Title: Stress, Lifestyle, and Health
Course: Question Banks

Q: Which of the following is true about students who highlight the texts they read?
- Highlighting has a medium impact on their learning. (Incorrect. Highlighting or underlining potentially important parts of a text is not a very effective study technique. You would be better off spending your time on a more effective study technique, like taking practice tests.)
- Highlighting has a large impact on their learning. (Incorrect. Highlighting or underlining potentially important parts of a text is not a very effective study technique. You would be better off spending your time on a more effective study technique, like taking practice tests.)
- Highlighting has a low impact on their learning. (Correct. Highlighting or underlining potentially important parts of a text is not a very effective study technique. You would be better off spending your time on a more effective study technique, like taking practice tests.)
A: Highlighting has a low impact on their learning.

Q: Overall, the research on the effectiveness of highlighting as a study technique shows that students who highlight learn ________ students who don’t highlight.
- more than (Incorrect. Highlighting or underlining potentially important parts of a text is not a very effective study technique. You would be better off spending your time on a more effective study technique, like taking practice tests.)
- less than (Incorrect. Highlighting or underlining potentially important parts of a text is not a very effective study technique. You would be better off spending your time on a more effective study technique, like taking practice tests.)
- the same amount as (Correct. Highlighting or underlining potentially important parts of a text is not a very effective study technique. You would be better off spending your time on a more effective study technique, like taking practice tests.)
A: the same amount as

Q: Hans Selye defined stress as the response of the body to any ________.
- experience (Incorrect. The term “experience” is too neutral to completely capture what Selye believed about the body’s response to stress.)
- negative threat (Incorrect. This is partially correct. Selye defined stress in terms of how the body responds under conditions that are pleasant or unpleasant.)
- appraisal (Incorrect. You may be thinking of the work of Lazarus and Folkman, who thought of stress in terms of an individual’s perception of and response to events that are appraised as overwhelming or threatening to well-being.)
- demand (Correct. Selye’s definition of stress is response-based in that it views stress mainly in terms of the body’s physiological reaction to any demand that is placed on it.)
A: demand

Q: ________ appraisal involves judging whether a stressor is either a threat or a challenge.
- Secondary (Incorrect. Secondary appraisals have to do with considering the options available to cope with a stressor and how effective those options will be, once something is perceived as a threat. Secondary appraisals do not involve the determination of whether a stressor is a threat or challenge.)
- Response-based (Incorrect. You may be thinking of response-based conceptualizations of stress, which focus on the body’s physiological response to threatening or challenging situations. Consider what term captures the initial appraisal of the stressor as a threat or a challenge.)
- Growth (Incorrect. You may be thinking that a stressor is more likely to be appraised as a challenge if one believes that it carries the potential for gain or personal growth. Consider what term captures the initial appraisal of the stressor as a threat or a challenge.)
- Primary (Correct. Primary appraisals involve an individual’s perception of and response to events that are judged to be overwhelming or threatening to well-being.)
A: Primary

Q: Jackie’s landlord told her she has to pay her rent by the 1st (instead of the 5th) this next month, or she will be evicted. Jackie is worried about how she will get the money on time. This demand is  ________ for Jackie.
- an example of primary appraisal (Incorrect. Primary appraisals refer Jackie’s thoughts about this event as threatening to her well-being and likely to lead to some kind of harm, loss, or other negative consequence. Consider the term to best characterize the demand that Jackie is under, not her thoughts about it.)
- eustress (Incorrect. Eustress refers to a sense of general well-being that occurs when stress levels reach an optimal level and performance reaches its peak. A person experiencing eustress feels fully energized, focused, and can work with minimal effort and maximum efficiency. In this example, Jackie feels worried.)
- an example of a secondary appraisal (Incorrect. Secondary appraisals have to do with considering the options available to cope with a demand and how effective those coping options will be. Consider the term to best characterize the demand that Jackie is under, not her thoughts about coping options for managing it.)
- a stressor (Correct. A stressor refers to a demanding or threatening event or situation, such as an earlier than anticipated deadline for paying rent, financial strain, and the possibility of eviction.)
A: a stressor

Q: The good kind of stress known to promote health and motivation is called ________.
- distress (Incorrect. Distress refers to stress that exceeds an optimal level, that becomes excessive and debilitating, and that contributes to declines in performance. People experiencing distress feel burned out, fatigued, and exhausted.)
- primary stress (Incorrect. You may be thinking of the term primary appraisal, which involves an individual’s perception of events as threatening to well-being and likely to lead to some kind of harm, loss, or other negative consequence.)
- secondary stress (Incorrect. You may be thinking of the term secondary appraisal, which has to do with considering the options available to cope with a stressor and how effective those coping options will be.)
- eustress (Correct. Eustress is a good kind of stress associated with positive feelings, optimal health, and performance. It refers to a sense of general well-being that occurs when stress levels reach an optimal level and performance reaches its peak. A person experiencing eustress feels fully energized, focused, and can work with minimal effort and maximum efficiency.)
A: eustress

Q: ________ is the judgment of what options are available for coping with stressors.
- Primary appraisal (Incorrect. Primary appraisal involves an individual’s perception of events as threatening to well-being and likely to lead to some kind of harm, loss, or other negative consequence.)
- Eustress (Incorrect. Eustress is a good kind of stress associated with positive feelings, optimal health, and performance. It refers to a sense of general well-being that occurs when stress levels reach an optimal level and performance reaches its peak. A person experiencing eustress feels fully energized, focused, and can work with minimal effort and maximum efficiency.)
- Distress (Incorrect. Distress refers to stress that exceeds an optimal level, that becomes excessive and debilitating, and that contributes to declines in performance. People experiencing distress feel burned out, fatigued, and exhausted.)
- Secondary appraisal (Correct. Secondary appraisal has to do with considering the options available to cope with a stressor and how effective those coping options will be.)
A: Secondary appraisal

Q: Which concept was developed by Walter Cannon to explain the physiological reactions that come with strong emotions?
- eustress-distress (Incorrect. Eustress and distress are used to refer to good stress and bad stress, respectively. Eustress refers to a sense of general well-being and is associated with positive feelings, optimal health, and performance. Distress refers to feeling burned out, fatigued, and exhausted by stress that exceeds an optimal level, that becomes excessive and debilitating, and that contributes to declines in performance. Consider which term reflects a more specific physiological response to stress.)
- flight-or-fright (Incorrect. You are partially correct. Review Cannon’s term for the physiologic process that occurs when someone is faced with a perceived threat and that prepares the person to either fight or flee from that perceived threat.)
- resistance-exhaustion (Incorrect. You may be thinking of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome, which describes the body’s nonspecific physiological response to stress and involves three stages: (1) alarm reaction, (2) stage of resistance, and (3) stage of exhaustion. Consider which term reflects a more specific physiological response to stress.)
- fight-or-flight (Correct. Cannon explained the physiological reactions that come with strong emotions as the fight-or-flight response and occurs when the body is rapidly aroused by activation of both the sympathetic nervous system and the endocrine system in response to a perceived threat, which prepares the person to either fight or flee from that perceived threat.)
A: fight-or-flight

Q: The body tries to return to a state of homeostasis (attempts to return to previous levels of functioning). As such, the body will keep fighting the perceived danger. Towards the end of the stage, levels of exhaustion, weariness, and anxiousness may occur as the body is becoming physically exhausted. Which stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is this?
- Alarm Reaction Stage (That's incorrect. In the Alarm Reaction Stage, the body is preparing to respond to a new threat.)
- Exhaustion Stage (That's incorrect. During the Exhaustion Stage, the body has no energy with which to keep fighting stress and becomes susceptible to permanent illness.)
- Stress Resistance Stage (That's incorrect. Stress resistance is described on a continuum from low to high across the stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome. This does not refer to the stage where the body is trying to adapt to a stressor that has remained present.)
- Resistance Stage (Correct! This describes the Resistance Stage, the second phase in the General Adaptation Syndrome.)
A: Resistance Stage

Q: The initial stage where a perceived threat or danger is experienced. This is when physiological reaction occurs that includes heightened energy and/or facial expressions of fear or tension. You may also experience shallow breathing with perspiration and accelerated heart beat. Which stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is this?
- Resistance Stage (That's incorrect. In the Resistance Stage, the body is trying to adapt to the stress that has remained present.)
- Exhaustion Stage (That's incorrect. During the Exhaustion Stage, the body has no energy with which to keep fighting stress and becomes susceptible to permanent illness.)
- Stress Resistance Stage (That's incorrect. Stress resistance is described on a continuum from low to high across the stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome. This does not refer to the stage where the initial perception of a threat occurs and the body experiences heightened energy in response to it.)
- Alarm Reaction Stage (Correct! This is a description of the Alarm Reaction Stage, which is the first of the GAS stages.)
A: Alarm Reaction Stage

Q: You are now totally tired and drained of all energy and the body is more vulnerable to illness. Your energy may deplete to the point that you do not have the desire or the drive to go to work or school. You are also vulnerable to extreme health issues that may include heart diseases, high blood pressure, and stroke. Which stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is this?
- Alarm Reaction Stage (That's incorrect. In the Alarm Reaction Stage, the body is preparing to respond to a new threat.)
- Resistance Stage (That's incorrect. In the Resistance Stage, the body is trying to adapt to the stress that has remained present.)
- Stress Resistance Stage (That's incorrect. Stress resistance is described on a continuum from low to high across the stages of the General Adaptation Syndrome. This does not refer to the stage where the body is drained of all energy and susceptible to illness.)
- Exhaustion Stage (Correct! The Exhaustion Stage is the third, and final, stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome. The body has no energy with which to keep fighting stress and becomes susceptible to permanent illness.)
A: Exhaustion Stage

Q: The experience of stress is created by physiological changes through the HPA axis which consists of the ________.
- heart, pancreas, and ACTH (That's incorrect. While the heart may beat faster in response to stress, it is not part of the HPA axis. In addition, the Pancreas is part of the digestive system. Finally, ACTH is secreted by the pituitary gland, but ACTH is not part of the HPA axis.)
- hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and arteries (That's incorrect. While the hypothalamus secretes hormones that direct the pituitary gland to release ACTH, the artery is not included in the HPA Axis. The artery is located in the heart, which can be impacted upon by prolonged stress.)
- heart rate, pupil dilation, and activation (That’s incorrect. You may be thinking about Cannon’s description of the fight-or-flight response, which includes sympathetic nervous system activation, such as increased heart rate and pupil dilation. Consider what is broadly known about the physiological basis of stress and involves the release of different hormones.)
- hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands (That's correct! The hypothalamus secretes hormones that direct the pituitary gland to release another hormone, ACTH. ACTH directs the adrenal glands to secrete more hormones, one of which is cortisol. Cortisol releases sugar into the blood, helping the body respond to perceived threats.)
A: hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands

Q: Too much cortisol can result in ________.
- energy and focus (That's incorrect. While initial reactions to stress can be helpful in order to respond to perceived threats, prolonged exposure to stress depletes energy needed for focus and attention.)
- over-production of epinephrine and norepinephrine (That's incorrect. These hormones are released, along with cortisol, by the adrenal glands. Too much cortisol does not influence epinephrine and norepinephrine.)
- a stronger immune system (That’s incorrect. The extended release of cortisol that happens with prolonged exposure to stress has been shown to significantly weaken the immune system.)
- fatigue and depression (That's correct! Too much cortisol for an extended period of time exhausts the body, which can result in fatigue and depression.)
A: fatigue and depression

