PSYCH 2035 Final Exam Practice Questions
Chapter 3 — Stress & Its Effects
1. Which of the following best describes an acute stressor?
A. A stressor that develops gradually over months or years
B. A short-term demanding event that requires immediate adaptation
C. A chronic environmental condition such as poverty
D. A personality trait that predisposes someone to anxiety
E. A physiological disorder caused solely by infection
Answer: B
2. The “fight-or-flight” response is primarily associated with activation of
the:
A. Parasympathetic nervous system
B. Limbic system only
C. Sympathetic nervous system
D. Hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis
E. Somatic nervous system
Answer: C
3. Which type of conflict involves choosing between two attractive
alternatives?
A. Approach-avoidance conflict
B. Avoidance-avoidance conflict
C. Double approach-avoidance conflict
D. Approach-approach conflict
E. Multiple-approach conflict
Answer: D
Chapter 4 — Coping Processes
4. Problem-focused coping typically involves:
A. Minimizing the emotional impact without changing the situation
B. Seeking social support only for emotional release
C. Taking steps to change or eliminate the stressor
D. Avoiding the stressor through denial and distraction
E. Using alcohol to reduce stress-related arousal
Answer: C
, 5. Which coping style is most likely to be used when someone perceives
a situation as uncontrollable?
A. Problem-focused coping
B. Emotion-focused coping
C. Active coping with confrontation
D. Instrumental coping exclusively
E. Systematic desensitization
Answer: B
6. Social support is generally linked to better health outcomes because
it:
A. Eliminates all stressors from life
B. Always leads to financial gain
C. Buffers the impact of stress and provides resources
D. Is only effective for physical illnesses, not mental health
E. Guarantees immunity from disease
Answer: C
Chapter 5 — Psychology and Physical Health
7. Which term refers to physical symptoms that are caused or worsened
by psychological factors?
A. Primary gain
B. Somatic symptom disorder / psychosomatic illness
C. Conversion disorder only
D. Placebo response exclusively
E. Infectious disease
Answer: B
8. Chronic stress increases risk for cardiovascular disease primarily
through:
A. Improved immune function
B. Reduction in blood pressure
C. Repeated activation of physiological stress systems (e.g., elevated
blood pressure, cholesterol changes)
D. Complete elimination of cortisol production
E. Decreased platelet aggregation
Answer: C
9. The health behavior most consistently linked to increased mortality
worldwide is:
Chapter 3 — Stress & Its Effects
1. Which of the following best describes an acute stressor?
A. A stressor that develops gradually over months or years
B. A short-term demanding event that requires immediate adaptation
C. A chronic environmental condition such as poverty
D. A personality trait that predisposes someone to anxiety
E. A physiological disorder caused solely by infection
Answer: B
2. The “fight-or-flight” response is primarily associated with activation of
the:
A. Parasympathetic nervous system
B. Limbic system only
C. Sympathetic nervous system
D. Hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis
E. Somatic nervous system
Answer: C
3. Which type of conflict involves choosing between two attractive
alternatives?
A. Approach-avoidance conflict
B. Avoidance-avoidance conflict
C. Double approach-avoidance conflict
D. Approach-approach conflict
E. Multiple-approach conflict
Answer: D
Chapter 4 — Coping Processes
4. Problem-focused coping typically involves:
A. Minimizing the emotional impact without changing the situation
B. Seeking social support only for emotional release
C. Taking steps to change or eliminate the stressor
D. Avoiding the stressor through denial and distraction
E. Using alcohol to reduce stress-related arousal
Answer: C
, 5. Which coping style is most likely to be used when someone perceives
a situation as uncontrollable?
A. Problem-focused coping
B. Emotion-focused coping
C. Active coping with confrontation
D. Instrumental coping exclusively
E. Systematic desensitization
Answer: B
6. Social support is generally linked to better health outcomes because
it:
A. Eliminates all stressors from life
B. Always leads to financial gain
C. Buffers the impact of stress and provides resources
D. Is only effective for physical illnesses, not mental health
E. Guarantees immunity from disease
Answer: C
Chapter 5 — Psychology and Physical Health
7. Which term refers to physical symptoms that are caused or worsened
by psychological factors?
A. Primary gain
B. Somatic symptom disorder / psychosomatic illness
C. Conversion disorder only
D. Placebo response exclusively
E. Infectious disease
Answer: B
8. Chronic stress increases risk for cardiovascular disease primarily
through:
A. Improved immune function
B. Reduction in blood pressure
C. Repeated activation of physiological stress systems (e.g., elevated
blood pressure, cholesterol changes)
D. Complete elimination of cortisol production
E. Decreased platelet aggregation
Answer: C
9. The health behavior most consistently linked to increased mortality
worldwide is:
