PSYC 290 EXAM PREP UNITS 7-8 UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION 2025-2026
1. Stress response factors: - type of stressor, it's controllability
-biological factors, age, gender
-individuals previous experience with stress
Primary appraisal: initial evaluation of whether an event is 1) irrelevant 2) relevant but not threatening 3)
stressful (is this stressful?)
Secondary appraisal: an evaluation of coping resources and options for dealing with the stress (how
stressful is this?)
2. Four types of principal stress: frustration, conflict, life changes, pressure: expectations o
demands
3. Three basic types of conflict: Approach-approach: choice between two
attractive goals Avoidance-avoidance: choice between two unattractive goals
Approach-avoidance: choice whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive and unattractive
aspects (often produce vacillation)
4. Barbara Frederickson: broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions
5. General adaption syndrome: alarm (fight
or flight) resistance (prolonged stress)
exhaustion (resources are depleted)
6. Two major endocrine pathways: First pathway:
-hypothalamus activates sympathetic division of the ANS
-adrenal glands release catecholamines; heart rate and blood flow increase, respiration speed,
and oxygen alertness, digestive processes are inhibited, pupils dilate increasing increased
sensitivity
Second pathway:
-hypothalamus signals pituitary which secretes ACTH hormone, which stimulates release of corticosteroids
-stimulate release of chemicals that increase energy and inhibit tissue inflammation
7. Behavioural responses: Coping: adaptive or maladaptive; CISS (task-oriented, emotion-
oriented or avoidance-oriented)
Learned helplessnes
1/
19
, PSYC 290 EXAM PREP UNITS 7-8 UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION 2025-2026
Blaming oneself
Aggression
2/
19
, PSYC 290 Exam Prep Units
7-8
Displacement: diversion to substitute
target Catharsis: Frued; release of
emotional tension Self-indulgence:
including internet use
8. Defensive and constructive coping: Defensive: not optimal, distorting reality, commo
uncon-
scious
Constructive: healthful ettorts, realistic, regulation
9. Psychosomatic diseases: genuine physical ailments that were thought to be caused in part
by stress and other psychological factors
10. Relationship between emotional reactions, depression, and
heart disease: - brief periods of mental stress can trigger acute symptoms of heart disease;
anger is particularly dangerous
-triggers increases in inflammation that contributes to cardiovascular risk
-depression; doubles chance of developing heart disease
-longitudinal study showed participants with major depression had triple the risk of cardiac death
11. Immune response and stress: body's defensive reaction to invasion; multifaceted
but depend heavily on actions initiated by specialized white blood cells - lymphocytes
-blood samples link stress with reduced immune activity
-association between stress and rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, diabetes, herpes, irritable bowel
syndrome, high blood pressure, hypertension
-acute and chronic stressors have ditterent ettects on the body
-immune system responds by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines; in charge of immune activities
that kill the pathogen and repair damaged tissue- chronic stress can foster persistent overproduction of
proinflammatory cytokines leading to chronic inflammation
-inflammation contributes to arthritis, ostereporossis, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer's, cancer
-possibility of a third variable - personality, genetics, exposure to infectious agents, nutrition, exercise, alcohol
and drug use, medical care; strength of relationship between stress and health is modest
3/
19
ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION 2025-2026
1. Stress response factors: - type of stressor, it's controllability
-biological factors, age, gender
-individuals previous experience with stress
Primary appraisal: initial evaluation of whether an event is 1) irrelevant 2) relevant but not threatening 3)
stressful (is this stressful?)
Secondary appraisal: an evaluation of coping resources and options for dealing with the stress (how
stressful is this?)
2. Four types of principal stress: frustration, conflict, life changes, pressure: expectations o
demands
3. Three basic types of conflict: Approach-approach: choice between two
attractive goals Avoidance-avoidance: choice between two unattractive goals
Approach-avoidance: choice whether to pursue a single goal that has both attractive and unattractive
aspects (often produce vacillation)
4. Barbara Frederickson: broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions
5. General adaption syndrome: alarm (fight
or flight) resistance (prolonged stress)
exhaustion (resources are depleted)
6. Two major endocrine pathways: First pathway:
-hypothalamus activates sympathetic division of the ANS
-adrenal glands release catecholamines; heart rate and blood flow increase, respiration speed,
and oxygen alertness, digestive processes are inhibited, pupils dilate increasing increased
sensitivity
Second pathway:
-hypothalamus signals pituitary which secretes ACTH hormone, which stimulates release of corticosteroids
-stimulate release of chemicals that increase energy and inhibit tissue inflammation
7. Behavioural responses: Coping: adaptive or maladaptive; CISS (task-oriented, emotion-
oriented or avoidance-oriented)
Learned helplessnes
1/
19
, PSYC 290 EXAM PREP UNITS 7-8 UPDATED QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS | NEWEST VERSION 2025-2026
Blaming oneself
Aggression
2/
19
, PSYC 290 Exam Prep Units
7-8
Displacement: diversion to substitute
target Catharsis: Frued; release of
emotional tension Self-indulgence:
including internet use
8. Defensive and constructive coping: Defensive: not optimal, distorting reality, commo
uncon-
scious
Constructive: healthful ettorts, realistic, regulation
9. Psychosomatic diseases: genuine physical ailments that were thought to be caused in part
by stress and other psychological factors
10. Relationship between emotional reactions, depression, and
heart disease: - brief periods of mental stress can trigger acute symptoms of heart disease;
anger is particularly dangerous
-triggers increases in inflammation that contributes to cardiovascular risk
-depression; doubles chance of developing heart disease
-longitudinal study showed participants with major depression had triple the risk of cardiac death
11. Immune response and stress: body's defensive reaction to invasion; multifaceted
but depend heavily on actions initiated by specialized white blood cells - lymphocytes
-blood samples link stress with reduced immune activity
-association between stress and rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, diabetes, herpes, irritable bowel
syndrome, high blood pressure, hypertension
-acute and chronic stressors have ditterent ettects on the body
-immune system responds by releasing pro-inflammatory cytokines; in charge of immune activities
that kill the pathogen and repair damaged tissue- chronic stress can foster persistent overproduction of
proinflammatory cytokines leading to chronic inflammation
-inflammation contributes to arthritis, ostereporossis, respiratory diseases, Alzheimer's, cancer
-possibility of a third variable - personality, genetics, exposure to infectious agents, nutrition, exercise, alcohol
and drug use, medical care; strength of relationship between stress and health is modest
3/
19
