Deck 5: Positive Thinking

Question 1

_______ means focusing on what is good about ourselves, other people, and the world around us.

A) Optimism
B) Positive thinking
C) Hoping
D) Self-honesty

Answer 1

Positive thinking

Question 2

Someone who has _________ focuses her energy on making her goals happen, rather than on bracing for the worst.

A) self-honesty
B) assertiveness
C) optimism
D) pessimism

Answer 2

optimism

Question 3

Positive thoughts lead to positive feelings and _________, which all lead to success.

A) positive actions
B) goal-setting
C) positive talk
D) assertiveness

Answer 3

positive actions

Question 4

Dr. Seligman's research on explanatory style in athletes revealed that after all participant swimmers were purposely given results worse than they had actually achieved, the swimmers who were optimists performed __________ than their original, actual results.

A) worse
B) better
C) the same as
D) the same as or better

Question 5

The swimmers who were identified as pessimists in Dr. Seligman's research on explanatory style performed consistently slower on a second swim after being told they received worse scores than they actually had on their first swim. These results exhibit the role of ___________.

A) failure avoidance
B) learned helplessness
C) catastrophizing
D) cognitive distortion

Question 6

Which of the six positive habits of thought and action cited in the text deals with being grateful for what you have and are working to accomplish?

A) Choose your words
B) Limit complaints
C) Surround yourself with positive people
D) Look for the good

Question 7

Boris has just started a new job, which he seems to be struggling at. Whenever you meet with to hang out these days, he begins the conversation by saying, "Wait until you hear about the horrible, disastrous day I just had." What would you recommend to Boris to help him become a more positive thinker and doer?

A) Tell him to quit his job and find one that is easier for him.
B) Suggest that he start focusing on successful events and replacing his negative words with positive ones.
C) Tell him to start hanging out with more people from work who can empathize with him and share similar stories.
D) Suggest that he begin avoiding the situations at work that are causing him so much grief.

Question 8

Albert is telling you how unfair and spiteful his boss is because she is not letting the staff leave early on the day before the Thanksgiving holiday, simply because she thinks they need to spend more time getting things in order at work before being closed for the long holiday weekend. Albert is practicing the bad habit of ________ and should probably try to be more __________ of his boss.

A) leniency; demanding
B) criticizing; protective
C) judgmentalism; accepting
D) complaining; distrustful

Question 9

We all share our distress, discomfort, or worry with other people from time to time. However, we should try to limit these ________ before they become a habit that creates too much negative thinking and instead, work on solutions to our problems.

A) complaints
B) judgments
C) delusions
D) affirmations

Question 10

The text suggests that instead of spending time and energy being overwhelmed by distress and anxiety caused by contemplating worst-case scenarios-a habit known as ___________-we should learn to distinguish between worst-case scenarios and realistic, probable outcomes.

A) judging
B) floundering
C) worrying
D) avoiding

Question 11

Positive thinking stimulates the production of ________, which cause(s) us to feel better.

A) endorphins
B) antibodies
C) morphine
D) platelets

Question 12

Psychologists believe that negative thinking can leave you vulnerable to disease and illness, including _______, which is characterized by profound feelings of sadness and loss of hope.

A) influenza
B) alcoholism
C) depression
D) anxiety

Question 13

One of the reasons optimistic people may be able to resist succumbing to symptoms of depression is that ___________.

A) they are better able to bounce back from negative experiences
B) they have a natural immunity to the disease
C) they don't experience the normal setbacks of life
D) they are more likely to take preventative medication at the first sign of trouble

Question 14

Which of the following was one of the tips cited in the text for supporting a healthy diet?

A) Consume caffeine in the morning, when it can boost your energy throughout the rest of your day.
B) Eat when you are hungry and stop eating when you begin to feel full.
C) Eat one good food for every bad food you consume.
D) Punish yourself every time you slip and eat unhealthy foods.

Question 15

A negative attitude about yourself that dooms you to failure is called a _______ attitude in the text.

A) self-berating
B) self-deflating
C) self-sufficient
D) self-defeating

Question 16

A person with a negative self-image develops a _____ attitude in which he sees himself failing before he even tries.

A) self-defeating
B) self-deflating
C) self-sufficient
D) self-berating

Question 17

Jackson always felt that he was horrible at any art. Every time he had to choose an elective at school, he chose the one that didn't involve any artistic abilities. Finally, he came to a year in school when he was required to take a drawing course. He told himself right away that he was going to fail the class, so he opted to take it pass-or-fail instead of for a letter grade, so his GPA wouldn't suffer. He rarely spent more than the minimal amount of time on the assignments; sometimes he didn't even complete them at all. In the end, he did fail the course. Jackson's story illustrates a ____________.