Q: In the short-run, the fight-or-flight response and the release of cortisol can ________, but the extended release of cortisol can ________.
- weaken the immune system; provide a boost of energy (Incorrect. You have confused the effects of short versus extended release of cortisol on immune system functioning.)
- provide extra energy; improve the immune system (Incorrect. You are partially correct. In short bursts, the release of cortisol can have some favorable effects, such as providing extra energy and improving immune system functioning. Reconsider the effects of extended cortisol release on immune system functioning.)
- provide extra energy; decrease pain sensitivity (Incorrect. You are partially correct. In short bursts, the release of cortisol can have some favorable effects, such as providing extra energy and decreasing pain sensitivity. Consider the effects of extended cortisol release on immune system functioning.)
- improve the immune system; weaken the immune system (Correct. In short bursts, the release of cortisol can have some favorable effects, such as improving immune system functioning. Sustained elevated levels of cortisol weaken the immune system.)
A: improve the immune system; weaken the immune system

Q: Holmes and Rahe’s Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) measured
- the time needed to settle into a new social group after a move or transition (Incorrect. You may be thinking that the SRRS measures life-changing events that require time to adjust to those changes, but it is not confined to settling in to a new social group after a move or transition.)
- the time needed to counteract negative life change units (Incorrect. You may be thinking that the SRRS is scored using a mean estimate of how much readjustment respondents felt each life-changing event would require, called life change units. This does not fully capture what the SRRS is designed to measure.)
- the causal relationship between stress and illness (Incorrect. While the SRRS is used in correlational research to assess the relationship between stress and illness, the scale itself is not designed to measure this connection.)
- life events requiring significant changes in a person’s normal routines (Correct. The SRRS measures life events, both desirable or undesirable, that require significant changes in a person’s normal life and require time to adjust to those changes.)
A: life events requiring significant changes in a person’s normal routines

Q: According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which life event requires the most adjustment, of the following options?
- Change in financial state (Incorrect. While change in financial state is a life event that involves an adjustment, it was not rated as requiring the most adjustment on the SRRS.)
- Change in residence (Incorrect. Change in residence ranked low on the scale in terms of adjustment time required.)
- Minor violations of the law (Incorrect. Minor violations of the law ranked the lowest in terms of adjustment time required.)
- Death of a family member (Correct. Death of a spouse ranked highest on the scale in terms of adjustment time required.)
A: Death of a family member

Q: According to the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), which life event requires the most adjustment, of the following options?
- Change in working hours (Incorrect. Change in working hours ranked low on the scale in terms of adjustment time required.)
- Change in eating habits (Incorrect. Change in eating habits ranked low on the scale in terms of adjustment time required.)
- Minor violations of the law (Incorrect. Minor violations of the law ranked the lowest in terms of adjustment time required.)
- Personal injury or illness (Correct. Of the options listed, personal injury or illness ranks highest in terms of adjustment time required.)
A: Personal injury or illness

Q: The minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives, or ________, were found to be more strongly associated with physical health problems than were life change events.
- typical problems (Incorrect. The term “typical problems” is not used to refer to everyday minor irritations that have been shown to be strongly associated with health problems.)
- distressors (Incorrect. You may be thinking of the term distress, which refers to stress that exceeds an optimal level, that becomes excessive and debilitating, and that contributes to declines in performance. People experiencing distress feel burned out, fatigued, and exhausted. The term “distressor” is not used.)
- life change units (Incorrect. You may be thinking of the SRRS, which is scored using life change units, a mean estimate of how much readjustment respondents felt each life-changing event would require.)
- daily hassles (Correct. Daily hassles are those minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives. They can build on one another and leave us just as stressed as major life change events. In one study, the frequency of daily hassles was found to be more strongly associated with physical health problems than life change events.)
A: daily hassles

Q: Jobs that are demanding but provide few opportunities for decision-making or job control are jobs with high levels of
- employee burnout. (Incorrect. You may be thinking of job burnout, which occurs when people are chronically exposed to stressful work conditions and experience a general sense of emotional exhaustion and cynicism. There is another term that refers to jobs with heavy workloads and little job control.)
- resistance. (Incorrect. You may be thinking of the resistance stage of the general adaptation syndrome where the body has adapted to a stressor, but the body also remains on alert and is prepared to respond as it did during the alarm reaction, although with less intensity. While jobs with heavy workloads and little job control can be stressful, the word “resistance” is not the correct term to refer to this state of affairs.)
- daily hassles. (Incorrect. Daily hassles are those minor irritations and annoyances that are part of our everyday lives. While daily hassles may include work-related minor irritations (e.g., rush hour traffic, obnoxious coworkers), there is another term that refers to jobs with heavy workloads and little job control.)
- job strain. (Correct. Job strain refers to a work situation that combines excessive job demands and workload with little discretion in decision making or job control.)
A: job strain.

