Understanding Stress and Its Management

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of NREM Stage 3 sleep?

Physical restoration (correct)

Emotional processing

Relaxation and slowing of bodily processes

Memory consolidation

Which of the following accurately describes bottom-up processing?

Making predictions based on context

Interpreting sensory input based on prior knowledge

Relying on emotional cues for understanding

Building perception from sensory details (correct)

What is a significant effect of sleep apnea?

Cardiovascular problems (correct)

Increased memory retention

Improved cognitive functioning

Enhanced emotional stability

Which statement best defines drug tolerance?

The body requires larger doses to achieve the same effect Signup and view all the answers

What is a common characteristic of narcolepsy?

Sudden attacks of sleep during the day Signup and view all the answers

What can be a fatal outcome of drug interactions?

Respiratory failure Signup and view all the answers

Which sleep disorder is characterized by disrupted sleep due to uncontrollable leg movements?

Restless Leg Syndrome Signup and view all the answers

What best describes the function of REM sleep?

Emotional processing and memory integration Signup and view all the answers

What does comorbidity refer to?

The presence of two or more disorders in the same individual. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is associated with depressive disorders?

Persistent sadness. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes cognitive therapy from other therapeutic approaches?

Addressing distorted thinking patterns. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following disorders is an example of anxiety disorder?

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Signup and view all the answers

Which therapeutic approach combines cognitive and behavioral techniques?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Signup and view all the answers

Who among the following can prescribe medication?

Primary care physicians. Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary characteristic of schizophrenia?

Delusions and hallucinations. Signup and view all the answers

Which therapeutic approach is known for being less evidence-based?

Psychoanalysis. Signup and view all the answers

What type of conditioning is demonstrated when a dog learns to salivate at the sound of a bell due to its association with food?

Classical Conditioning Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes positive reinforcement?

Adding a pleasant stimulus to encourage a behavior Signup and view all the answers

In which type of memory do you store facts such as the capitals of countries?

Semantic Memory Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios illustrates negative punishment?

Taking away a toy for not doing homework Signup and view all the answers

What is the predicted effect on behavior with a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement?

Steady, high response rate Signup and view all the answers

Which conditioning term refers to the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase a specific behavior?

Negative Reinforcement Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of procedural memory?

Knowing how to ride a bicycle Signup and view all the answers

Which schedule of reinforcement provides rewards at unpredictable intervals, leading to a steady response rate?

Variable-Interval Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

The prioritization of needs for human motivation. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of intelligence is characterized by the ability to solve new problems and declines with age?

Fluid Intelligence Signup and view all the answers

What do reliability and validity represent in psychological testing?

Reliability refers to consistency; validity refers to accuracy. Signup and view all the answers

What is considered an example of a physiological need in Maslow's hierarchy?

Access to clean water Signup and view all the answers

How does metacognition influence learning?

It helps individuals regulate their cognitive processes. Signup and view all the answers

In terms of IQ ranges, what classification corresponds to an IQ below 70?

Intellectual disability Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of displacement in psychological terms?

Yelling at a friend after a bad day at work. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes crystallized intelligence?

It grows with experience and remains stable into later life. Signup and view all the answers

What primary aspects does health psychology focus on?

Promoting well-being through health behaviors Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the physiological component of stress?

Increased cortisol levels Signup and view all the answers

In which stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome does the body first react to a stressor?

Alarm Stage Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy for reducing stress is known for enhancing both physical and mental health?

Exercise Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of psychopathology in psychology?

Studying mental disorders and their treatments Signup and view all the answers

What effect can chronic stress have on the immune system?

It can weaken the immune system Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an identified effectiveness of mindfulness and meditation?

Enhanced physical strength Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary benefit of social support in stress management?

It builds resilience and reduces feelings of isolation Signup and view all the answers

What does Milgram's obedience experiment primarily demonstrate about human behavior?

The power of authority can significantly influence individuals to obey. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental attribution error?

The tendency to overemphasize personal traits and underestimate situational factors. Signup and view all the answers

How does actor-observer bias differ from the fundamental attribution error?

Actor-observer bias focuses on situational factors for self and personal traits for others. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of social facilitation on performance?

It enhances performance on familiar tasks but hinders performance on challenging tasks. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of social loafing?

A decrease in individual effort when contributions are less identifiable. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario best illustrates social facilitation?

An experienced pianist plays better at a concert with an audience. Signup and view all the answers

What social judgment issue does the fundamental attribution error contribute to?

An incomplete understanding of the complexities of human motivation. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about Milgram's experiment and its ethical implications is accurate?

It raised significant concerns about the psychological impact on participants. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Defining Stress

Stress is the body's response to perceived threats or challenges.
Psychological components include feelings of anxiety, frustration, or helplessness.
Physiological components involve activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, increased cortisol levels, and physical symptoms like rapid heart rate.

General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS)

Selye's GAS outlines the body's response to prolonged stress.
Three stages:
- Alarm Stage: Immediate reaction to a stressor, characterized by a "fight or flight" response and increased adrenaline and energy.
- Resistance Stage: The body attempts to adapt and cope with the stressor, however, resources become depleted.
- Exhaustion Stage: Resources are depleted, leading to burnout, illness, and possible weakening of the immune system.

