Question 1

Which theory would be most helpful for explaining why people are motivated to watch horror movies?

Accepted Answer

Arousal theory suggests that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal or excitement in their bodies, and that they seek out activities that increase or decrease their level of arousal as needed. This theory would be most helpful for explaining why people are motivated to watch horror movies, as these movies often elicit strong physiological and emotional responses, including fear, excitement, and increased heart rate.

Question 2

According to Maslow,our need for ________ must be met before we are preoccupied with satisfying our need for ________.

Accepted Answer

Maslow's hierarchy of needs states that our physiological needs (such as food) must be met before we can focus on higher level needs such as self-esteem. Adequate clothing falls under physiological needs, while self-esteem falls under higher level psychological needs. Therefore, choice B is the correct answer.

Question 3

Which of the following examples would contradict drive-reduction theory?

Accepted Answer

Drive-reduction theory suggests that individuals are motivated to take actions to reduce internal states of tension such as hunger or thirst. Marshall's decision to not eat all day in anticipation of a larger meal contradicts this theory, as he is intentionally maintaining a state of tension (hunger) rather than reducing it.

Question 4

The arousal theory of motivation would be most useful for understanding the aversive effects of

Accepted Answer

The arousal theory of motivation states that people are motivated to maintain an optimal level of arousal, and that when they are under-aroused or over-aroused, they will seek out ways to increase or decrease their arousal levels. Boredom is a state of under-arousal, so applying the arousal theory of motivation would be useful in understanding why people seek out activities that increase their arousal levels when they are bored. The other options - homeostasis, instincts, and hunger - are better explained by other theories of motivation (drive reduction theory for homeostasis, evolutionary theory for instincts, and the biological and psychological factors that regulate appetite for hunger).

Question 5

The tendency for optimal levels of performance to be associated with moderate levels of arousal is known as

Accepted Answer

The Yerkes-Dodson law states that there is an optimal level of arousal for optimal performance, and this level is often moderate. Too little arousal can lead to boredom and too much arousal can lead to anxiety, both of which can negatively impact performance. Drive-reduction and homeostasis are related to the body's need to maintain balance and stability, while self-actualization pertains to personal growth and fulfillment.

Question 6

Which theory would be most likely to predict that rats are motivated to explore precisely those areas of an experimental maze where they receive mild electric shocks?

Accepted Answer

Arousal theory suggests that organisms seek an optimal level of arousal, which can sometimes lead them to seek out stimulating or novel experiences, even if those experiences are mildly aversive, like receiving a mild electric shock. This theory best explains why rats might be motivated to explore areas where they receive such shocks, as it could increase their arousal to an optimal level.

Question 7

Thaddeus will perform in a band concert at his school tomorrow.According to the Yerkes-Dodson law,his musical performance is likely to be ________ if his physiological arousal during the performance is ________.

Accepted Answer

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, performance is best at moderate levels of physiological arousal. If Thaddeus's arousal is too low, he may lack the energy and motivation necessary to perform well. On the other hand, if his arousal is too high, he may become too anxious or overwhelmed to perform effectively. Therefore, Thaddeus's musical performance is likely to be best if his physiological arousal during the performance is moderate.

Question 8

Carmen has plenty of food and lives in a nice house.Now,she feels she needs to find a soulmate,or even a close friend or two,with whom she can share her life.According to Maslow,she is now motivated by

Accepted Answer

Belongingness and love needs refer to the desire for social connections and relationships with others. Since Carmen already has her basic physiological and safety needs met (food and shelter), her motivation shifts to finding social connections, whether it be a soulmate or close friends. This falls under the belongingness and love needs category in Maslow's hierarchy of needs.

Question 9

Maslow referred to the needs for purpose and meaning that lie beyond the self as

Accepted Answer

Maslow referred to the needs for purpose and meaning beyond the self as self-transcendence needs. These needs involve a desire to connect with something larger than oneself and to contribute to the greater good. This is different from belongingness needs, which involve the desire to be part of a group or community, self-esteem needs, which involve the desire for recognition and respect, and self-actualization needs, which involve the desire to reach one's full potential.

Question 10

Manny is a goalie for his college soccer team.The day of his team's first match Manny was so anxious about his upcoming performance that he could not eat breakfast or lunch.His performance was indeed very poor,so much so that he had to be replaced at half-time.Which of the following theories would have best predicted Manny's performance?

Accepted Answer

The Yerkes-Dodson law states that performance increases with physiological or mental arousal, but only up to a certain point. Beyond that point, increased arousal can actually decrease performance. Manny's extreme anxiety likely pushed him beyond the optimal level of arousal, leading to poor performance.