A) negative cycle
B) pessimist's roundabout
C) vicious cycle
D) self-deflating circle

Question 18

If the boss of a medical supply company told her employees that women are simply better at medical sales than men, what do you think would most likely happen to sales over the next several months?

A) Sales by her male employees would increase.
B) Sales by her male employees would decrease.
C) Sales by her female employees would decrease.
D) Nothing; sales would remain as they were prior to her speech.

Question 19

What does the text cite as the first step to overcoming a self-defeating attitude?

A) Realize the effects of a self-defeating attitude.
B) Avoid situations that trigger the attitude.
C) Replace the negative attitude with positive self-statements.
D) Discover what caused the attitude.

Question 20

According to the text, a self-critical, illogical pattern of thought is known as a ___________.

A) worry
B) cognitive distortion
C) complaint
D) judgment

Question 21

Kimberly has a test today, which she is nervous about. She begins worrying that if she fails the test, she may fail the class, get put on academic probation, and maybe even have to drop out of the program, which will mean financial ruin for her. Which of the following cognitive distortions is Kimberly likely suffering from?

A) Filtering
B) Helpless thinking
C) Personalizing
D) Catastrophizing

Question 22

Khusro just had a job interview and he doesn't feel as though it went very well. When she asks, he tells his mother he's sure he didn't get the job and he will probably never be able to get a job he really wants. Which of the following cognitive distortions is Khusro likely engaging in?

A) Self-blame
B) Overgeneralizing
C) Mind reading
D) Helpless thinking

Question 23

Holly has been feeling like she isn't performing well at work lately. She thinks the project she is working on requires skills beyond her capabilities and that she doesn't work as quickly as everyone else on her team. Holly is sure the two employees with desks closest to hers are talking about her poor performance when they take their breaks. Today, she sees her boss talking quietly and seriously to the department manager and then her boss calls her into his office. She prepares herself to be disciplined or fired. Which of the following cognitive distortions is Holly likely engaging in?

A) Catastrophizing
B) Helpless thinking
C) Mind reading
D) Overgeneralizing

Question 24

Albert Ellis refers to the distorted, self-destructive assumptions we have that interfere with our thinking as __________.

A) irrational beliefs
B) helpless thinking
C) emotional reasoning
D) cognitive distortions

Question 25

The three main faulty assumptions of irrational beliefs are that I must do well, you must treat me well, and ____________.

A) I must be loved by everyone
B) I can't do anything about my feelings
C) my past is the cause of all my problems
D) the world must be easy

Question 26

In the ABCDE method for coping with negative thoughts and irrational beliefs, what do the D and E stand for?

A) Deliver and Enjoy
B) Discover and Envelop
C) Dispel and Erase
D) Dispute and Exchange

Question 27

Which parts of the ABCDE method deal with the consequences of our irrational beliefs regarding an event?

A) AB
B) ABC
C) ABCD
D) DE

Question 28

Which parts of the ABCDE method deal with coping or changing your irrational beliefs?

A) AB
B) AC
C) ABCD
D) DE

Question 29

Using what you know about the nature of habits, explain how to turn bad habits into positive thinking and actions.

Question 30

How does the effect of placebos provide support for the beneficial role of positive thinking on health?

Question 31

What is the two-step process to overcoming a self-defeating attitude?

Question 32

Explain the relationship between cognitive distortions and irrational beliefs.

Question 33

The text presents the ABCDE method for overcoming irrational beliefs as a formula, in which A + B + C + D = E. Explain what E means in regard to this formula.

Question 34

There's nothing wrong with having negative attitudes about some things.

Question 35

Failure avoidance makes room for a path to success.

Question 36

A good strategy to use when faced with worry is to drown it out with positive affirmations.

Question 37

The words we use influence our thoughts and moods.

Question 38

Research shows that adopting a positive attitude can add more years to your life.

Question 39

Exercise is more important than good eating to a healthy lifestyle.

Question 40

Self-defeating attitudes are rooted in logic.

Question 41

Cognitive distortions are often described as automatic thoughts.

Question 42

Irrational beliefs often contain the words "always,""never,"and "must."

Question 43

Filtering is a cognitive distortion in which a person rules out possible positive outcomes to a problem.

Question 44

Personalizing is a cognitive distortion that is sometimes known as egocentric, or self-centered, thinking.

Question 45

In order to dispute irrational beliefs, you must confront them with the facts of the situation.

Question 46

Although you cannot change your irrational beliefs, you can suppress them through practicing different strategies.