1. Assess the stressors affecting Terry and Denny. View Part I for Terry and Part II for Denny. These film sequences show life stressors, not work stressors.
2. Are Terry and Denny having the distress response described at the beginning of Chapter 8’s “Concept of Stress” section? Give examples of behavior in the film sequences to support your observations.
3. Review the text section titled “Severe Stress.” What effects do you observe or predict for Terry and Denny?

MINI CASE

Terry Ann Wolfmeyer (Joan Allen) turns to ferocious anger and alcohol after her husband leaves her for his secretary. Neighbor Denny Davies (Kevin Costner), a retired Detroit Tigers pitcher and a radio talk show host, tries to befriend Terry and help her cope as a drinking buddy. Add four beautiful daughters and the interpersonal interactions become complex and sometimes comedic.
Stressors and the Stress Response: Terry and Denny
This sequence has two parts with a title screen separating them. Part I follows the family dinner with Denny as a guest. Terry is standing on the porch holding her drink against her forehead. Denny enters the porch. Part I ends with Terry saying, “Then leave. Any other reason than that for you to be here, frankly, is just pitiful.” She returns to the house while Denny stays on the porch.
Part II follows the bungee jumping scene and Denny driving Lavender “Popeye” Wolfmeyer (Evan Rachel Wood) home. It begins with Terry and Denny eating ice cream from the same container. Denny tells her that “Popeye” suggested he marry her mother. The sequence ends after Denny kicks down the bathroom door. Terry screams, jumps into the bathtub, and Denny approaches silently.