Chapter 14: Stress and Health

Chapter 14: Stress and Health What can I do? Just Relax Don’t Start Stressed Out? It’s part of life. 100

1. Whether we experience stress depends upon: • A) the situation. • B) how life threatening it is. • C) our cognitive appraisal. • D) whether or not others are involved.

2. The two-track stress response system involves the cerebral cortex and the _____. • A) sympathetic nervous system • B) peripheral nervous system • C) heart and lungs • D) corpus collosum

3. According to Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome, we are most likely to become ill as the result of stress during the ___ phase. • A) alarm • B) resistance • C) exhaustion • D) recovery

4. Stress is related to the leading cause of death in the U.S., which is: • A) cancer. • B) coronary heart disease. • C) suicide. • D) stroke.

Research suggests that those with Type A personality could reduce their risk of heart disease if they would: • A) drink more alcohol. • B) sleep more. • C) let their anger out on a punching bag. • D) let go of their anger.

6. A psychophysiological illness is: • A) when a person is “faking” an illness. • B) a genuine illness caused by stress. • C) an illness that is simply “imagined”. • D) when a biological cause results in mental illness.

7. With regards to the relation of stress to illness: • A) too much stress can make us physically sick. • B) sickness is just a matter of how strong or weak the person is. • C) stress can weaken our immune system, making us more vulnerable to disease. • D) stress has to be life-threatening to be of any real impact to us.

8. Ader and Cohen (1985) performed an experiment with rats that demonstrated: • A) rats who were shocked had an increased risk of cancer. • B) cancer would spread faster under stress. • C) the immune system can be conditioned to respond to a placebo. • D) rats would develop “Type A” personalities under stress.

9. Besides the lymphocytes, our immune systems release ___, called the “big eaters”, to ingest foreign invaders. • A) macrophages • B) white blood cells • C) red blood cells • D) stress hormones

10. After the hurricane hit, those in the community helped each other clear the wreckage. This behavior demonstrates: • A) optimistic style. • B) tending and befriending. • C) emotion-focused coping. • D) problem-focused coping.

11. Being a pessimist: • A) can increase your level of stress. • B) can shorten your life. • C) can raise your blood pressure. • D) all of the above.

12. Mary has been suffering from the “blues”. Your recommendation is that she first try: • A) electric shock. • B) aerobic exercise. • C) Prozac. • D) psychoanalysis.

13. With regards to the effectiveness of biofeedback: • A) biofeedback is the most effective method for alleviating stress-related illnesses. • B) biofeedback is as effective as relaxation. • C) biofeedback is ineffective for alleviating stress. • D) biofeedback is a modern “Snake Oil” and only works because of a placebo effect.

14. When alternative medicine approaches, such as acupuncture, are scientifically tested, results: • A) are never as good as they promise. • B) can be quite convincing. • C) are explained as placebo effects. • D) cannot be replicated in the laboratory.

15. Regular religious attendance is a positive predictor of a longer life span. Researchers have identified three factors that explain this, including all of the following, except: • A) healthier life styles. • B) social support networks. • C) relaxed meditative style. • D) faith healing.

16. Eliminate this as one of your habits and you will increase your life expectancy better than any other preventive measure. • A) smoking • B) drinking • C) inactivity • D) losing your temper

17. Most smokers began ___ and were influenced by ___. • A) in their early 20’s; parents • B) in their teens; friends and movie idols • C) in their late 20’s; peers • D) in their teens; parents

18. The addictive ingredient in cigarettes is nicotine and it is: • A) more addictive than cocaine but less addictive than heroin. • B) more addictive than heroin and cocaine. • C) addictive, but not as much as heroin or cocaine. • D) not addictive if someone really wants to quit.

19. James, a regular smoker, hasn’t had a cigarette for a while. He is irritable, has difficulty sleeping, and anxiety, all signs of: • A) high levels of nicotine. • B) increased drug tolerance. • C) nicotine withdrawal. • D) resentment at being pressured to quit.

20. Lou is more likely to be a cigarette smoker if he: • A) is from the United States. • B) is less educated. • C) is wealthy. • D) is educated early as to its harmful effects.

21. Your BMI is a ratio of your: • A) weight and height. • B) fat to muscle. • C) food intake to calories burned. • D) none of the above.

22. People who eat less to diet may reach a weight level which is difficult to go below, even with more dieting. This level is called: • A) metabolism. • B) BMI. • C) a set point. • D) fat-to-muscle ratio.

23. The World Health Organization has estimated that ___ of all people are overweight. • A) 50% • B) 70% • C) 40% • D) 60%

24:Exercise can help to lower your “set point” by: • A) speeding up your metabolism. • B) burning fat cells. • C) building muscle. • D) all of the above.