Strategies to Reduce Stress

Exercise: Reduces cortisol and improves mood through endorphin release.
Mindfulness/Meditation: Focuses on the present moment to reduce anxiety.
Social Support: Sharing concerns with friends or family, builds resilience and reduces feelings of isolation.
Time Management: Prioritizing tasks to avoid overload, improves control over responsibilities.

Psychopathology

Psychopathology is the study of mental disorders, encompassing their symptoms, causes, and treatments.
It's crucial for understanding and addressing abnormal behaviors.
It facilitates the development of effective diagnostic tools and therapeutic interventions, improving mental health.

Comorbidity

Comorbidity refers to the presence of two or more disorders in the same individual.
It's important to consider in diagnosis and treatment to avoid missing aspects of a patient's condition and ensure a holistic approach to care.
Example: Anxiety disorder and depression often co-occur impacting diagnosis and treatment.

Different Therapeutic Approaches

Psychoanalysis focuses on unconscious conflicts.
Behavior therapy targets observable behaviors through conditioning.
Cognitive therapy addresses distorted thinking patterns.
Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy and self-growth.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) combines cognitive and behavioral techniques.

Common Defense Mechanisms

Repression: Blocking painful memories.
Denial: Refusing to acknowledge reality.
Projection: Attributing one's feelings to others.
Rationalization: Justifying behavior with plausible reasons.
Displacement: Redirecting emotions to a safer target.

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Physiological needs: Food, water, shelter (basic necessities).
Safety needs: Security, stability.
Love and belonging needs: Relationships, social connections.
Esteem needs: Recognition, self-respect.
Self-actualization needs: Fulfillment of potential.
Individuals prioritize lower-level needs before addressing higher-level aspirations.

Intelligence

Fluid intelligence: Ability to solve novel problems and think abstractly peaks in early adulthood, declines with age.
Crystallized intelligence: Acquired knowledge and skills accumulated through experience; increases with age and remains stable.

Reliability and Validity

Reliability: Consistency of a test over time; ensures stable and repeatable results.
Validity: Accuracy of a test; ensures it assesses the intended construct.
Both are crucial for meaningful and credible inferences.

Memory

Semantic memory: General knowledge (e.g., capital of France).
Procedural memory: Skills and tasks (e.g., riding a bicycle).
Declarative memory: Facts and events (e.g., recalling a birthday party).
Episodic memory: Personal experiences tied to specific times and places (e.g., remembering a graduation day).

IQ Ranges

Below 70: Intellectual disability.
70-89: Below average.
90-109: Average.
110-119: Above average.
120-129: Superior.
130 and above: Gifted.

Metacognition

Metacognition involves awareness and regulation of one's own thinking processes.
Key role in learning: learners identify knowledge gaps, choose strategies, and improve problem-solving skills—making learning more efficient and personalized.

Placebo Effect

The placebo effect is improvement due to expectation.
Highlights how psychological factors can influence physical health.

Milgram's Obedience Experiment

Participants obeyed authority by administering shocks to another person despite moral discomfort.
Implications: Highlights the power of authority and emphasizes ethical concerns in research.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personal traits and underestimate situational factors when evaluating others' behavior.
Causes biased social judgments and misunderstanding of others' actions.

Actor-Observer Bias

Tendency to attribute own actions to situational factors but others' actions to personal traits.
Comparison with fundamental attribution error: Both highlight cognitive biases in understanding behavior; fundamental attribution error focuses on other's behavior; actor-observer bias focuses on differences in attributions for self vs others.

The tendency for individuals to perform better on simple tasks and worse on complex tasks when in the presence of others.

The tendency for individuals to exert less effort in a group setting when individual contributions are not easily identifiable.

Groupthink

A phenomenon where the desire for harmony and conformity leads to irrational decisions.
Consequences include suppression of dissenting opinions, overestimation of the group's abilities, poor decision-making, and lack of critical evaluation.

Foot-in-the-Door Effect

Getting someone to agree to a small request first increases the likelihood of them agreeing to a larger request later.

Low-Ball Technique

Getting someone to commit to a favorable deal and then changing the terms to be less favorable after commitment.

Self-Handicapping

Creating obstacles to one's success to have an excuse for potential failure.

Cognitive Dissonance

Psychological discomfort from conflicting beliefs or attitudes.
Resolution strategies involve changing beliefs, adding new cognitions, or changing behaviors.

Overlearning

Practicing a skill beyond initial mastery to make it automatic and resistant to forgetting.

Upward and Downward Comparisons

Upward comparisons: Comparing oneself to someone better off. (Can inspire or create inadequacy.)
Downward comparisons: Comparing oneself to someone worse off. (Boosts self-esteem but might lead to complacency.)

Token Economy

A system of reinforcement where individuals earn tokens for desired behavior, exchangeable for rewards (e.g., classroom).

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Description

This quiz explores the definitions of stress, including its psychological and physiological components. It covers the General Adaptation Syndrome and provides various strategies to reduce stress effectively. Test your knowledge on how to cope with stress and improve your well-being.