Question 11

Two-year-old Jada is bored.She has been stuck in her car seat for 30 minutes,has played with every toy available to her,and has looked at everything in the car.She wants desperately to escape.She is motivated to escape the car seat to

Accepted Answer

Jada's behavior suggests that she is seeking stimulation and wants to increase her arousal to an optimum level. She has played with all the toys and looked at everything in the car, indicating that she wants more stimulation. This is consistent with the concept of the Yerkes-Dodson law, which suggests that performance is best at an intermediate level of arousal. Therefore, Jada is motivated to escape her car seat to increase her arousal level to an optimal level.

Question 12

On the basis of Maslow's hierarchy of needs,one would be LEAST likely to predict that a

Accepted Answer

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the basic physiological needs such as food, water, and shelter are the most fundamental and must be satisfied before other needs can be addressed. Therefore, it is unlikely that a starving person would sell their child to obtain food as this goes against basic human instincts of protecting and caring for one's offspring. However, the other options all involve fulfilling higher-level needs such as self-esteem, love and belonging, and self-actualization, which would be more likely once lower-level needs are satisfied. Therefore, it is more plausible that a teacher with high self-esteem might seek a career change, a successful business executive might prioritize family relationships, or a prisoner might choose to die for their country.

Question 13

The most basic or lowest-level need in Maslow's hierarchy of human motives includes the need for

Accepted Answer

The most basic or lowest-level need in Maslow's hierarchy of human motives is physiological needs, which include the need for food and water. This need must be satisfied before an individual can move on to fulfilling higher-level needs like safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization.

Question 14

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law,very high levels of physiological arousal would be most likely to interfere with effectively

Accepted Answer

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law, an optimal level of arousal is required for optimal performance. Too much arousal can lead to anxiety and can interfere with complex tasks that require cognitive processing, such as solving a crossword puzzle. Reciting the alphabet, riding a bicycle, and washing dishes are less complex tasks and are less likely to be affected by high levels of arousal.

Question 15

Nikita comes from Nicaragua,a country with a relatively low average income.Francoise lives in Switzerland,where the standard of living is fairly high.Nikita's subjective well-being is especially likely to be influenced by satisfaction with her ________.Francoise's subjective well-being is especially likely to be influenced by satisfaction with her ________.

Accepted Answer

Nikita's subjective well-being is more likely to be influenced by her financial circumstances due to Nicaragua's lower average income, suggesting that economic factors play a significant role in her life satisfaction. Francoise, living in Switzerland with a high standard of living, is more likely to find her subjective well-being influenced by non-material aspects such as home life, reflecting a shift in priorities when basic financial needs are comfortably met.

Question 16

Adventurous people who relish the pursuit of novel and intense experiences are said to be

Accepted Answer

Sensation-seeking is a personality trait related to the pursuit of novel and intense experiences. Self-transcendence refers to a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, but it is not directly related to seeking intense experiences. Incentive seeking is a more general term that can apply to a variety of motivations, not just the pursuit of novel experiences. Self-actualization is a concept in humanistic psychology that refers to the realization of one's full potential, but it is not specifically related to seeking intense experiences.

Question 17

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law,the level of physiological arousal typically associated with peak performance tends to be

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the Yerkes-Dodson law,the level of...

Question 18

Financial satisfaction is more strongly predictive of subjective well-being in poor nations than in wealthy ones.This fact would most clearly be anticipated by

Accepted Answer

Hierarchy of needs theory proposes that people satisfy their basic physiological and safety needs before moving on to higher-level needs such as esteem and self-actualization. As a result, financial satisfaction may have a stronger impact on subjective well-being in poor nations where individuals are more likely to be focused on meeting their basic needs.

Question 19

In poorer nations,subjective well-being is especially likely to be influenced by satisfaction with one's ________.In wealthier countries,subjective well-being is especially likely to be influenced by satisfaction with one's ________.

Accepted Answer

In poorer nations, financial circumstances have a greater impact on subjective well-being as it can affect access to basic needs such as food, shelter, and healthcare. In wealthier countries, financial circumstances may still play a role, but satisfaction with one's home life, relationships, and social connections may have a greater impact on overall well-being. Physical appearance and sexual desires are less salient factors in determining subjective well-being across nations, while personal achievement and safety may be important in different contexts but are not specified as options in the question.

Question 20

According to the Yerkes-Dodson law,test performance is typically ________ when physiological arousal is ________.

Accepted Answer

The Yerkes-Dodson law suggests that moderate levels of arousal lead to optimal performance. When arousal levels are too low, performance may be subpar due to lack of motivation or attention. Conversely, when arousal levels are too high, performance may be impaired due to anxiety or overstimulation. Therefore, the best test performance is typically achieved when physiological arousal is at a moderate level.

Quiz 12: What Drives US-Hunger, Sex, and Friendship