VCE PSY U3AOS1 3C L&F Transactional Model of Stress & Coping

Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping illustrates stress as a biological process.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

Remember, Lazarus and Folkman’s model illustrates stress

as a psychological process, whereas Seyle’s GAS illustrates stress as a

biological response.

In Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, each appraisal stage is ______

and therefore unique to each individual.

Which of the following best fills in the blank?

• subjective

• objective

Answer explanation

Psychological processes are always subjective and

unique to each individual.

What are the two types of coping mechanisms outlined in Lazarus and Folkman’s model?

• Approach and avoidance strategies.

• Problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies.

• Stress-reduction and meditation strategies.

Answer explanation

Lazarus and Folkman use the language of problem-focused coping

strategies, which directly address the stressor, and emotion-focused

coping strategies, which indirectly deal with the stressor.

A limitation of Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping is that it assumes that individuals have self-awareness about their experience of stress.

• true

• false

Answer explanation

The model presents a linear process that relies on people being

aware of their mental processes, which is not always the case in real life.

Which of the following sentences is most correct?

• Primary appraisal is the initial process of evaluating the nature of an incoming stressor.

• Primary appraisal is the initial process of identifying a particular stressor.

Which of the following is most correct?

• Secondary appraisal is a process whereby an individual evaluates the resources they have available to cope with a stressor.

• Secondary appraisal is a process whereby an individual chooses between emotion and problem-based coping strategies.

According to the stage of primary appraisal in Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, why are ‘two-thirds of young Australians… concerned about the impact the pandemic is having on their education’?

• Because they likely view the stressor of the pandemic as stressful and a challenge, as it presents new ways of learning at school.

• Because they likely view the stressor of the pandemic as stressful and a threat, as they are struggling to learn and it will impact their future grades.

• Because they likely view the stressor of the pandemic as irrelevant and a harm/loss, as they can’t do anything about the school they are missing.

• Because they likely view the stressor of the pandemic as irrelevant and a threat, as they don’t think it should be impacting their education the way it is.

In terms of Lazarus and Folkman’s stage of secondary appraisal, why are ‘school-aged children… struggling with their mental health and wellbeing as a result of increased isolation, prolonged screen time, and increased uncertainty about the future’?

• Because emotion-based coping strategies are not adequate to reduce stress.

• Because students will likely have too many coping strategies to choose from, making it difficult to pick one.

• Because there are limited problem-based coping strategies available to reduce screen time and isolation during the pandemic, and children may not have developed adequate emotion-based coping strategies yet.

• Because they have reappraised the situation as a threat.

According to Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, during primary appraisal there is a/an

• use of problem-focused coping.

• assessment of whether more coping resources are needed

• use of emotion-focused coping.

• assessment of the nature of the stressor.

In Lazarus and Folkman’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, the difference between a primary appraisal and a secondary appraisal is that

• primary appraisal is subjective, while secondary appraisal is objective.

• primary appraisal involves emotion-focused coping strategies, while secondary involves problem-focused.

• primary appraisal assesses the nature of the stressor, while secondary appraisal assesses the coping resources

• primary appraisal assesses the coping resources available, while secondary appraisal reassesses this at

  a later stage.