Q: Miranda is in her third year of teaching middle school and feels emotionally exhausted and as if her work has zero impact on her students. Miranda is probably suffering from
- career fatigue (Incorrect. There is another term that best describes the condition when one feels emotionally exhausted with work, as if the work has not influenced other people’s lives.)
- posttraumatic stress disorder (Incorrect. Post-traumatic stress disorder occurs in some individuals who are exposed to stressors of extreme magnitude and develop a chronic stress reaction characterized by intrusive and painful memories of the stressful event, jumpiness, persistent negative emotional states, detachment from others, angry outbursts, and/or avoidance of reminders of the event. The description of Miranda’s reaction does not meet this level of severity.)
- the exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome (Incorrect. The exhaustion stage of the general adaptation syndrome refers to nonspecific physiological effects of stress and occurs when where the body’s ability to resist stress becomes depleted as physical wear takes its toll on the body. This example is more about Miranda’s emotional response to stress, rather than her body’s physiological response to stress.)
- job burnout (Correct. This example describes diminished personal accomplishment, which is one dimension of job burnout. It is characterized by a tendency to evaluate one’s work negatively, e.g., experiencing dissatisfaction with job-related accomplishments or feeling as though one has categorically failed to influence others’ lives through one’s work.)
A: job burnout

Q: ________ are those in which the physical symptoms of a disorder can be produced or exacerbated by psychological factors.
- Mental disorders (Incorrect. Mental disorders involve psychological symptoms and/or patterns of behavior that can impair functioning multiple areas of life and/or create distress for the person experiencing the symptoms. This is not the term used to describe physical disorders whose symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress or psychological factors.)
- Psychobiological disorders (Incorrect. This is not the term used to describe physical disorders whose symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress or psychological factors.)
- Autoimmune disorders (Incorrect. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system goes awry by mistaking your body’s own healthy cells for invaders and repeatedly attacks those healthy cells. This is not the term used to describe physical disorders whose symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress or psychological factors.)
- Psychophysiological disorders (Correct. Physical disorders or diseases whose symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors are called psychophysiological disorders. In other words, the physical symptoms of psychophysiological disorders can be produced or exacerbated by psychological factors.)
A: Psychophysiological disorders

Q: ________ diseases are those that involve the immune system functioning erroneously, such as when the body mistakes its own healthy cells as invaders.
- Anti-immune (Incorrect. This is not the term used to describe what occurs when the immune system goes awry and attacks health cells because it mistakes them for invaders.)
- Psychobiological (Incorrect. This is not the term used to describe what occurs when the immune system goes awry and attacks health cells because it mistakes them for invaders.)
- Immunosuppressive (Incorrect. While immunosuppression describes the decreased effectiveness of the immune system, this is not the specific term used to describe what occurs when the immune system goes awry and attacks health cells because it mistakes them for invaders.)
- Autoimmune (Correct. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system goes awry by mistaking your body’s own healthy cells for invaders and repeatedly attacks those healthy cells.)
A: Autoimmune

Q: If Keith had a stressful and busy month at work, his body will likely
- produce more lymphocytes. (Incorrect. While stress hormones adversely affect immune function by impacting the production of lymphocytes, reconsider how stress hormones impact lymphocytes.)
- increase immune functioning. (Incorrect. Stress hormones adversely impact and weaken immune function. Reconsider the mechanisms by which stress hormones impact the immune system.)
- produce low levels of cortisol. (Incorrect. Cortisol is a stress hormone that is likely to be increased if Kevin has a stressful and busy month at work.)
- produce fewer lymphocytes. (Correct. Stress hormones adversely impact immune function by inhibiting the production of lymphocytes, which are white blood cells that are important in the immune response.)
A: produce fewer lymphocytes.

Q: Someone with a ________ behavior pattern is likely to feel rushed and a need to constantly be working on something.
- Type B (Incorrect. Individuals who are more relaxed and laid-back are characterized as Type B.)
- Type One (Incorrect. This is not the term applied to someone who displays an excessive competitive drive, chronic sense of time urgency, impatience, and hostility toward others. Review the terms used by Friedman and Rosenman to describe differences between those who are prone to heart disease and those who are not in terms of how they think, feel, and act.)
- Type Two (Incorrect. This is not the term applied to someone who displays an excessive competitive drive, chronic sense of time urgency, impatience, and hostility toward others. Review the terms used by Friedman and Rosenman to describe differences between those who are prone to heart disease and those who are not in terms of how they think, feel, and act.)
- Type A (Correct. Specific characteristics of the Type A pattern include an excessive competitive drive, chronic sense of time urgency, impatience, and hostility toward others.)
A: Type A

Q: Someone with a ________ behavior pattern is likely to feel relaxed and laid-back much of the time.
- Type A (Incorrect. Individuals who are Type A display an excessive competitive drive, chronic sense of time urgency, impatience, and hostility toward others.)
- Type Two (Incorrect. This is not the term applied to someone who tends to be relaxed and laid-back. Review the terms used by Friedman and Rosenman to describe differences between those who are prone to heart disease and those who are not in terms of how they think, feel, and act.)
- Type One (Incorrect. This is not the term applied to someone who tends to be relaxed and laid-back. Review the terms used by Friedman and Rosenman to describe differences between those who are prone to heart disease and those who are not in terms of how they think, feel, and act.)
- Type B (Correct. Individuals who are more relaxed and laid-back are characterized as Type B.)
A: Type B

Q: What about a Type A personality has the strongest correlation with heart disease?
- Competitiveness (Incorrect. While competitiveness is a component of the Type A personality pattern, it has not shown the strongest correlation with heart disease.)
- Busyness (Incorrect. While the need to stay busy is a component of the Type A personality pattern, it has not shown the strongest correlation with heart disease.)
- Impatience (Incorrect. While impatience is a component of the Type A personality pattern, it has not shown the strongest correlation with heart disease.)
- Anger (Correct. Extensive research suggests that the anger/hostility dimension of the Type A behavior pattern may be the most important factor in the development of heart disease.)
A: Anger

