Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) Quiz for AP Psychology Students

🧠 Quick Study Guide: Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)

• 📚 Definition: The SRRS, developed by Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe, is a scale designed to measure stress levels by assigning "Life Change Units" (LCUs) to various life events.
• 📊 Purpose: Helps quantify the amount of stress an individual has experienced over a specific period (usually the past year), correlating higher scores with increased likelihood of illness.
• 🌍 Key Concept: Stress is not just negative events; positive events (like marriage or vacation) also require adjustment and can contribute to stress.
• 🔢 Scoring: Each event has a specific LCU value (e.g., Death of a Spouse = 100, Marriage = 50, Vacation = 13). Higher total LCUs mean higher stress.
• 📉 Interpretation: Scores over 300 LCUs in a year suggest a high risk of developing stress-related health problems. Scores between 150-299 indicate a moderate risk.
• 🗓️ Timeframe: Typically asks about events experienced in the last 6-12 months.
• 💡 Criticism: Doesn't account for individual differences in coping, perceived stress, or the desirability of events. It's a general measure.

📝 Practice Quiz: SRRS for AP Psychology

1. Which psychologists developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS)?

   A) Stanley Milgram and Philip Zimbardo

   B) David Rosenhan and Martin Seligman

   C) Thomas Holmes and Richard Rahe

   D) Albert Bandura and B.F. Skinner

2. What is the primary purpose of the SRRS?

   A) To measure an individual's personality traits.

   B) To quantify the amount of stress an individual has experienced due to life changes.

   C) To assess a person's intelligence quotient (IQ).

   D) To diagnose specific psychological disorders.

3. According to the SRRS, which of the following events is assigned the highest Life Change Unit (LCU) score?

   A) Marriage

   B) Death of a Spouse

   C) Fired from Work

   D) Vacation

4. A student scores 350 LCUs on the SRRS over the past year. According to Holmes and Rahe, what does this score suggest?

   A) The student is experiencing minimal stress and is unlikely to face health issues.

   B) The student is at a moderate risk of developing stress-related health problems.

   C) The student is at a high risk of developing stress-related health problems.

   D) The score is inconclusive without further psychological evaluation.

5. Which statement accurately reflects a key concept of the SRRS?

   A) Only negative life events contribute to stress.

   B) All life changes, positive or negative, require adaptation and can contribute to stress.

   C) Stress levels are solely determined by an individual's genetic predisposition.

   D) The scale primarily measures daily hassles rather than significant life events.

6. A common criticism of the SRRS is that it:

   A) Is too complex and difficult for individuals to complete accurately.

   B) Fails to consider individual differences in how people perceive and cope with stress.

   C) Is outdated and does not include modern life stressors like social media pressure.

   D) Only applies to adults and is not relevant for adolescents or children.

7. If an individual experiences a "Change in financial state," how would this event typically be categorized on the SRRS?

   A) A minor daily hassle with no significant LCU value.

   B) A major life event that contributes to the overall LCU score.

   C) An event that only contributes to stress if it is a negative change.

   D) An event that is considered a positive stressor and reduces overall risk.