Happiness Quizzes

Which of the following was not a factor discussed by Stearns regarding historic changes in the expectation and expression of happiness in the 18th century: Select one: a. Shifts in Christian doctrine b. The Industrial Revolution c. Advances in human comfort d. Improved dentistry

The Industrial Revolution

Which statement below is supported by the empirical research on happiness that you read for this unit: Select one: a. The kind of country where someone lives is unrelated to their overall happiness. b. When asked to report on their own happiness, most people say that they are happy. c. For most people, major changes to their abilities, like becoming disabled, lead to long term decreases in happiness. d. For most people, winning the lottery leads to long term gains in happiness

When asked to report on their own happiness, most people say that they are happy.

The "Love and Attachment" chapter from Jonathan Haidt's book The Happiness Hypothesis introduced you to Harry Harlow's work on the importance of nurturance and attachment for healthy relationships. Which synopsis below best communicates his major finding? Select one: a. Rhesus monkeys that were separated from their mother were anxious and upset in her absence, but comforted upon her return. b. When given the option between a wire "mother monkey" that provides food and a cloth "mother monkey" that provides comfort, baby rhesus monkeys will forgo food in favor of comfort. c. Freud's theory regarding mother/infant attachment being created via the transmission of breast milk was supported when infant rhesus monkeys became attached to the wire "mother monkeys" who were their only source of milk. d. Rhesus monkeys can be bred in captivity.

When given the option between a wire "mother monkey" that provides food and a cloth "mother monkey" that provides comfort, baby rhesus monkeys will forgo food in favor of comfort.

According to the video you watched by Dr. Dacher Keltner, which of the following relationships between friendship and happiness was not discussed as being supported by empirical findings? Select one: a. You need to have dozens of friends in order to reap the positive benefits of social relationships b. People with strong friendships respond less reactively to stress, releasing less cortisol c. People with strong friendships are significantly more likely to rate themselves as happy. d. Strong friendships are significantly related to stronger, more positive health profiles and a lower likelihood of early death

You need to have dozens of friends in order to reap the positive benefits of social relationships

According to the article, "The Science of Lasting Happiness" which description below best reflects Sonja Lyumbomirsky's definition of happiness? Select one: a. a person's propensity for experiencing positive moods over negative moods b. a joyful, contented life c. being generally satisfied with one's life d. a life that maximizes pleasure and minimizes pain

a joyful, contented life

Jeanne Tsai's introduction to culture and emotion presents a two-dimensional map of affective states, on which emotional experiences are mapped according to two axes. These axes represent what two dimensions of emotional experience? Select one: a. level of arousal and cognitive appraisal b. level of arousal and phenomenology c. affective type and level of arousal d.cognitive appraisal and affective type

affective type and level of arousal

Carver, Scheier, & Segerstrom's discussion of theoretical viewpoints of optimism constructs optimism and pessimism as broad, generalized versions of what context-specific behavioral approaches? Select one: a. confidence and doubt b. joy and hopelessness c. mania and depression d. happiness and sadness

approach ... avoidant

According to the article, "The Science of Lasting Happiness" what percentage of overall happiness is believed to be attributed to intentional activity? Select one: a. 40% b. 50% c. 30% d. 10%

40%

Brandi is feeling happy. She has won the lottery, received a promotion at work, and met the woman of her dreams. According to your reading in the Shiota and Kalat chapter, which theory would BEST explain her happiness? Select one: a. An authentic happiness theory b.A hedonistic theory of happiness c. A bottom-up theory of happiness d. A top-down theory of happiness.

A bottom-up theory of happiness

Which of the following statements most closely reflects the thesis of Stearns' argument in The History of Happiness? Select one: a. Western cultural beliefs about happiness have shifted in response to changes in political and economic policy. b. Western cultural beliefs about happiness can be seamlessly connected from Aristotle to modernity. c. A significant shift in Western cultural beliefs about happiness took place approximately 250 years ago. d.Beliefs about happiness differ between cultures, but have not shifted over time.

A significant shift in Western cultural beliefs about happiness took place approximately 250 years ago.