Q: Milo has been battling depression for several years. This puts him at a higher risk for
- asthma. (Incorrect. You may be thinking that stress and emotions affect immune and respiratory functions and that psychological factors likely serve as triggers of asthma exacerbation. While there is an established connection between stress and asthma, research does not support that long-term depression would put Milo at higher risk for asthma.)
- Type A personality disorder. (Incorrect. You may be thinking about the connection between the Type A personality pattern (not disorder) and moods. While there is a connection between anger/hostility and a Type A personality, research does not support that long-term depression would put Milo at higher risk for having a Type A personality pattern.)
- Type B personality style. (Incorrect. You may be thinking about the connection between the Type B personality style and moods. People with a Type B personality are characterized as relaxed and laid-back, and research does not support that long-term depression would put Milo at higher risk for having a Type B personality style.)
- heart disease. (Correct. Research indicates that depressed individuals are at increased risk for heart disease and cardiac death. The more severe the depression, the higher the risk. Patients with heart disease have more depression than the general population, and people with depression are more likely to eventually develop heart disease and experience higher mortality than those who do not have depression.)
A: heart disease.

Q: Destinee failed three of her classes during her first semester of college. She decides to set things in order and visits a school counselor, arranges for tutoring, and adopts better time management strategies. What type of coping does Destinee demonstrate?
- Emotion focused (Incorrect. Emotion-focused coping involves efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress. It involves efforts to avoid, minimize, or distance oneself from the problem.)
- Stress reduction (Incorrect. Stress reduction refers to the number of ways we can manage stress, such as exercise and relaxation techniques. While Destinee’s efforts may reduce her stress, consider the terms used by Lazarus and Folkman to describe approaches to coping with specific problems that are stressful.)
- Unlearned helplessness (Incorrect. You may be thinking of the term “learned helplessness” described by Seligman to refer to the belief that one is powerless to do anything about a stressful situation. Destinee’s behavior demonstrates the opposite of learned helplessness (unlearned helplessness is not a term that is used). Consider the terms used by Lazarus and Folkman to describe approaches to coping with specific problems that are stressful.)
- Problem focused (Correct. Problem-focused coping involves attempts to manage or alter the problem that is causing stress. It involves strategies used in everyday problem-solving: identifying the problem, considering possible solutions, weighing the costs and benefits of these solutions, and then selecting an alternative.)
A: Problem focused

Q: Yesenia applied for a summer internship that she was really excited about and was not selected. Although she was stressed about the lack of income, she reminded herself that she could really enjoy her summer and now she could plan that exciting road trip she had wanted to do with her friends. Which type of coping approach is Yesenia using?
- Cognitive emotional (Incorrect. You may be thinking that a cognitive emotional approach to coping involves how we think about a stressor and how we feel about a stressful situation. This is not the term used by Lazarus and Folkman to describe an approach to coping that involves putting the situation in a positive light.)
- Problem focused (Incorrect. Problem-focused coping involves attempts to manage or alter the problem that is causing stress. It involves strategies used in everyday problem-solving: identifying the problem, considering possible solutions, weighing the costs and benefits of these solutions, and then selecting an alternative. Consider which approach to coping involves putting the situation in a positive light.)
- Stress reduction (Incorrect. Stress reduction refers to the number of ways we can manage stress, such as exercise and relaxation techniques. While Yesenia’s efforts may reduce her stress, consider the term used by Lazarus and Folkman to describe an approach to coping that involves putting the situation in a positive light.)
- Emotion focused (Correct. Emotion-focused coping involves efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress. These efforts may include avoiding, minimizing, or distancing oneself from the problem; positive comparisons with others; or seeking something positive in a negative event.)
A: Emotion focused

Q: The efforts used to manage problems relating to stress are ________.
- biofeedback (Incorrect. Biofeedback is a specific stress reduction technique that uses electronic equipment to provide visual or auditory signals about physiologic functions, which can help the individual in developing strategies for gaining some level of voluntary control over bodily processes. Consider which term reflects a broad approach to mental or behavioral efforts to manage problems related to stress.)
- autofeedback (Incorrect. This is not the term used to describe a broad approach to mental or behavioral efforts to manage problems related to stress. You may be thinking about biofeedback, which is a specific stress reduction technique that uses electronic equipment to provide visual or auditory signals about physiologic functions.)
- social support (Incorrect. Social support refers to soothing and often beneficial support of others and may be a specific component of someone’s approach to stress management. Consider which term reflects a broad approach to mental or behavioral efforts to manage problems related to stress.)
- coping (Correct. Coping refers to mental or behavioral efforts used to manage stressful problems, including the cause of the stressor and the unpleasant feelings and emotions the stressor produces.)
A: coping

Q: If Christina feels good about the her capacity to influence and shape outcomes in her life, then she has a high level of
- autonomy. (Incorrect. Autonomy refers to independence. Consider the term used by Albert Bandura to describe our beliefs about our capacity to influence and shape outcomes in our lives.)
- coping awareness. (Incorrect. While this term could refer to one’s awareness of mental or behavioral strategies that could be used to manage stressful problems, it is not a term used by Albert Bandura to describe our beliefs about our capacity to influence and shape outcomes in our lives.)
- stress reduction. (Incorrect. Stress reduction refers to the number of ways we can manage stress, such as exercise and relaxation techniques. Consider the term used by Albert Bandura to describe our beliefs about our capacity to influence and shape outcomes in our lives.)
- perceived control. (Correct. Perceived control refers to beliefs about our capacity to influence and shape outcomes in our lives. Our reaction to potential stressors depends to a large extent on how much control we feel we have over those stressors.)
A: perceived control.

