Chapter 4

Learning Objectives 

After reading this chapter, one should be able to answer the following questions: 

1. What is a stressor? 
2. What are the components of the stress process? 
3. What are examples of different ways to categorize coping responses? 
4. How can social support theoretically be related to various stress reactions? 
5. How is resilience defined?  
6. What are the three characteristics associated with resilience? 

Test your knowledge of this chapter with this quiz!  

Question 1

Among the stress model variables that Dohrenwend identified, we would find all of the following BUT NOT

coping skills

social support

material resources

gender

None

Question 2

Stimulus events that evoke distress are known as:

stressors

catalysts

inhibitors

rare occurrences

None

Question 3

Chronic social stressors may contribute to the heightened risk of physical disorders.

TRUE

FALSE

None

Question 4

Emotional approach coping tries to

identify emotions as they arise

understand emotions

express emotions

all of the above

None

Question 5

Collectivist coping

is the same as individualist coping

includes sharing one’s feelings with one’s family

looks to see what can be learned from one’s stresses

both b and c

None

Question 6

Resiliency is defined as:

a personality variable which determines individual success in life.

a process by which individuals in high risk situations none the less succeed.

a specific behavior setting which produces adaptation to life’s demands.

Both b and c.

None

Question 7

Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) effects include all but which of the following?

health risk behaviors

disease and disability

poor attachment with parents

early death

None

Question 8

Telling a racist joke is an example of:

microassaults

microinsults

bad sense of humor

microinvalidations

None

Question 9

It would appear that social support is especially important when a person…

can control the stressors presented.

can understand the stressors presented.

believes they cannot control the stressors presented.

has a sense of stressors not being relevant to them.

None

Question 10

___________ argued against Rappaport’s disdain for stress. S(he) said that psychological wellness derives from a person’s ability to deal with stress.

Dohrenwend

Reid

Cowen

Oliver

None

Time’s up

Study Questions 

1. The stress process, and its impact on people, can be influenced by many factors. What do you think are the most effective ways that the negative effects of stress can be minimized? Are certain approaches more realistic than others? 
2. Coping has been described and categorized in a variety of ways. What do you think are the reasons that certain coping styles may be used even if their benefits are short-lived (e.g. avoidance coping)? 
3. Knowing what you do about resilience, do you think that resiliency can be taught or developed in people and if so, what would be involved in doing so? 

Additional Resources 

• “How to combat microaggressions” (Derald Wing Sue): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yoPALA-Q1A 
• The Psychology of Racism: Where Have We Gone Wrong? (Derald Wing Sue): https://video.alexanderstreet.com/watch/the-psychology-of-racism-where-have-we-gone-wrong 
• “Stress: Portrait of a Killer” (National Geographic Specials): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYFZAYenR20