Final answer:
The death of a spouse is the most stressful life event on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale with a score of 100 LCUs, while divorce is the second highest with 73 LCUs.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to the question which of the following ranked as the most stressful life event on the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS), the answer is b) death of spouse. According to the scale developed by Holmes and Rahe in the 1960s, the death of a spouse is considered the most stressful life event, with a score of 100 life change units (LCUs). The scale, which includes 43 life events, measures the amount of readjustment required by a person following various life changes.
The scale is based on the research hypothesis that significant changes in a person's normal life routines can be stressful, whether the events are positive or negative. The SRRS has been used widely to understand the impact of life stressors on physical and mental health. Divorce ranked second with a score of 73 LCUs, indicating it is also a highly stressful event but less so than the death of a spouse.