Q: In Martin Seligman’s famous study on learned helplessness, how did the dogs who had received electric shocks react when they were eventually given the opportunity to escape?
- Most dogs jumped out right away. (Incorrect. This is not the outcome observed when these dogs were given the opportunity to escape the shocks. Review Seligman’s classic experiments on the consequences of experiencing a lack of control over events.)
- Most dogs escaped quickly, but returned within several minutes. (Incorrect. This is not the outcome observed when these dogs were given the opportunity to escape the shocks. Review Seligman’s classic experiments on the consequences of experiencing a lack of control over events.)
- Most dogs helped other dogs escape before escaping themselves. (Incorrect. This is not the outcome observed when these dogs were given the opportunity to escape the shocks. Review Seligman’s classic experiments on the consequences of experiencing a lack of control over events.)
- Most dogs remained where they were. (Correct. Seligman conducted a series of classic experiments in the 1960s in which dogs were placed in a chamber where they received electric shocks from which they could not escape. Later, when these dogs were given the opportunity to escape the shocks by jumping across a partition, most dogs failed to even try; they seemed to just give up and passively accept any shocks the experimenters chose to administer.)
A: Most dogs remained where they were.

Q: Rosa. who is wealthy, may experience better health than her cousin, who is poor, because research shows that the more affluent
- tend to have access to better-quality mental health services. (Incorrect. While there may be a relationship between socioeconomic status and the quality of healthcare services that someone has access to, research does not indicate that more affluent people experience better health because of access to high-quality mental health services.)
- have fewer life stressors than less affluent individuals. (Incorrect. Research does not indicate that more affluent people experience better health because they have fewer life stressors compared to less affluent people.)
- have more social support than less affluent individuals. (Incorrect. Research does not indicate that more affluent people experience better health because they have more social support than less affluent people.)
- tend to believe that they can personally control and manage their reactions to life’s stressors. (Correct. Research has found that more affluent individuals experience better health mainly because they tend to believe that they can personally control and manage their reactions to life’s stressors.)
A: tend to believe that they can personally control and manage their reactions to life’s stressors.

Q: The soothing impact of friends, family, and acquaintances is known as ________.
- community input (Incorrect. While input from others in the community could be comforting to us when we are faced with stress, this is not the term used to refer to the soothing impact of friends, family, and acquaintances.)
- community prevention (Incorrect. Community prevention refers to programs designed to help members of a community make healthy behavior choices in order to reduce the risk of developing health problems. This is not the term used to refer to the soothing impact of friends, family, and acquaintances.)
- emotion-focused coping (Incorrect. Emotion-focused coping involves efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress. These efforts may include avoiding, minimizing, or distancing oneself from the problem; positive comparisons with others; or seeking something positive in a negative event. This is not the term used to refer to the soothing impact of friends, family, and acquaintances.)
- social support (Correct. Social support refers to soothing and often beneficial support of others. Social support may be offered in the form of advice, guidance, encouragement, acceptance, emotional comfort, and tangible assistance.)
A: social support

Q: According to a review of studies with over 300,000 participants, those with strong social connections have a ________ greater chance of survival when compared with those who are lonely.
- 10% (Incorrect. This is not the finding of a major review of studies on the relationship between social support and health outcomes. The likelihood of survival for those with strong social support was greater than 10%.)
- 25% (Incorrect. This is not the finding of a major review of studies on the relationship between social support and health outcomes.)
- 75% (Incorrect. This is not the finding of a major review of studies on the relationship between social support and health outcomes. The likelihood of survival for those with strong social support was less than 75%.)
- 50% (Correct. A statistical review of 148 studies conducted between 1982 and 2007 involving over 300,000 participants concluded that individuals with stronger social relationships have a 50% greater likelihood of survival compared to those with weak or insufficient social relationships.)
A: 50%

Q: In an experiment where participants had to complete stressful tasks either alone, with a stranger, or with a friend, participants had the lowest blood pressure when tested
- with a stranger. (Incorrect. Social support has been shown to reduce blood pressure for people performing stressful tasks, but research participants who were with a stranger did not have the lowest blood pressure.)
- alone. (Incorrect. Social support has been shown to reduce blood pressure for people performing stressful tasks, but research participants who were alone did not have the lowest blood pressure.)
- with a female friend. (Incorrect. Social support has been shown to reduce blood pressure for people performing stressful tasks, but it is not necessarily true that people perform stressful tasks better in the presence of a female friend. In fact, in one study female participants who performed stressful mental math exhibited lower blood pressure when they received support from a friend rather than a stranger, but only if the friend was a male.)
- with a friend. (Correct. Social support has been shown to reduce blood pressure for people performing stressful tasks, and those who are with a friend generally show lower blood pressure than those who are alone or with a stranger. Findings like this suggest that social support is connected to favorable health outcomes is because it has beneficial physiological effects in stressful situations.)
A: with a friend.

Q: Meditation and relaxation combined form the ________, which has been used effectively to treat those with high blood pressure.
- de-stress test (Incorrect. This is not the name of the technique developed by Herbert Benson that combined relaxation and meditation and that has been used effectively in the treatment of high blood pressure.)
- biofeedback loop (Incorrect. Biofeedback is a specific stress reduction technique. It uses electronic equipment to provide visual or auditory signals about physiologic functions, which can help the individual in developing strategies for gaining some level of voluntary control over bodily processes. Consider the name of the technique developed by Herbert Benson that combined relaxation and meditation.)
- exercise technique (Incorrect. You may be thinking that exercise is a well-established stress reduction strategy that may buffer against some of the deleterious physiological effects of stress. Consider the name of the technique developed by Herbert Benson that combined relaxation and meditation.)
- relaxation response technique (Correct. The relaxation response technique combines relaxation with transcendental meditation. It reduces sympathetic nervous system arousal, and it has been used effectively to treat people with high blood pressure.)
A: relaxation response technique

