adjustment to long-term stressors where the body adapts but remains alert

Explanation:

The resistance stage occurs after the initial alarm reaction when the body has begun to adapt to a prolonged stressor. Physiological responses, such as heightened alertness and readiness to act, continue but are less intense than during the alarm stage. For example, parents of a missing child may remain alert and disturbed for days, but the intensity of their physiological reactions typically decreases as they partially adapt to the ongoing stress. This stage reflects the body’s attempt to cope and maintain homeostasis under continuous stress.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. The body’s immediate physiological response to a threat, similar to the fight-or-flight reaction

This describes the alarm stage, which is the initial reaction to stress, not the prolonged adaptation seen in the resistance stage.

C. A stage in which chronic stress leads to exhaustion and physical collapse

This describes the exhaustion stage, which follows prolonged stress after the resistance stage, not the adaptation period itself.

D. The cognitive evaluation of coping strategies before taking action

This describes secondary appraisal, which is a mental process of evaluating coping mechanisms, not a physiological stage of stress adaptation.

Correct Answer:

c. Flow

Explanation

The correct answer is c. Flow. Flow is a psychological state identified by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, where a person becomes fully immersed in an activity, losing track of time and self-consciousness. This state is intrinsically rewarding, meaning the activity is done for its own sake rather than for external rewards. Flow typically occurs when there is a balance between the challenge of the task and the individual’s skills.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

a. Zen

Zen is a school of Buddhism emphasizing meditation and mindfulness. While it promotes presence and awareness, it is a spiritual and philosophical practice, not the psychological concept describing full engagement in an activity.

b. Completion

Completion refers simply to finishing a task. It does not capture the immersive, deeply enjoyable psychological state of losing oneself in an activity. Completion can occur without engagement or enjoyment.

d. Chi

Chi (or Qi) is a concept from Chinese philosophy and medicine that refers to vital life energy. It relates to balance and well-being but does not describe the specific psychological state of becoming absorbed in an activity.

Correct Answer:

a. Biofeedback

Explanation

The correct answer is a. Biofeedback. This technique uses electronic monitoring devices to measure involuntary physiological functions such as heart rate, muscle tension, skin temperature, or blood pressure. By receiving real-time feedback from these devices, individuals can learn to control these processes voluntarily, thereby reducing stress and improving health outcomes. Biofeedback is particularly effective for stress-related conditions like migraines, hypertension, and chronic pain.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

b. Meditation

Meditation is a relaxation practice that promotes mindfulness, focus, and calm through mental techniques like breathing and visualization. While it reduces stress, it does not involve the use of electronic monitoring equipment to provide physiological feedback.

c. Relaxation response technique

This involves deep breathing, visualization, and progressive muscle relaxation to elicit a calming effect on the body. Like meditation, it helps reduce stress but does not rely on electronic equipment to measure or guide involuntary processes.

d. The Selye Method

There is no recognized “Selye Method.” Hans Selye is best known for formulating the General Adaptation Syndrome model of stress (alarm, resistance, exhaustion), but he did not propose a stress-reduction technique called this.