25. Which of the following is the most recommended way to lose weight? • A) eating only one meal per day. • B) eating less than 1,000 calories per day. • C) eating several small meals per day. • D) eating only pre-packaged diet food.

Congratulations!

Answers Stop here, or continue as a review

1. Whether we experience stress depends upon: • A) the situation. • B) how life threatening it is. • C) our cognitive appraisal. • D) whether or not others are involved. 550

2. The two-track stress response system involves the cerebral cortex and the _____. • A) sympathetic nervous system • B) peripheral nervous system • C) heart and lungs • D) corpus collosum 551

3. According to Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome, we are most likely to become ill as the result of stress during the ___ phase. • A) alarm • B) resistance • C) exhaustion • D) recovery 553

4. Stress is related to the leading cause of death in the U.S., which is: • A) cancer. • B) coronary heart disease. • C) suicide. • D) stroke. 555

Research suggests that those with Type A personality could reduce their risk of heart disease if they would: • A) drink more alcohol. • B) sleep more. • C) let their anger out on a punching bag. • D) let go of their anger. 556

6. A psychophysiological illness is: • A) when a person is “faking” an illness. • B) a genuine illness caused by stress. • C) an illness that is simply “imagined”. • D) when a biological cause results in mental illness. 556

7. With regards to the relation of stress to illness: • A) too much stress can make us physically sick. • B) sickness is just a matter of how strong or weak the person is. • C) stress can weaken our immune system, making us more vulnerable to disease. • D) stress has to be life-threatening to be of any real impact to us. 558

8. Ader and Cohen (1985) performed an experiment with rats that demonstrated: • A) rats who were shocked had an increased risk of cancer. • B) cancer would spread faster under stress. • C) the immune system can be conditioned to respond to a placebo. • D) rats would develop “Type A” personalities under stress. 560

9. Besides the lymphocytes, our immune systems release ___, called the “big eaters”, to ingest foreign invaders. • A) macrophages • B) white blood cells • C) red blood cells • D) stress hormones 557

10. After the hurricane hit, those in the community helped each other clear the wreckage. This behavior demonstrates: • A) optimistic style. • B) tending and befriending. • C) emotion-focused coping. • D) problem-focused coping. 562

11. Being a pessimist: • A) can increase your level of stress. • B) can shorten your life. • C) can raise your blood pressure. • D) all of the above. 564

12. Mary has been suffering from the “blues”. Your recommendation is that she first try: • A) electric shock. • B) aerobic exercise. • C) Prozac. • D) psychoanalysis. 567

13. With regards to the effectiveness of biofeedback: • A) biofeedback is the most effective method for alleviating stress-related illnesses. • B) biofeedback is as effective as relaxation. • C) biofeedback is ineffective for alleviating stress. • D) biofeedback is a modern “Snake Oil” and only works because of a placebo effect. 569

14. When alternative medicine approaches, such as acupuncture, are scientifically tested, results: • A) are never as good as they promise. • B) can be quite convincing. • C) are explained as placebo effects. • D) cannot be replicated in the laboratory. 570

15. Regular religious attendance is a positive predictor of a longer life span. Researchers have identified three factors that explain this, including all of the following, except: • A) healthier life styles. • B) social support networks. • C) relaxed meditative style. • D) faith healing. 574

16. Eliminate this as one of your habits and you will increase your life expectancy better than any other preventive measure. • A) smoking • B) drinking • C) inactivity • D) losing your temper 576

17. Most smokers began ___ and were influenced by ___. • A) in their early 20’s; parents • B) in their teens; friends and movie idols • C) in their late 20’s; peers • D) in their teens; parents 578

18. The addictive ingredient in cigarettes is nicotine and it is: • A) more addictive than cocaine but less addictive than heroin. • B) more addictive than heroin and cocaine. • C) addictive, but not as much as heroin or cocaine. • D) not addictive if someone really wants to quit. 578

19. James, a regular smoker, hasn’t had a cigarette for a while.He is irritable, has difficulty sleeping, and anxiety, all signs of: • A) high levels of nicotine. • B) increased drug tolerance. • C) nicotine withdrawal. • D) resentment at being pressured to quit. 578

20. Lou is more likely to be a cigarette smoker if he: • A) is from the United States. • B) is less educated. • C) is wealthy. • D) is educated early as to its harmful effects. 579

21. Your BMI is a ratio of your: • A) weight and height. • B) fat to muscle. • C) food intake to calories burned. • D) none of the above. 582

22. People who eat less to diet may reach a weight level which is difficult to go below, even with more dieting. This level is called: • A) metabolism. • B) BMI. • C) a set point. • D) fat-to-muscle ratio. 584

Chapter 14: Stress and Health