Q: Jovie began wearing a fitness monitor that lets her track her heart rate. She is prone to anxiety and is now working to monitor her heart rate to keep it below 110, unless she is exercising. If her heart rate goes over 110, she takes time to meditate. This is an example of ________.
- relaxation intervention (Incorrect. You may be thinking about the relaxation response technique that reduces sympathetic nervous system arousal by combining relaxation with transcendental meditation. This is not the term applied to the use of electronic equipment to measure involuntary physiologic processes, such as heart rate, so that one can gain some level of voluntary control over them, using strategies such as meditation.)
- eustress (Incorrect. Eustress is a good kind of stress associated with positive feelings, optimal health, and performance. Consider which term refers to the use of electronic equipment to measure involuntary physiologic processes, such as heart rate, so that one can gain some level of voluntary control over them, using strategies such as meditation.)
- exercise technique (Incorrect. You may be thinking that exercise is a well-established stress reduction strategy that may buffer against some of the deleterious physiological effects of stress. Consider which term refers to the use of electronic equipment to measure involuntary physiologic processes, such as heart rate, so that one can gain some level of voluntary control over them, using strategies such as meditation.)
- biofeedback (Correct. Biofeedback is a specific stress reduction technique that uses electronic equipment to provide visual or auditory signals about physiologic functions, which in this case helps Jovie to use meditation as a strategy for gaining some level of voluntary control over her heart rate.)
A: biofeedback

Q: One effective tool in regulating stress that can even prevent telomere shortening is
- crying. (Incorrect. Crying has not been shown to be an effective tool in regulating stress and preventing telomere shortening.)
- biofeedback. (Incorrect. While biofeedback is considered an effective stress reduction tool, research has not demonstrated that biofeedback itself prevents telomere shortening.)
- emotion-focused coping. (Incorrect. Emotion-focused coping involves efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress. These efforts may include avoiding, minimizing, or distancing oneself from the problem; positive comparisons with others; or seeking something positive in a negative event. Research has not demonstrated that emotion-focused coping prevents telomere shortening.)
- exercise. (Correct. Exercise may be beneficial because it might buffer against some of the deleterious physiological effects of stress. Exercise has been shown to prevent telomere shortening in high-stress people, which may explain the common observation of a youthful appearance among those who exercise regularly.)
A: exercise.

Q: Some researchers have suggested that happiness consists of the pleasant life, the good life, and the ________.
- fulfilling life (Incorrect. You may be thinking that happiness is thought to involve a deep sense of fulfillment that comes from using our talents in the service of the greater good, but the “fulfilling life” is not the term used by researchers. Review Seligman’s work on defining happiness.)
- long life (Incorrect. Researchers have not conceptualized happiness as including a long life. Review Seligman’s work on defining happiness.)
- satisfied life (Incorrect. You may be thinking of Diener’s approach to defining types of happiness in terms of life satisfaction, positive feelings, and low negative feelings. Review Seligman’s work on defining happiness; it does not include the term “satisfied life.”)
- meaningful life (Correct. Some psychologists have suggested that happiness consists of three distinct elements: the pleasant life, the good life, and the meaningful life.)
A: meaningful life

Q: Life satisfaction usually ________ the older people get.
- decreases (Incorrect. Age is related to happiness, but rethink the direction of this relationship.)
- increases, then decreases after retirement, (Incorrect. Age is related to happiness, but research does not support that life satisfaction decreases after retirement.)
- decreases, then increases after retirement, (Incorrect. Age is related to happiness, but research does not support that life satisfaction decreases for a time as people get older, then increases after retirement.)
- increases (Correct. Age is related to happiness. Life satisfaction usually increases as people get older.)
A: increases

Q: Winning the lottery results in ________ changes in happiness levels.
- long-term (Incorrect. Research indicates something different in terms of the long-term emotional impact of a life event like winning the lottery. Review research on how we adapt to changing emotional circumstances in our lives.)
- no significant (Incorrect. Research does show an emotional impact of life events. Review research on how we adapt to changing emotional circumstances in our lives.)
- low intensity (Incorrect. Research does show an emotional impact of life events. Review research on how we adapt to changing emotional circumstances in our lives.)
- short-term (Correct. Lottery winners experience a short-term surge of happiness after hitting the jackpot. Research shows that in the long run, the emotional impact of the event tends to erode, and we eventually revert to our original baseline happiness levels.)
A: short-term

Q: According to the research, which person is likely to be the happiest?
- Sandra, the widowed surgeon who makes over $300,000 a year. (Incorrect. Research shows that someone who is widowed is less happy than someone who is married. Research also indicates that happiness does not seem to increase over a certain income level. The average increase in well-being for people with incomes greater than $75,000 was null.)
- Jadiel, the married father of three who makes $60,000 a year. (Incorrect. While studies show that married people report being happier than those who are single, divorced, or widowed, research also indicates that happiness increases up to a certain income, beyond $60,000. As such, Jadiel is not likely to be the happiest among the options given.)
- Jacob, the married father of one who makes $100,000 a year. (Incorrect. While studies show that married people report being happier than those who are single, divorced, or widowed, research also indicates that happiness does not seem to increase over a certain income level. The average increase in well-being for people with incomes greater than $75,000 was null.)
- Reina, the married dental hygienist who makes $75,000 a year. (Correct. Studies show that married people report being happier than those who are single, divorced, or widowed. Research also indicates that well-being rises with annual income, but only up to $75,000.)
A: Reina, the married dental hygienist who makes $75,000 a year.

