PSYC 386 Quiz 1 - Effects of Stress (2015)

Quiz 1 on Effects of Stress 

Purpose: It is very important for a counselor or psychologist to understand the effects of stress on the body and how to control or combat these effects. So, one purpose of this exam is to give you some practice on the subject of stress that you might encounter. Each of the following multiple choice questions is worth one-half point. To submit your answers, simply enter your answers by placing the correct letter next to the number of the question. For example. 1. a 2. b. 3. c. etc.

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1. Susanna is happy, but very excited, as she makes plans for a large and elaborate wedding with more than 200 guests. Which of the following is most likely TRUE?

a. She is probably showing symptoms of distress.

b. She probably showing symptoms of eustress.

c. She is probably overly emotional.

d. Since marriage is a happy event, she has no reason to be stressed.

2. Each April at tax filing time, Carl the tax accountant notices that when he is very busy and highly stressed, he tends to get ill, but in the summer, when he has nothing to do, he feels bored and without stress, but he also gets ill. This phenomenon is BEST explained by the fact that _______________.

a. Carl is probably experiencing too much eustress.

b. Carl does not know how to control stress.

c. Too much or too little stress contributes to illness.

d. His illness is explained only by seasonal stress, including changes in sunlight and /vitamin /d absorption.

3. The sleepy lifeguard at the beach hears a swimmer yell for help. His brain reacts by ordering the endocrine system to activate the powerful stress hormone ______________, pouring glucose sugar into his bloodstream to provide immediate arousal and energy.

a. testosterone

b. cortisol

c. salicylic acid

d. prednisone

4. As Gary walks down a dark alley, he suddenly senses a large shadow directly in his path. Which of the following physiological reactions is LEAST likely?

a. His heartbeat increases.

b. His blood pressure increases.

c. His mouth saliva level increases.

d. His stomach digestive activity slows down.

5. Immediately after rescuing a child from a house fire, the firefighter notices that he seems less excited and calmer. This is because the ___________________ is taking over to help his body conserve energy after an outburst of extreme activity.

a. parasympathetic nervous system

b. sympathetic nervous system

c. thyroid gland

d. liver

6. As Marge approaches her house alone at night, she thinks she sees and hears someone hiding in the bushes near the side door. Which of her following bodily functions are MOST likely to occur?

a. Her eye pupils will dilate.

b. Her heart rate will decrease.

c. Her blood pressure will decrease.

d. Her digestive functions will increase.

7. As Don sits in class, ready to take a final exam, he becomes aware that his neck and shoulder muscles are very tense. This condition is BEST explained as ________________.

a. an example of bracing

b. an example of galvanic skin response

c. action of the parasympathetic nervous system

d. the result of decreased blood pressure

8. A police technician administers a "lie detector" test to a burglary suspect. The test is mostly based on the the concept of detecting changes in ______________________ resulting from increased stress.

a. glucosomine

b. cortisol

c.galvanic skin response

d. higher levels of saliva output

9. Since her divorce, Melinda is very depressed and pessimistic about life and feels overwhelmed by stress about the many suspense files she has to work on at her secretarial job. Which of the following about her condition is LEAST likely to occur?

a. her serum cholesterol levels will increase

b.her T-cell count will increase

c. her amount of bracing will increase

d. her chance of heart disease will decrease

10. Al, a mechanic at a large auto repair shop, is known as a difficult, hard-to-satisfy person, often critical of his fellow workers, full of complaints, and easy to anger. His ___________________ personality and aggressive behavior are most likely to result in ____________________.

a. Type A; low cortisol levels

b. Type B; high cortisol levels

c.Type A; coronary heart disease

d. Type B; ulcers

11. Lois is a very busy wife, mother and office manager who often complains of being "overloaded" with responsibilities and claims she gets through the day only by drinking large amounts of coffee and nibbling on chocolate. Lately, she has begun complaining of severe headaches and sensitivity to noise and bright lights. Her problem is probably best explained as _______________, due to __________________.

a. migraine; affecting blood flow to the head

b. bracing of neck muscles; poor diet

c. poor diet; ulcers

d.Type A behavior; extreme anxiety

12. Johnny, age 11, is very anxious and stressed about his new school. His mother is concerned to learn that he has started grinding his teeth during sleep. His condition is probably best explained as _______________.

a. an overactive parasympathetic system

b.bruxism or TMJ syndrome

c. tension headaches

d. an anti-immune response

13. After his messy divorce, Norton complained constantly of severe back pain. He was examined by several medical doctors, but they could not find any physical reason for his reported back pain. Which of the following statements about Norton is most likely TRUE?

a.He suffers from psychological or mental illness.

b. His parasympathetic system is probably malfunctioning.

c. His problem is most likely psychosomatic.

d. His problem is most likely just due to bracing.

14. After suffering for years from severe depression, Ellen learns that her husband has been unfaithful in their marriage and soon thereafter she is diagnosed with cancer. Which of the following statements is most likely FALSE?

a. She probably has a low immune response.

b. She probably suffers from a psychosomatic condition.

c. She probably has lowered levels of T-cells.

d.She probably has a reduced chance of recovery.

15. Marie was raised by a very strict father and grew up to be a tense, stressed and self-sacrificing perfectionist, always expecting the best performance from herself, but shy in the presence of others. In her forties, she suffered a painful stiffening of her hands. This physiological development is most likely explained by _________________.

a. poor circulation (respiratory system difficulty)

b.PTSD, due to family trauma

c. T-cell deficiencies

d. rheumatoid arthritis, due to an autoimmune response

16. When Carl was six years old, the family home burned down. His father was severely burned trying to rescue Carl and the family pet died in the fire. To this day, Carl, now a grown man, is so disturbed by news reports of house fires that he immediately has to get up and turn off the TV. Which of the following is most likely FALSE?

a. His parasympathetic system causes his reaction.

b. His heart rate increases.

c. His breathing increases.

d. His reaction is probably related to PTSD.

17. As Harry (age 9) walks through the woods near his home one morning, he suddenly sees a large snake in his path. According to research by _____________, he is most likely EITHER to turn and run away or to try to strike the snake with anything at hand, a reaction known as ________________.

a.Walter Cannon; flight-or-fight response

b. Carl Simonton; visualization

c. Richard Lazarus; stress and coping/hassles

d. Hans Selye; physiological response to stress

18. A fire chief directs his exhausted firefighters fighting a huge forest fire to prevent the flames from reaching some homes. After 14 straight hours, no matter how much he urges them to keep at it, the fire crew can no longer rouse themselves and their performance declines. This behavior is best explained by _____________________.

a. the fight or flight reaction

b. Friedman and Rosenman's Type A behavior pattern

c. Selye's physiological responses to stress

d. Lazarus' stress and coping hassles

19. As Jake and Jimmy (both aged 12) walk along a river bank, they spot the body of a drowning victim. Jake is very stressed and immediately wants to turn and run away, but Jimmy is less stressed and convinces Jake that they should carefully note the exact location of the victim and tell the police. The difference in their reaction is best explained as a difference in _________________________.

a. their maturity levels

b. perception and cognitive appraisal

c. mental age and cognitive ability

d. courage and coping ability

20. Paula admits she loves chocolate and drinks too much coffee. She also complains that she has trouble sleeping and feels stressed most of the time. This connection is best explained by the relationship between certain foods known as __________________ and stress-like reactions.

a.excess acidic substances

b. digestive stomach juices

c. Vitamin C simulators

d. pseudostressors