SOCI 2275 Midterm
9. The following are statements about the general sources of people's sense of well-being. Which best describes what is thought to be sources with the greatest impact?
(From life circumstances, set point/genetics, and intentional activities). The source with the greatest impact is set point/genetics. However, it is possible that the set point is more of a range, changes with time...
43. What is the best way to set goals effectively?
Make "if-then" plans Predetermine how, where and when you'll do a specific goal behavior Increases likelihood of doing it Once we have goals we should be careful about telling people... OR Make specific goals (ex: I will study from 4-6 pm everyday vs. I will study more) Specific goals increase focus, better enable visualization and suggest clearer steps to implement Make big goals (ex: travel around the world vs. the next state over) Activates more energy, more resources, creates sense of urgency Greater anticipated satisfaction Write down goals Forces clarity Remembered better Brain remembers generated material Visual reminder
40. What are the 3 parts to setting goals?
Make specific goals (ex: I will study from 4-6 pm everyday vs. I will study more) Specific goals increase focus, better enable visualization and suggest clearer steps to implement Make big goals (ex: travel around the world vs. the next state over) Activates more energy, more resources, creates sense of urgency Greater anticipated satisfaction Write down goals Forces clarity Remembered better Brain remembers generated material Visual reminder
26. What is most true about happiness inequality?
Men vs. women, similar but... Economists Blanchflower and Bryson find different pattern with other negative measures Women have more anxiety, depression, fearfulness, sadness, loneliness, anger and they have more days with bad mental health and more restless sleep Location of well-being: analyzed correlates of well-being at the county level in the US, variance was associated with a number of objective factors like income, population density, health and education
20. Are most Americans generally happy?
Most
30. Which types of countries tend to have the highest level of subjective well-being worldwide?
The Nordics
51. Carol Dweck makes the case that saying "not yet" can help us develop a growth mindset. Why is this?
The concept of 'not yet' helps us to focus on the process rather than the end result. Ex: school in Chicago started to give "not yet" grades instead of "fails", conveys being on a learning curve and a path forward.
19. According to the article "The Nordic Exceptionalism," which of the following is an attribute that most promotes happiness in Nordic countries?
The welfare state, low political corruption, low income inequality, freedom of expression/liberal, good democracy
18. According to Bell (2019) in her article "Happiness Across the Life Span", which people tend to be the least happy?
40s and early 50s. J shaped curve.
25. Which of the following is NOT a determinant of well-being as described by the Sustainable Happiness Model?
Sustainable Happiness Model 1) Genetic set points (50%) 2) Intentional Activities (40%) 3) Life circumstances (10%)
12. What is objective well-being?
- Having material things, or getting straight A's in school, graduating with honors, owning a Tesla. Measured based on basic needs being met. Measured also via wages and salary. - Government looks to improve objective well-being. The distribution of objective well-being would make a just society.
17. According to "Happiness Across the Lifespan", older people are more satisfied and happier in life because
- Older people pay more attention to positive stimuli. - Negative emotions such as anger, anxiety and stress decrease steadily with age. - The elderly may be better at avoiding situations and people that make them feel bad, more control over how they spend their time. - This also affects memory, older people tend to remember positive images more often than younger people. - "From what we can tell, older adults are trying to focus more on emotional goals and enhance their well- being, whereas younger adults are devoting resources to other things," Mather said. - "Time is running out" shifts our priorities as we age. - Free from the worries about their future that plague the young, they don't have to strive to be successful in their career or anguish over whether they'll find a partner, whether they'll have children. That's been decided long ago, and they can afford to live in the moment and focus on emotion. - "Been there done that", different approach to situations as we age.
74. Which is NOT a component of the Resource Model of willpower?
2 main things it is that's it.
22. How do intentional actions relate to one's happiness?
40% of our happiness is determined by our intentional actions. We can increase and sustain our happiness through intentional activities. Things chosen by people that increase well being. Behaviors like altruism, cognitions (practicing gratitude) and motivational (pursuing goals)
46. Which of the following is one of main benefits for creating habits out of the activities that are most important to us?