In his article "The History of Happiness" Peter Stearns explores what he calls "the happiness imperative" - or, the cultural expectations that all modern Americans should be striving for happiness at all times. What negative consequences of this belief does Stearns identify? Select one: a. The cultural happiness imperative makes life more difficult for people who are dealing with sadness. b. The happiness imperative may lead people to blame themselves when faced with systemic dissatisfactions - viewing their problem as a personal shortcoming when it is actually a structural problem. c. Both A & B d. Neither A nor B

Both A & B

Which forms of interventions were found to be the most effective in helping pessimists think more like optimists? Select one: a. Cognitive behavioral therapy interventions focused on positive reframing b. Psychoanalytic talk therapy focused on healing childhood traumas c. Biomedical interventions based on adjusting neural chemistry d. Applied behavioral analysis interventions based on learning coping behaviors

Cognitive behavioral therapy interventions focused on positive reframing

This neurotransmitter is known to produce highly pleasurable experiences, but when imbalanced can lead to issues such as schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and addictive behaviors. Select one: a. Serotonin b. Oxytocin c. Dopamine d. Epinephrine

Dopamine

Which of the following statements best summarizes research on the Duchenne smile? Select one: a. Duchenne smiles are easy to identify as they are extremely distinct and overt expressions. b. Duchenne smiles typically indicate true expressions of happiness, but non-Duchenne smiles may also indicate happiness. c. Duchenne smiles are the only valid behavioral indicators of happiness. d. Duchenne smiles are identified by the mouth but not the eyes.

Duchenne smiles typically indicate true expressions of happiness, but non-Duchenne smiles may also indicate happiness.

According to the video you watched by Professor Rodolfo Mendoza-Denton, which synopsis below best describes the relationship between cross-group friendships and happiness? Select one: a. Egalitarian attitudes lead to lower stress when taking part in cross-group social situations, which leads to higher well-being b. Humans have evolved to form cross-group connections, which lead to more options for adaptive survival. c. Cross-group social interactions lead ot spikes in dopamine levels d. Cross-group social situations make us feel like better people

Egalitarian attitudes lead to lower stress when taking part in cross-group social situations, which leads to higher well-being

The research on wealth and happiness suggests that: Select one: a. Money can't buy you love. b. Having money is a direct cause of happiness. c. Financial stability increases happiness to a certain point, but no longer leads to significant improvements in happiness once basic needs are met. d. Wealthier people report lower ratings of subjective well-being than do poorer people.

Financial stability increases happiness to a certain point, but no longer leads to significant improvements in happiness once basic needs are met.

According to the chart presented by Geoff Mulgan in his chapter on Well-being and Public Policy, which of the following factors do people say matters the most for their well-being? Select one: a. Freedom b. Health c. Money d. Order

Health

A theory of happiness that defines a happy life as one that maximizes feelings of pleasure and minimizes pain, would be categorized as which type of theory? Select one: a. Life satisfaction theory b. Hedonism theory c. Emotional state theory d. Authentic happiness theory

Hedonism theory

According to Mulgan, which variable has been shown to have the largest negative impact on individual happiness? Select one: a. Loss of income b. Familial instability c. Short-term illness d.Involuntary unemployment

Involuntary unemployment

The idea that happiness is best achieved, not by pursing it directly, but by intensely pursuing some other meaningful endeavor was proposed by what 19th century thinker? Select one: a.Jean-Jacque Rousseau b. Alexis de Tocqueville c. John Stuart Mill d. Karl Marx

John Stuart Mill

When considering the genetic markers most strongly correlated with subjective well-being and reports of life satisfaction, which combination of alleles on the 5-HTTLPR gene would be most likely to lead to increased satisfaction and well-being? Select one: a. L - s b. S - l c. L - L d. s - s

L-L

Which of the following statements about the relationship between marriage and happiness is not true? Select one: a. On average, people who are married are more likely to report being "very happy" than people who are unmarried. b. Marriage only provides a happiness boost for women c. People in unhappy marriages report lower levels of happiness than people who are unmarried or divorced. d. Whether the relationship between happiness and marriage is causal or not is still unclear

Marriage only provides happiness boost for women

Carver, Scheier, & Segerstrom's review of the research on optimism showed that optimism can, at times, be a drawback. Specifically, which scenario was discussed as one possible drawback that has been empirically supported. Select one: a. Optimists may maintain positive outcome expectations even when faced with poor outcomes, which can lead to risky behavior. b. Optimists are less able to process serious health information because they disengage from negatively valenced stimuli c. Optimists commit to too many goals, believing that they can achieve all of them, leading to disappointment. d. Optimists persist longer at impossible tasks, leading to frustration and wasted time.

Optimists may maintain positive outcome expectations even when faced with poor outcomes, which can lead to risky behavior.

This neurotransmitter is related to the warm, close feeling of attachment that forms in strong familial relationships, close friendships, and romantic relationships. It is released in a variety of situations including after hugs, after sex, and after childbirth. Select one: a. GABA b. Oxytocin c. Endorphins d. Serotonin

Oxytocin

The fMRI study by Eisenberger, Lieberman, and Williams showed that neural responses to social pain were similar to those experienced during physical pain under what experimental circumstance? Select one: a. Playing a ball-tossing game where the participant is excluded from play b. Participating in a group activity where the researcher pretends to forget the participant's name c. Attempting a problem-solving task that is impossible to solve d. Taking part in a focus group where the participant's ideas are not taken seriously

Playing a ball-tossing game where the participant is excluded from play

According to Mulgan, once incomes rise above the level needed to pay for basic needs in wealthier economies, well-being is influenced by _____________ - how people see their economic situation compared to others - more than by _____________. Select one: a. Self-assessed social placement; actual SES b. Absolute income; relative income c. Actual SES; self-assessed social placement d. Relative income; absolute income

Relative income; absolute income

Carver, Scheier, & Segerstrom's discussion of theoretical viewpoints of optimism constructs optimism and pessimism as broad, generalized versions of what context-specific behavioral approaches? Select one: a. confidence and doubt b. joy and hopelessness c. mania and depression d. happiness and sadness

confidence and doubt

Self-compassion training has been linked to overall improvements in quality of life in a variety of domains, included decreased depression, anxiety, stress, and emotional avoidance. It has even been linked with lower levels of what stress hormone? Select one: a. norepinephrine b. leptin c. adrenaline d. cortisol

cortisol

The theory of happiness which asserts that happiness is primarily about getting what you want, is known as what? Select one: a. objective list theory b. authentic happiness theory c. desire theory d. hedonism theory

desire theory

Cultures have differing expectations regarding which emotions are appropriate in a given situation and what level of emotional expression is considered acceptable. These norms are known as _______________. Select one: a. emotional labor b. display rules c. emotional mores d. cultural expectations

display rules

Self-compassion is related to a variety of psychological strengths that improve resiliency in the face of life's obstacles. Which of the following was not discussed as being related to self-compassion? Select one: a. optimism b. motivation c. emotional avoidance d. emotional intelligence

emotional avoidance

The emotional capacity to sense the inner state of another person is known as ________. Select one: a. empathy b. compassion c.kindness d. love

empathy

This neurotransmitter resembles opiates in its chemical structure, and much like opiates, reduces the experience of pain. It is produced by the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus during strenuous physical exertion, sexual intercourse and orgasm. Select one: a. Endorphins b. Norepinephrine c. Serotonin d. Dopamine

endorphins

According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, tasks in which your level of skill is matched with your level of challenge produce an optimized cognitive and emotional state known as ______________. Finding ways to experience this state regularly leads to higher subjective well-being. Select one: a. flow b. ecstasy c. zone d. peace

flow

According to Emiliana Simon-Thomas's video "What's Good about Compassion?" which response to other people's suffering is most likely to increase your own happiness? Select one: a. Focusing on ways to help b. Focusing on your own suffering c. Focusing on how they brought about their own suffering d. Focusing on what makes them different from you

focusing on ways to help

In the overview of brain anatomy that was included in this unit, which lobe of the cerebral cortex was discussed as being responsible for regulating planning, judging, and abstract thinking as well as aspects of personality? Select one: a. Frontal lobe b. Parietal lobe c. Temporal lobe d. Occipital lobe

frontal lobe

Unfortunately, because our brains have evolved to learn and adapt to new sensory information quite quickly, the happiness boost that we receive from a new sensory experience is not permanent, nor will we receive the same boost in later encounters with that same experience. What is this process of adjustment called? Select one: a. accommodation b. habituation c. assimilation d. adaptation

