Many students tend to develop illnesses in the days before final exams. A psychologist who notes that students become stressed as well during this time may attempt to claim that the reason for the increase in student illness is that __________.
Briefly describe the difference between a Type A personality and a Type B personality in regard to stress. List two characteristics of each personality.
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Individuals with Type A personalities are generally more prone to inflicting self-imposed stress and have more intense reactions to stress than those with Type B personalities. Individuals with Type A personalities are often highly motivated, aggressive, impatient, time-conscious, competitive, perfectionistic, and quick to anger. Individuals with Type B personalities are often more relaxed, patient, easygoing, and amicable.
Explain how a positive life change can be stressful. Provide an example.
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: A positive life change can still evoke stress because any change that requires one to adjust to a new situation or surrounding can be a source of stress, even if it is positive. For example, most would consider a marriage or the birth of a child to be a positive life change. However, these events can also be judged as stressful due to the adjustments that must be made to compensate for the change. Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: A positive life change can still evoke stress because any change that requires one to adjust to a new situation or surrounding can be a source of stress. For example, most would consider a marriage or the birth of a child to be a positive life change. However, these events can also be judged as stressful due to the adjustments that must be made to compensate for the change.
Differentiate between the three types of conflicts that can lead to stress. Provide an example of each.
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Three types of conflict that can lead to stress are approach-approach conflict, avoidance-approach conflict, and avoidance-avoidance conflict. In approach-approach conflicts, someone is being asked to make a choice between two very attractive choices. For example, this happens when someone must decide between two favorite snacks to purchase. Avoidance-approach conflicts happen when someone is trying to decide whether or not to do something that has both positive and negative aspects. For example, wanting to ask someone to prom but being afraid of rejection results in an avoidance-approach conflict. Finally, an avoidance-avoidance conflict occurs when someone must choose between two very uncomfortable choices. For example, playing sports on an injured knee or having to miss sports to recover from surgery is an avoidance-avoidance conflict. Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Three types of conflict that can lead to stress are approach-approach conflict, avoidance-approach conflict, and avoidance-avoidance conflict. In approach-approach conflicts, someone is being asked to make a choice between two very attractive choices. For example, this happens when someone must decide between two favorite snacks to purchase. Avoidance-approach conflicts happen when someone is trying to decide whether or not to do something that has both positive and negative aspects. For example, wanting to ask someone to prom but being afraid of rejection results in an avoidance-approach conflict. Finally, an avoidance-avoidance conflict occurs when someone must choose between two very uncomfortable choices. For example, playing sports on an injured knee or having to miss sports to recover from surgery is an avoidance-avoidance conflict.
How is it possible that people experiencing the same life experiences are not affected in the same way?
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: How a person is affected by a stressful situation has a lot to do with how that person perceives the situation. For example, one person may place more value on a specific situation while another does not. Therefore, two individuals would differ in how they react to an unpleasant outcome of the situation. How a person copes with experiences that cause stress has to do with the culture a person comes from and what one learned from watching other people. Another way that the effects of stress can vary from person to person has to do with the amount of social support available to the individual.
Briefly describe how cultural beliefs and values can cause stress for people in individualistic cultures as compared to people in collectivistic cultures.
Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: People who are generally more optimistic tend to handle stress in a more adaptive way than people who are more pessimistic. Optimistic individuals, or those who generally tend to expect good outcomes, often have better health and less depression than pessimistic individuals, or people that tend to expect the worst. Responses may vary but should include some or all of the following information: Cultural beliefs and values generally influence what individuals consider important to strive for or accomplish. Given that cultures differ in societal beliefs and values, what causes individuals stress can differ as well. Individuals in individualist cultures, for example, may experience stress as a result of pressure to become autonomous and independent, whereas individuals in collectivistic cultures may experience more stress as a result of pressure to maintain group harmony and connections with others. Despite what is valued by one’s culture, if an individual feels limited in striving to achieve what is defined as “important” by their culture, stress can result.
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