43% of all our activities are based on automatic repetition Helps us to be cognitively efficient Helps us to accomplish goals Relieve cognitive load Cognitively efficient Habits stored in basal ganglia, the older part of the brain, stores and acts on patterns. Planful behavior in the new prefrontal cortex. Habits require much less mental activity than planful behavior. Thus, frees up mental energy for creative thinking Accomplish goals Best way to accomplish goals: set goal, design habits to get you there, becomes automatic...but...existing habits can block goals Conceptually interesting Not agency, not directly choosing them not free will Not structure, direct impact of social forces
82. What are the basic components of gratitude?
A SPONTANEOUS cognitive perspective in line with positive emotion and a feeling of appreciation for what one receives
54. Sarah did not do well on her math test. Sarah cries to her friend Emma saying she doesn't get it, but Emma reassures her by saying that she doesn't get it yet. Sarah has...
A fixed mindset, she's ready to give up
1. According to Kaufman's article, which of the following is true?
ANSWER IS C
2. According to Martin Seligman (New Era of Positive Psychology TED Talk), what does a "good life" mean?
ANSWER IS C
86. Which of the following constitutes a practice of gratitude?
Acknowledge that there is goodness in one's life Recognize that some sources of goodness lie outside the self Doing something good for someone in favor of them doing something good for you
10. UConn students go to women's basketball games because they have so much fun and pleasurable. And look, the team just won another basketball game, and the students are in the stands jumping up and down, screaming with joy. Which two dimensions of well-being does this situation best illustrate?
Affective and positive well-being. Life circumstances and intentional activities?
69. Those on trial ____ are more likely to be granted a harsher sentence because of their judge's willpower.
Before a meal (glucose levels are lower)
33. Fogg, in his model of behavior change, summarizes that B=MAT. What does this mean?
Behaviour = Motivation + Ability + Trigger
76. Which of the following methods would *NOT* be a good way to increase your state-level of self-control?
CONFIRMED: Working yourself to exhaustion
55. To develop a growth mindset, you should...
Change your self talk Learn to hear your fixed mindset voice Recognize that you have a choice Talk back to it with your growth mindset voice Take the growth mindset action Ex: school in Chicago started to give "not yet" grades instead of "fails", conveys being on a learning curve and a path forward Take on big challenges Internalizes idea of malleable abilities Forced to learn Change your expectations Normalize struggle and difficulty Part of learning process Learn to expect them, value them Fixed misconception: success should be easy Change reaction to mistakes and failures Be open, even celebrate them Focus on learning from them This changes orientation to them Companies: failure hall of fame, reward it "Fail faster" In others Praise effort and good strategies, innovation Don't praise achievement or ability Explain that struggle can = growth Don't come down hard on people's failures Can be used to mess with others...
56. What are ways that you can develop a growth mindset?
Change your self talk Learn to hear your fixed mindset voice Recognize that you have a choice Talk back to it with your growth mindset voice Take the growth mindset action Ex: school in Chicago started to give "not yet" grades instead of "fails", conveys being on a learning curve and a path forward Take on big challenges Internalizes idea of malleable abilities Forced to learn Change your expectations Normalize struggle and difficulty Part of learning process Learn to expect them, value them Fixed misconception: success should be easy Change reaction to mistakes and failures Be open, even celebrate them Focus on learning from them This changes orientation to them Companies: failure hall of fame, reward it "Fail faster" In others Praise effort and good strategies, innovation Don't praise achievement or ability Explain that struggle can = growth Don't come down hard on people's failures Can be used to mess with others...
37. Putting junk food out of sight is an example of _________.
Changing environmental cues
21. Chinese are more likely to experience mixed emotions - both positive and negative - during the day than Americans due to ________.
Chinese more likely to experience mixed emotions (both positive and negative) during day than Americans Individualistic vs. collectivist views of self Impacts understanding one another Emotional control
7. Joseph is a college student. He really likes what he studies. He lives in an off-campus apartment with friends, but he has a hard time keeping up with rent and paying for groceries. Nonetheless, he values his friends, and he's grateful for his life. Which of the following levels of wellbeing best fit Joseph?
Low objective well-being, high subjective.
91. Which of the following was *not* part of Emmon's experimental study of gratitude, as discussed in class?
Classic study-Emmons and McCullough: Weekly journal for ten weeks Gratitude condition: Write 5 things grateful for in past week Hassle condition: Write 5 daily hassles Control: Write 5 things that happened Measured various emotional and physical outcomesFindings. Weekly gratitude vs. hassle 25% happier Fewer health complaints, e.g., headaches, chest pain, skin irritation, stuffy nose, etc... 1.5 hours more exercise per week (Neutral group in between) Positive effects still seen 6 months after study endedFollow-up studies-grateful states Weekly gratitude has more benefits Stronger effect on positive emotions (vs. negative) Helps people sleep better Helps people with severe neuromuscular diseases feel happier, more optimistic Feel closer to others Rated more helpful by friends
11. What is an example of high cognitive well-being?
Cognitive = how people evaluate their lives. If you think things are good, high CWB. Ex: Mary works at a place she likes, lives in a home she finds comfortable and loves her family...
16. Your friend down the hall is doing great in all their classes. When you compare yourself to them as a student, you think worse of yourself. Which aspect of well-being is most affected in this scenario?
Cognitive well-being. Affected most by comparison
79. Anna always makes Zac's lunch for work and Zac loves it, but Anna feels like Zac doesn't really do things like that for her. In Anna's perspective, this is an example of ...
Condoning Zac's behavior as she is not sticking up for herself OPPOSITE OF FORGIVENESS!!!!! NO gratitude from Zac
80. Forgiveness is best described as
Conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment that is individual, voluntary, and internal, whether it is deserved or not letting go of bad feelings when wronged
41. What are the 3-steps to a habit?
Cue Routine Reward
24. The phenomena of maintaining positive thoughts, language, and recall refers to:
Cultural expectations of what we're supposed to feel...positivity emphasis Positivity bias: lean toward positive thinking and language and recall (Pollyanna principle)
70. Walter Mischel conducted a test with marshmallows. What did he measure with this test?
Delayed gratification and how it affected like outcomes
53. If Nick decides to master playing guitar, which principle of from the 10,000 hours research by Ericcson should he follow?
Deliberate practice
59. Which of the following does Ericcson most emphasize in becoming an expert?
Deliberate practice, experts are made not born
49. Which of the following statements best represents a goal?
Desired Future outcomes People envision and plan for it (cognitive) Relates to a behavioral outcome Requires commitment "The future or desired result that a person or a group of people envision, plan and commit to achieve" Cognitive Relates to behavior and outcome
85. What statement incorrectly describes gratitude?
Something with: envy, narcissism, cynicism, taking for granted, taking credit for all good, forgetting good
87. Which of the following is the best example of a tailwind (as it relates to gratitude)?
Tailwind: we don't notice things working in our favor Ignoring, oblivion, worthlessness/helplessness (depression) REMEMBER THAT IN ORDER TO HAVE GRATITUDE, TAILWINDS MUST BE RECOGNIZED
72. What is "ego depletion"?
Ego Depletion: Occurs when people use up their available pool of willpower and are no longer able to exert self-control on subsequent, often unrelated tasks
89. Which of the following statements best summarizes the areas of life impacted by gratitude (as described in class)?
Emotionally Happier, less depression, more positive emotions, fewer suicidal thoughts Personality More optimistic, increased spiritualism, more giving, less materialistic Health Better sleep, exercise more, better recovery from heart problems, better overall health Career More effective managers, better decision making, more meaningful work, less turnover, reduced stress Improved relationships Friendships, romantic relationships, social support, family ties
15. Which of the following is the best example of eudemonia? You feel good because:
Eudemonia = happiness/well-being There's MEANING.
48. Which of the following is the best example of a tiny habit?
Ex from video: 1 push up after every bathroom trip.
36. Kelly wants to lose 25 pounds by her high school reunion so that her classmates think she looks as good as she did in high school. This is an example of a(n)...
Extrinsic goal (outcome goal), better social image possible...
32. Extrinsic goals are most closely related to:
Extrinsic goals: Goals that focus on getting approval and rewards from others E.g. Financial success, social image, prestige
81. Jim does something nice for Mary, so Mary feels thankful. Then, her gratitude inspires her to try to make sure Jim feels good in return, and then they both feel positive about their relationship. What is this an example of?
Find, remind and bind theory (Be seen as a good partner, remind their partner to value the relationship, bind the two of them to a mutually-appreciative relationship) and gratitude
62. Your friend believes that nothing in his life is going right or that nothing in his life is going to change. You only think that your academics are the only thing going unchangeable in your life. Your friend is showing an example of a __________ mindset while you are showing a _________ mindset.
Fixed and fixed but universal vs. domain specific...
52. Daisy is afraid that she might fail her final in chemistry. Which of the following reasons for this?
Fixed mindset, low self esteem, fear of failure More willing to try, take risks Fixed = ego attached to performance, reflects innate abilities and true self Growth = will grow as go
29. Which of the following statements best describes the objective conditions of well-being in the world today?
Food, nutrition, money, employment, housing, safety, physical and mental health, human rights (education, speech, voting) We have government agencies that aim to improve objective well-being. Location of well-being: analyzed correlates of well-being at the county level in the US, variance was associated with a number of objective factors like income, population density, health and education
93. Why are gratitude and forgiveness so impactful?
Forgiveness breaks cycle of revenge and counter revenge; can heal from oppression and historical trauma Allows us to repair relationships (build trust, feel connected, more kind) Better conflict resolution Social justice: highlight inequality and injustice - emphasis on victimization Forgiveness training → less depressed, more grateful, more satisfied, less stressed Repair damage from war Less anger, protection from stress
14. When someone feels they have high internal self-satisfaction, they are demonstrating...
Subjective well-being, judged by the person. Maybe cognitive too?
61. Which of the following situations corresponds to a growth mindset?
Goes to try again...
88. Which of the following statements best exemplifies gratitude?
Gratitude is a positive emotion and/or a feeling of appreciation for what one receives If something good happens, we naturally feel grateful Substantially increases sense of WB and can modify our experience of reality
57. What characteristics define grit?
Grit is a combination of perseverance-sustained effort and passion-sustained interest. It requires long-term commitment and motivation. (Perseverance, passion?) Definition: Two characteristics combined, perseverance sustained effort, passion sustained interest for long term goals, both long term commitment and motivation Grit is not: Intelligence. IQ is big for success, but it has no correlation with grit or even slight negative correlation Conscientiousness. Carefulness, and desire to do tasks well. It's highly correlated with grit, but not the same thing. Grit adds motivation + goals Is it a personality trait? Duckworth...people are born with various levels of grit but it also develops through experience Not easily changed like a mindset...
60. Which of the following examples best illustrates Duckworth's concept of grit?
Grit: Long-term commitment to a goal, with perseverance and passion
58. Which of the following does *not* reflect a growth mindset? Believing that:
Growth mindset: Belief that abilities can be developed, put in effort to understand and correct mistakes, desire to learn and growth + Avoiding mistakes (Staying in comfort zone)
47. Which of the following is something that a professor might do to get you to form the habit of participating in class?
Habit, cue, routine, reward type of behavior
4. Compared to other forms of wellbeing, these domains are often at odds:
Happiness, mental and physical health, meaning and purpose, character, close social relationships, financial stability ???
44. Which of the following correctly describes tiny habits?
Identify larger behavior you want to change Start doing one, trivial aspect of it Do it until it is a habit Add more of the behavior Continue until instituted Small, sustainable habits that when practiced consistently, can lead to big changes over time (Small and gradual -> Create lasting change in your life)
90. Which of the following statements is most true about gratitude and forgiveness?
Increases SWB when executed correctly... maybe?
77. Which of the following most describes trait self-control?
Individual's characteristic ongoing level of self-control Can be high or low (e.g. good at resisting temptation, not good at doing what needs to be done when he doesn't feel like it) Predictor of long-term well-being and success
63. According to the reading "The Moral Muscle", what are the two most desirable traits by far?
Intelligence and self control
42. What is an example of an intrinsic goal?
Intrinsic goals: Goals that focus on improving yourself. (For one's own satisfaction) - Personal growth - Developing meaningful relationships - Improving health
5. How is subjective well-being judged?
Judged by how the person views their life and their level of well-being. It is the person's PERCEPTION of their well-being. Ex: if someone is happy and feels life is going well, they have high subjective well-being.
68. Low self-control is most attributed to...
Lack of socialization, Low SES, Impulse control disorders, low glucose levels
6. If you have a paid-off house, car, steady income, and successful relationship, you might say that you have high ____ well-being.
Objective well-being. Basic needs are well established.
27. Which of the following demographic groups averages the highest levels of happiness?
Older adults... Caucasians?
34. If Kayleigh sets the goal of getting an A on her Accounting Final, what kind of goal is that?
Outcome goal, an extrinsic one (extrinsic motivation to get a good grade for benefit and prestige)
83. What is a power thank you?
POWER THANK YOU (Emmons). First, describe what they did that helped you. Highlight the time, resources and attention it cost. Second, explain how it benefited you (emotionally, mentally, etc). Third, tell them how this makes you feel.
50. Which one of the following is NOT a potential problem with goal setting?
PROBLEMS with goals: Goal displacement: in organizations, initial good goals are replaced with inferior goals to benefit members. Ex: UCONN's initial goal = better education ... goal displacement = rise in ranking → W classes = 19 students in order to meet certain criteria in US News and World report Goal fixation: continue goal behavior even when changed conditions make it unwise Ex: continuing to climb up summit despite changes in weather conditions Overemphasis on outcomes: Scott Adams: "goals are for losers" Outcome goals give satisfaction only when achieved and only for a short period of time, they also do not allow for redirection. In contrast, process goals give continued good feelings and allow for better outcomes to arise
84. What is NOT an example of forgiveness?
Pardoning, condoning, excusing, forgetting, waiving legal consequences, reconciling
35. John decides to read 2 pages of a book every night for a week. Then the next week he will read 4 pages every night. This is an example of a/an:
Process goal, and is intrinsic (personal development)
92. Which type of gratitude does Sara Algoe emphasize in her research?
Relationship gratitude
64. Baumeister's article on willpower describes a study of judges and parole decisions. Suppose that we applied the logic of this study's findings to dating. Assuming that deciding to accept a date is a difficult decision, when would be the best time to ask out someone you don't know well on a date?
Right AFTER a meal, not before.
75. Which of the following is *not* associated with increased self-control?
Self-control: Overriding an immediate desire to pursue a long-term ideal, goal or value (delayed gratification)
3. Britney Spears is wealthy and successful but is not content with her life. What type of well-being does she have?
She has high objective well-being, low subjective well-being.
78. Which of the following wastes self-control?
Social media, conflicts with people, unnecessary tasks
65. In Baumeister's classic study, what was the impact of not eating cookies?
Those who ate the radishes instead of the chocolates made fewer attempts and devoted less time to solving the problems, than those who were allowed to indulge. Those who had to resist the sweets could not find the will to engage in another torturous task.
38. Suppose that you wanted to make a habit of eating vegetables with every dinner. According to what you learned about habit formation, what would be the more effective way of developing this habit?
Tiny habit ???
39. Suppose that you wanted to study hard for your midterm in Spanish next week. Based on the research of Gollwitzer, what would be a smart strategy?
Tiny habit?
31. Who of the following would you expect to have a higher well-being?
Types of Well-Being - Objective WB (more things) - Subjective WB (feels good) - Affective WB (positive emotions) - Cognitive WB (feels good with comparison) - Positive WB (good emotions) - Negative WB (negative emotions) - Pleasure (the ultimate goal) - Meaning (feelings of purpose in life) Social well being is also important...
23. If you were to graph well-being against age, the line would reflect a _____ curve.
U shaped curve "What we found was that in our 20s, we're at a moderate level of life satisfaction, then it drops down to the lowest levels in our early 50s, and then it starts shooting up through age 80," Stone says. "So, it's not exactly a U, but a slanted backwards J."
8. Negative emotions sometimes have benefits, but they often do more harm than good. Which of the following best describes when negative emotions are not beneficial?
When they cause distress, low energy and anxiety. Negative emotions like envy, resentment, regret, emotions that can destroy our happiness.
73. What is true about willpower?
Willpower is drawn from a common but finite pool of resources. Willpower is like a muscle.
71. What are the two components of the Resource Model?
Willpower is finite and like a muscle
67. Is it possible to increase self-control levels?
Yes but with practice
66. In Self Control: The Moral Muscle, Baumeister points out that deficiency or adequacy of this nutrient is associated with changes in willpower:
glucose
13. What type of well-being is education, food security, water, having a nice house e.g.
objective
45. Which of the following is NOT a good rule of thumb when making goals?
problems with goals... Goal displacement: in organizations, initial good goals are replaced with inferior goals to benefit members. Ex: UCONN's initial goal = better education ... goal displacement = rise in ranking → W classes = 19 students in order to meet certain criteria in US News and World report Goal fixation: continue goal behavior even when changed conditions make it unwise Ex: continuing to climb up summit despite changes in weather conditions Overemphasis on outcomes: Scott Adams: "goals are for losers" Outcome goals give satisfaction only when achieved and only for a short period of time, they also do not allow for redirection. In contrast, process goals give continued good feelings and allow for better outcomes to arise Basically, try and avoid those problems with goals...
