Human Factors: Arousal, Fatigue, Stress, and Burnout

Question 1

The ____________________ predicts that the relationship between level of arousal and performance is described by an inverted-U shape, with moderate levels of arousal being associated with the best performance; however, for easy tasks, the optimal level is somewhat ______________, and for difficult tasks, the optimal level is somewhat _________________.

Answer 1

• Yerkes-Dodson Law
• Higher
• Lower

Question 2

__________________ is one of the causes of reduced arousal, and physical and mental ______________ have been found to have a number of adverse consequences including increased accident rates and reduced job proficiency.

Answer 2

Fatigue (both blanks).

Question 3

Rest breaks are most effective when their schedules are _____________________; however, breaks should be provided during the ____ and ____ hour of work since these tend to be the times of greatest fatigue.

Answer 3

• Empirically determined
• 4th
• 8th

Question 4

__________________ breaks are more effective than _____________________ breaks.

Answer 4

• Frequent, short
• Longer, less frequent

Question 5

Karasek’s (1979) _________________________ (job strain) model identifies job demand and job control as the primary contributors to job stress.

Answer 5

Demand-control model.

Question 6

__________________ refers to the requirements of the job in terms of workload, time pressures, and responsibility.

Answer 6

Job demand.

Question 7

_____________________ is also known as decision latitude, and refers to a worker’s autonomy and discretion for using different skills.

Answer 7

Job control.

Question 8

According to Karasek, the combination of high job ___________ and low job ____________ produces the most stress which, in turn is associated with job dissatisfaction, emotional exhaustion, and other health problems.

Answer 8

• Demand
• Control

Bonus: These include assembly-line workers and service jobs.

Question 9

Holmes and Rahe (1967) found that events related to ____________ were the most stressful, while other research has found that _______________ are an important source of stress, and can have a stronger negative impact on health than stress due to traumatic events.

Answer 9

• Marriage
• Daily hassles

Question 10

__________________ is caused by accumulated stress associated with overwork; primary symptoms include feelings of low personal accomplishment, depersonalization (i.e., tendency to treat colleagues or customers as objects), and emotional exhaustion.

Answer 10

Job burnout.

Question 11

An early sign of burnout is a sudden increase in _______________ and hours without an increase in ______________.

Answer 11

• Work effort
• Productivity

Question 12

Burnout is more likely when the job involves frequent contact with people who _________________, when the supervisor is perceived as ______________, and when the job presents overwhelming ________________ and time pressures.

Answer 12

• Need help
• Inconsiderate
• Demands

Question 13

__________________ occurs when the role demands of career and family are incompatible because work interferes with the family and/or family activities and responsibilities interfere with work.

Answer 13

Work-family conflict.

Question 14

Duxbury and Higgins found that work-family conflict is somewhat more stressful for _____________, and that _________ experience more work-family conflict due to work expectations, while ___________ experience more conflict due to family expectations.

Answer 14

• Women
• Men
• Women

Question 15

The positive effects of assuming both work and family roles (esp. for ____________) is referred to in the literature by several terms including work-family enrichment, work-family _______________, and positive ___________.

Answer 15

• Women
• Enhancement
• Spillover