habituation

The theory of happiness which asserts that happiness is a matter of maximizing subjective positive experiences while minimizing subjective negative experiences, is known as what? Select one: a. desire theory b. objective list theory c. authentic happiness theory d. hedonism theory

hedonism theory

In the "Foundations of Mindfulness" chapter that you read for this unit, Rick Hanson outlines three aspects of attention. What were they? Select one: a. holding information, integrating information, and updating awareness b. seeking stimulation, integrating information, and updating awareness c. holding information, updating awareness, and seeking stimulation d. holding information, integrating information, and seeking stimulation

holding information, updating awareness, and seeking stimulation

In her overview of how culture affects emotional experiences, Dr. Jeanne Tsai explains that her research has shown that one of the major ways in which emotions differ by culture is in which emotions are most highly valued in a particular culture. Or, which emotions people within a particular culture want to feel. What did she call this? Select one: a. actual affect b. ideal affect c. cultural affect d. preferred affect

ideal affect

The size of the human brain has tripled in the past three million years. In Buddha's Brain, Rick Hanson suggests that much of this growth is devoted to what types of skills? Select one: a. interpersonal and social capabilities b. tool use and problem solving capabilities c. mapping and visuospatial capabilities

interpersonal and social capabilities

According to various Buddhist teachers and the article on self-compassion by Germer & Neff, self-compassion consists of three primary elements: Select one: a. mindfulness, gratitude, and kindness b. kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness c. optimism, gratitude, and common humanity d. optimism, mindfulness, and gratitude

kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness

Which of the following variables was not listed by Geoff Mulgan as one of the ways that governments affect their citizens' levels of well-being? Select one: a.Low taxes b. High trust in civic leadership c. Low levels of corruption d. Quality of government

low taxes

Darrin McMahon points out, in The Pursuit of Happiness, that many of the modern words for "happiness" have close linguistic ties to what other word or idea? Select one: a. luck b. liberty c. choice d. prosperity

luck

Rick Hanson discusses a number of ways in which human's unique abilities to cooperate and build relationships are reflected in our neural structure. For example, there are networks in your brain's perceptual-motor system that light up both when you perform an action and when you see someone else perform that action. These are known as ______________. Select one: a. motor neurons b. mirror neurons c. empathic neurons d. compassion neurons

mirror neurons

People vary widely in their tendencies within the three aspects of attention. Dr. Hanson suggests this differentiation in how people vary in their attentional processes is a more significant cognitive factor in mindfulness than gender or race. What did he call this? Select one: a. neurological flexibility b. neurological differentiation c. neurological typicality d. neurological diversity

neurological diversity

The biological aspects of emotional experience are created in part by the processes of the brain, including neural connections and the activities of neurotransmitters. But the brain is also shaped by our experiences and by the ways that we choose to interact with the world, meaning that through our own choices, we can actually shape our brains to respond more positively to particular stimuli. This ability of the brain to form and reorganize synaptic connections, especially in response to learning or experience is known as ______________. Select one: a. Neural Darwinism b. Synaptic change c. Synaptic pruning d. Neuroplasticity

neuroplasticity

Across this unit, we've discussed several different types of love, according to the sources that we've explored, which type of love is most common among couples who have been together for many years. Select one: a. consummate love b. fatuous love c. companionate love d. passionate love

not a try companionate

Janelle knows exactly what she wants out of life. She wants to go to medical school and study pediatric medicine. She wants to move to rural North Carolina and set up a practice in a community with little access to medical care. She wants to support her community in the ways that she has been supported, by giving back. She believes that by achieving these goals, she will be happy. What theory of happiness is most likely guiding Janelle's belief? Select one: a. hedonism theory b. desire theory c. authentic happiness theory d. objective list theory

objective list theory

Stephen Post discusses a famous study done with rabbits in his article where two groups of rabbits fed the same diet showed very different cardiovascular profiles, with one group showing significantly lower levels of plaque buildup. What was the primary differences in how these two groups of rabbits were treated (the dependent variable)? Select one: a. One group was petted and talked to before feeding b. One group was offered more exercise c. One group was kept in nicer, more comfortable cages d. One group was given a mild vasodilator

