WorksheetsFoundational Definitions and Stress Models
Total questions: 15
Worksheet time: 8mins
Which sequence correctly lists Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome stages in order?
Alarm, Resistance, Exhaustion
Resistance, Alarm, Exhaustion
Resistance, Exhaustion, Alarm
Alarm, Exhaustion, Resistance
A key criticism of the General Adaptation Syndrome is that it:
Measures stress only as a cognitive appraisal
Treats responses to stress as highly variable
Explains individual differences with precision
Assigns limited role to psychological factors
Secondary appraisal focuses primarily on which question?
Is this event good, neutral, or bad in consequences?
Will oxytocin release promote affiliative behavior now?
Do I have sufficient coping abilities for this situation?
Has harm already occurred or is harm only potential?
According to the tend-and-befriend perspective, what additional response to stress may occur alongside fight-or-flight?
Immediate physiological shutdown to conserve resources
Increased solitary problem-solving without social contact
Social affiliation and nurturant behaviors toward others
Inhibition of all emotional responses to stressors
Which sequence correctly traces hormone flow along the HPA axis depicted in the diagram?
CRH → ACTH → Cortisol
ACTH → CRH → Cortisol
Cortisol → CRH → ACTH
CRH → Cortisol → ACTH
What is the physiological role of cortisol highlighted in the material when released via HPA activation?
Increase sweating and vessel constriction
Conserve carbohydrate stores and reduce inflammation
Directly elevate heart rate via adrenal medulla
Trigger norepinephrine release from sympathetic nerves
Which outcome is most directly linked to prolonged cortisol exposure through HPA axis activation?
Increased gastric motility and rapid digestion
Improved immune surveillance and wound healing
Peripheral fat deposition on hips and thighs
Destruction of hippocampal neurons and memory deficits
Enhanced hippocampal neurogenesis and attention
Which option lists a category under chronic stress types?
Cognitive stress from intensive memory training
Financial stress from investment portfolio volatility
Metabolic stress from prolonged fasting and ketosis
Environmental stress related to where you live and work
Emotional stress in the chronic stress framework refers primarily to
Difficult emotions such as anger, sadness, or frustration
Physiological arousal during competitive athletics
Nervous system adaptation after meditation practice
Transient mood shifts after caffeine consumption
Work stress is best characterized as
Temporary excitement before a vacation or celebration
Challenges and pressures related to your job responsibilities
Physiological strain from altitude and hypoxia exposure
Cognitive load from solving a single math problem
Which scenario most likely illustrates environmental stress as defined in the material?
Experiencing brief nerves before public speaking
Completing a challenging workout at the gym
Feeling sad after a single disappointing grade
Living near constant traffic noise and crowded housing
A likely long‑term consequence of severe early childhood stress is
Increased health risks due to altered stress regulation
Uniformly lower heart rate across all daily activities
Permanent enhancement of learning and memory recall
Complete immunity to future stressful life events
Which best differentiates chronic stress from acute stress in these categories?
Chronic cannot involve workplace factors or demands
Chronic only affects emotional domains, not physical
Chronic is always more intense than acute episodes
Chronic persists over time across contexts and roles
PTSD is most closely triggered by
Severely traumatic or highly stressful life events
Inherited eye color and basic genetic polymorphisms
Consistently eating a high‑fiber Mediterranean diet
Voluntary exposure to mild daily inconveniences
Which choice would NOT be categorized as relationship stress here?
Strained communication with family about caregiving
Balancing competing deadlines in multiple departments
Chronic conflict with a romantic partner over finances
Ongoing tension with a co‑worker about task roles
