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

The Correct Answer is:

B. Negative affectivity is a tendency to experience distressed emotions and has been linked to increased risk of hypertension and heart disease

Explanation:

Negative affectivity involves frequent experiences of emotions such as anger, fear, guilt, and nervousness. Longitudinal studies indicate that individuals with high negative affectivity are significantly more likely to develop hypertension and heart disease over time. For example, participants with higher negative affectivity scores in large studies were more likely to be treated for hypertension and experienced a higher incidence of heart disease, demonstrating its role as a critical risk factor in cardiovascular disorders.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Negative affectivity refers to occasional sadness and has no link to heart disease or hypertension

This is incorrect because negative affectivity involves persistent distressed emotional states, not occasional sadness, and it is strongly associated with cardiovascular risk.

C. Negative affectivity only affects mental health and does not influence physical health outcomes

This is incorrect because extensive research shows that negative affectivity contributes to physical conditions such as hypertension and heart disease, linking emotional tendencies to physiological outcomes.

D. Negative affectivity protects against cardiovascular disorders by encouraging emotional awareness

This is incorrect because negative affectivity increases the risk of cardiovascular disorders rather than providing protective effects, as demonstrated by longitudinal studies.

Correct Answer:

B. A rapid physiological arousal triggered by perceived threat, preparing the body to fight or flee

Explanation:

Cannon’s fight-or-flight response describes the body’s immediate reaction to a perceived threat. When faced with danger, such as encountering a bear while hiking, the adrenal glands release epinephrine and norepinephrine, triggering physiological changes: heart rate and respiration increase, pupils dilate, muscles tense, and sweating occurs. Both the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system are activated. These responses prepare the individual to either confront the threat (fight) or escape from it (flight), enhancing chances of survival in threatening situations

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. A slow, deliberate reaction to minor stressors that involves only cognitive processing

The fight-or-flight response is rapid and physiological, not slow or purely cognitive.

C. A long-term response to chronic stress that primarily affects mood and sleep patterns

Chronic stress responses involve prolonged physiological changes, but fight-or-flight is immediate and acute.

D. A psychological reaction that occurs without any involvement of the nervous or endocrine systems

This is incorrect because both the sympathetic nervous system and endocrine system are essential components of the fight-or-flight response.

Correct Answer:

b. coping

Explanation

The correct answer is b. Coping refers to the mental and behavioral strategies people use to manage both external stressors and the internal emotional responses they produce. Coping can be problem-focused, aiming to address the cause of stress, or emotion-focused, aimed at regulating distressing feelings. It is a flexible process that helps people adapt to challenges and maintain psychological and physical well-being.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

a. autopilot

Autopilot refers to doing things automatically or habitually without much conscious thought. While it may reduce effort, it is not a strategy for managing stress or emotions, so it does not fit the definition.

c. distress

Distress is negative stress that overwhelms a person’s coping abilities and leads to harmful outcomes. It describes the state of being stressed, not the strategies used to manage stress.

d. biofeedback

Biofeedback is a stress-reduction technique that uses electronic monitoring to help individuals gain control over involuntary physiological processes. While it is a tool for stress management, it is not the general term for the mental and behavioral efforts used to cope with stress.

Correct Answer:

A. A burst of energy enables Hassan to run fast when he sees a skunk in his path.

Explanation

The correct answer is A. The alarm reaction stage is the body’s immediate response to a perceived stressor. It activates the sympathetic nervous system and releases stress hormones like adrenaline, producing the “fight-or-flight” response. Hassan’s burst of energy and ability to run quickly upon seeing the skunk illustrates this immediate mobilization of resources to deal with a sudden threat.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

B. Bill collapses by the side of the road after the marathon.

This represents the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome. After prolonged stress or exertion, the body’s resources are depleted, leading to fatigue, collapse, or breakdown.

C. Sheila almost drowned, but she was able to keep her head out of the water and focus on swimming to shore.

This reflects the resistance stage, where the body maintains heightened arousal and sustained effort to deal with a stressor over a longer period, rather than the immediate alarm reaction.

D. William sleepwalks when he eats too much candy before bed.

This is unrelated to the general adaptation syndrome. Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder and does not represent any stage of the stress response.

The Correct Answer is:

B. Minor irritations and annoyances that occur in everyday life and can accumulate to produce significant stress

Explanation:

Daily hassles refer to the routine, minor stressors people encounter, such as traffic, lost items, arguments, or unpleasant coworkers. Although individually these events may seem trivial, their cumulative effect can be as stressful as major life events. Continuous exposure to these minor stressors can elevate physiological arousal, affect mood, and contribute to both mental and physical health problems, demonstrating that stress is not limited to major life changes.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Rare, extreme life events that have long-term health consequences

This is incorrect because daily hassles are common, minor events, not rare or extreme occurrences.