Q: Which type of psychology could be considered the psychology of happiness?
- Eustress psychology (Incorrect. You may be thinking that eustress is a good kind of stress associated with positive feelings, optimal health, and performance. Consider what term is used to describe the area of study called the science of happiness that seeks to identify strengths that help people lead happy, contented lives.)
- Psychology of joy (Incorrect. While psychology is concerned with what brings people joy, this is not the term used to describe the area of study that seeks to identify strengths that help people lead happy, contented lives.)
- Emotion-focused psychology (Incorrect. You may be thinking of emotion-focused coping, which involves efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with stress. Consider what term is used to describe the area of study called the science of happiness that seeks to identify strengths that help people lead happy, contented lives.)
- Positive psychology (Correct. Positive psychology is considered the science of happiness; it is an area of study that seeks to identify strengths that help people lead happy, contented lives. Positive psychology moves away from focusing on pathology, faults, and problems.)
A: Positive psychology

Q: Axel tends to look on the bright side of things. His tendency towards ________ is a good predictor of positive health outcomes.
- positive affect (Incorrect. Positive affect is mostly concerned with positive feeling states. While positive affect is associated with longevity and favorable physiological functioning, consider the distinction between how we feel about something and how we think about something. Choose the response that captures how Axel’s thinking is characterized by a positive outlook.)
- eustress (Incorrect. You may be thinking that eustress is a good kind of stress associated with positive feelings, optimal health, and performance. Consider the distinction between types of stress and how we think about something. Choose the response that captures how Axel’s thinking is characterized by a positive outlook.)
- emotion-focused coping (Incorrect. You may be thinking that emotion-focused coping involves efforts to change or reduce the negative emotions associated with a specific stressor. These efforts may include seeking something positive in a negative event. Consider which term best captures Axel’s general tendency to have a positive outlook, rather than a specific approach to coping with a specific stressor.)
- optimism (Correct. Optimism is regarded as a generalized tendency to expect that good things will happen. Optimism is a significant predictor of positive health outcomes.)
A: optimism

Q: Positive engagement with your surroundings and states of being such as joy, alertness, enthusiasm, and confidence are considered
- positive affirmations. (Incorrect. Positive affirmations are statements that can be repeated to oneself and used to overcome negative thinking. Positive affirmations reflects how we think about something, and in this question you are asked to choose the term that best captures the feeling states described.)
- optimistic traits. (Incorrect. Optimism refers to the tendency to have a positive outlook, to look on the bright side of things, and to expect that good things will happen. Optimism reflects how we think about something, and in this question you are asked to choose the term that best captures the feeling states described.)
- flow. (Incorrect. You may be thinking that flow involves a particular experience that is so engaging and engrossing that it becomes worth doing for its own sake. When people experience flow, they become involved in an activity to the point where they feel they lose themselves in the activity, and time seems to pass more quickly than usual. Consider the more general term that best captures the feeling states described in the question, rather than a specific response to a particular experience.)
- positive affect. (Correct. Positive affect refers to pleasurable engagement with the environment, happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alertness, and excitement.)
A: positive affect.

Q: What is it called if a particular experience is so engaging and engrossing that it becomes worth doing for its own sake?
- Momentum (Incorrect. Momentum can refer to building encouragement and motivation during an activity. Consider the term used by Csikszentmihalyi to describe the experience of being so intensely engaged in a creative, work, or leisure activity that it becomes worth doing for its own sake.)
- Positive affect (Incorrect. You may be thinking that positive affect refers to pleasurable engagement with the environment and involves feelings of happiness, joy, enthusiasm, alertness, and excitement. Consider the term used by Csikszentmihalyi to describe the specific experience of being so intensely engaged in a creative, work, or leisure activity that it becomes worth doing for its own sake.)
- The good life (Incorrect. You may be thinking of Seligman’s conceptualization of happiness as having three components, one of which is the good life. You may remember that people who achieve the good life often find themselves absorbed in their work or their recreational pursuits. Consider the term used by Csikszentmihalyi to describe the specific experience of being so intensely engaged in a creative, work, or leisure activity that it becomes worth doing for its own sake. Having more of these experiences can contribute to what Seligman calls the good life.)
- Flow (Correct. Flow is described as a particular experience that is so engaging and engrossing that it becomes worth doing for its own sake. When people experience flow, they become involved in an activity to the point where they feel they lose themselves in the activity. They effortlessly maintain their concentration and focus, they feel as though they have complete control of their actions, and time seems to pass more quickly than usual.)
A: Flow

Q: Georgette was practicing her saxophone and got so involved improvising on a song that she completely lost track of time. She described it as exciting and awesome and was proud of the creativity in what she played. This is an example of
- momentum. (Incorrect. Momentum can refer to building encouragement and motivation during an activity. Consider the term used by Csikszentmihalyi to describe the specific experience of being so intensely engaged in a creative, work, or leisure activity that you lose track of time.)
- happiness. (Incorrect. Happiness is thought of as an enduring state consisting of joy, contentment, and other positive emotions. This question refers to a state that might not necessarily be enduring. Consider what term, used by Csikszentmihalyi, best captures the specific experience of being so intensely engaged in a creative, work, or leisure activity that you lose track of time.)
- the good life. (Incorrect. You may be thinking of Seligman’s conceptualization of happiness as having three components, one of which is the good life. You may remember that people who achieve the good life often find themselves absorbed in their work or their recreational pursuits. Consider the term used by Csikszentmihalyi to describe the specific experience of being so intensely engaged in a creative, work, or leisure activity that you lose track of time. Having more of these experiences can contribute to what Seligman calls the good life.)
- flow. (Correct. Flow is described as a particular experience that is so engaging and engrossing that it becomes worth doing for its own sake. When people experience flow, they become involved in an activity to the point where they feel they lose themselves in the activity. They effortlessly maintain their concentration and focus, they feel as though they have complete control of their actions, and time seems to pass more quickly than usual.)
A: flow.