one group was petted and talked to before feeding

In Hardwiring Happiness, Rick Hanson details the human brain's negativity bias, in which we are more likely to remember negative experience than positive experiences. Hanson suggests that the default setting of the human brain is to overestimate threats and underestimate opportunities, remembering information that confirms our fears or suspicions, while ignoring or rejecting information that doesn't. What does Hanson call this phenomenon? Select one: a. Negative confirmation bias b. Paper tiger paranoia c. Sneaky snake suspicion d. Lion mind

paper tiger paranoia

According to the article that you read by Stephen Post, altruistic and helping behaviors lead to an increase in well-being (and happiness) in most, but not all, cases. What was the notable exception? Select one: a. People who are selfish b. People whose cultures do not value altruism c. People who are overwhelmed by helping tasks d. People who help only to seem helpful

people who are overwhelmed by helping tasks

In their article "On Happiness" Chemali, Chahine, & Naassan three separate components of the experience that is commonly called "happiness", each with its own neuroanatomical source and social or environmental factors. Which of these three components was discussed as being the "fastest" or the most transitory? Select one: a. Positive mood b. Moral condition (eudaimonia) c. Induced pleasure d. Positive affect

positive affect

Dr. Hanson outlined several concrete ways to increase alertness and positive well-being through the use of meditation and mindfulness techniques. In one such technique, he suggests that you should maintain good posture in order to trigger what part of the brain that wakefulness and attention are necessary? Select one: a. reticular formation b. amygdala c. brain stem d. prefrontal cortex

reticular cortex

John Bowlby was the first scientist to explore the idea of attachment in human infants. According to his theory of attachment, what two basic goals guide children's behavior? Select one: a. Structure and creativity b. Safety and structure c. Safety and exploration d. Exploration and creativity

safety and exploration

Mary Ainsworth's "Strange Situation" task was designed to measure infant's attachment to their primary caregiver by seeing how they react when left in a room with a stranger, left in a room alone, and then reunited with their caregiver. Ainsworth labeled the healthiest attachment style, where children stop playing when their caregiver leaves the room, express anxiety, and then are comforted when the mother returns ________________. Select one: a. secure attachment b. resistant attachment c. avoidant attachment d. positive attachment

secure attachment

This neurotransmitter has many functions in the body including regulating mood, appetite, and sleep cycles - but it is produced primarily in the gastrointestinal tract. Because of its well-known connection with general feelings of well-being, many antidepressants function by increasing the amount of time between its release and its reabsorption. Select one: a. Serotonin b. Oxytocin c. Dopamine d. Norepinephrine

serotonin

Based on the material presented in this unit, which single factor unified the top 10% of "very happy" people studied by Diener & Seligman? Select one: a. The happiest people maintained more fulfilling social relationships b. The happiest people had more prestigious jobs c. The happiest people experienced fewer stressors d. The happiest people got more sleep

the happiest people maintained more fulfilling social relationships

In their review of the neuroanatomical literature on happiness and related positive affective experiences, Chemali, Chahine, & Naassan review the literature on laughter and mirth. Which of the following aspects did they find as the most consistent in predicting an increase in laughter and experiential mirth? Select one: a. The presence of other people b. Recollected positive experiences c. Cultural beliefs about laughter d. Laughing gas

the presence of other people

Cognitively, the ability to think about the thoughts, feelings, and beliefs of another person is known as ____________, an ability that first develops around three or four years of age. Select one: a. social cognition b. interpersonal processing c. theory of mind d. empathic understanding

theory of mind

In "Happiness in the Present" by Martin Seligman, Dr. Seligman outlines two distinct types of positive experiences that build happiness in the present. Of these two types, which was described as being based in strong positive sensory and emotional experiences? Select one: a. the enjoyments b. the joys c. the gratifications d. the pleasures

thepleasures

In studies of helping behavior, giving help has been shown to be more significantly positively related with mental health than receiving help. Select one: True False

true

This unit explored a variety of ways that mindfulness meditation and the purposeful control of attention can lead to greater positive well-being. In the research reviewed in this unit, meditation was shown to affect positive changes at the physical, neural, and genetic level, true or false? Select one: True False

true

Jeanne Tsai reviews two major theories regarding how culture and emotion interact. Theorists who believe that all humans experience similar emotional states regardless of cultural differences are known as ________________ while those who believe that emotions are culturally variable are known as __________________. Select one: a. universalist; social constructivist b. social constructivist; universalist c. collectivist; individualist

universalist; social constructivist