C. Only positive events that require personal readjustment, such as holidays or promotions

This is incorrect because daily hassles are typically negative or annoying events, not positive life changes.

D. Stressors that exclusively affect physical health without impacting psychological well-being

This is incorrect because daily hassles affect both mental and physical health, not just the body.

Correct Answer:

D. Latricia has been lost in the woods for days. After such a long period of anxiety and fear, Latricia collapses by a tree.

Explanation

The correct answer is D. The exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome occurs when prolonged exposure to stress depletes the body’s resources. At this stage, the body can no longer resist the stressor, leading to fatigue, collapse, or increased susceptibility to illness. Latricia’s collapse after enduring extended anxiety and fear in the woods perfectly illustrates this stage of complete depletion.

Why the Other Options Are Incorrect

A. Burt is determined to learn how to play chess, so he spends all his time reading chess books.

This is not related to stress at all. Burt’s behavior reflects motivation and focus on a new skill, not a physiological or psychological response to stress.

B. Betty steps down as class treasurer her senior year because she needs to focus on her grades.

This represents decision-making and prioritization, not the exhaustion stage. Betty is actively choosing to reduce responsibilities, which is a coping strategy rather than collapse from stress.

C. Maria has exhausted all possible options in thinking through what can be done when she gets alarming news about the results of a medical test.

While Maria may feel mentally drained, this is more about problem-solving and rumination than a physical or physiological collapse. Exhaustion in the GAS model refers to the body’s depletion of resources, not just mental fatigue.

Correct Answer

C. Perceived control

Explanation

Research indicates that individuals who perceive greater control over their work and environment experience lower stress levels and better health outcomes. The British civil servants study demonstrates that low-status employees, who often have less control over their tasks and decision-making, face higher risks of heart disease. Perceived control buffers the physiological and psychological effects of stress, reducing the likelihood of stress-related illness.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

A. Biofeedback

While biofeedback can help individuals manage physiological responses to stress, the civil servants study focuses on long-term stress linked to job status, not the use of biofeedback techniques.

B. Social support

Social support mitigates stress in many contexts, but the key factor in this study was the sense of autonomy and control over one’s work, rather than social relationships.

D. Emotion-focused coping

Emotion-focused coping involves managing emotional responses to stress rather than altering the source of stress. The study emphasizes how control over work conditions impacts physical health, making this option less relevant.

Correct Answer:

B. Stress that motivates beneficial behaviors, such as studying, exercising, or performing well at work

Explanation:

Not all stress is harmful; stress can sometimes be positive, referred to as eustress. Eustress acts as a motivator, encouraging individuals to engage in productive activities and take care of themselves. For example, feeling stressed about an upcoming exam can motivate a student to study, or stress about work deadlines can lead to increased focus and performance. This type of stress enhances functioning and personal growth when managed appropriately.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

A. Stress that always results in negative health outcomes and impaired functioning

This describes distress, not eustress, which can be beneficial.

C. Stress that occurs only in response to traumatic events and causes anxiety

This refers to extreme or harmful stress, not the motivational form of good stress.

D. Stress that is permanent and uncontrollable, leading to chronic health problems

Chronic, uncontrollable stress is harmful and does not qualify as eustress.

Correct Answer

B. A highly engaging state in which individuals are fully absorbed in an activity, losing track of time and self-consciousness

Explanation

Flow is a state of deep engagement in an activity that is intrinsically rewarding. When experiencing flow, individuals maintain effortless concentration, feel a sense of control over their actions, and often lose awareness of time. Flow typically occurs during activities that are challenging yet match a person’s skills, leading to a pleasurable and fulfilling experience. It is strongly linked to creativity, productivity, and overall well-being.

Why Other Options Are Incorrect

A. A state of relaxation achieved through meditation and passive reflection

This is incorrect because flow involves active engagement, concentration, and skillful challenge, unlike the passive nature of meditation or relaxation exercises.

C. A temporary feeling of happiness resulting from material rewards or external recognition

Flow is intrinsic and arises from the activity itself, not from external rewards or recognition, making this option inaccurate.

D. A form of social bonding achieved by interacting with friends and family

While social activities can induce flow, the experience is defined by individual absorption in a challenging activity, not by social interaction alone.