Question 1

According to your textbook, which of the following statements is NOT a reason spirituality may contribute to overall well-being?

Accepted Answer

The statement "Many religions have strict rules that people feel compelled to follow" is not a reason spirituality may contribute to overall well-being because it suggests that adherence to rules may be burdensome rather than beneficial for well-being. The other statements illustrate how spirituality can positively impact well-being through social support, purpose and meaning, and promoting healthy behaviors.

Question 2

The earliest emphasis in positive psychology was on

Accepted Answer

The earliest emphasis in positive psychology was on understanding what makes people truly happy.

Question 3

Research repeatedly finds that people who have better health in old age have which of these key characteristics?

Accepted Answer

Research consistently demonstrates that older adults with stronger social support networks tend to have better physical and mental health outcomes, including lower risk for chronic disease, better immune functioning, and greater life satisfaction. Being unmarried does not necessarily predict better health outcomes, and while seeking out information can be beneficial for managing health, it is not a central predictor of healthy aging. An emotion-focused coping style may be helpful in some circumstances, but it is not consistently associated with better health outcomes in older adulthood.

Question 4

Based on what you know about downward comparisons, which emotion is most likely to follow a downward comparison?

Accepted Answer

Downward comparisons typically involve comparing oneself to someone who is worse off or has a lower social status. This can lead to a sense of relief for the individual, as they may feel comparatively better or fortunate. Therefore, the most likely emotion to follow a downward comparison is relief.

Question 5

Which of the following states is NOT characterized as one of the three components of happiness?

Accepted Answer

The three components of happiness are often described as positive emotions and pleasure, meaningfulness in life, and engagement or involvement in life. Being acknowledged by others as a successful person is not typically included as a characteristic of happiness.

Question 6

What are two basic ways that social support helps people cope and maintain good health?

Accepted Answer

Social support has been shown to lower overall stress levels and also help individuals cope better with the stress they do encounter. This is because social support provides emotional, informational, and instrumental resources that can help individuals feel more capable of handling stressful situations. Additionally, social support can provide a sense of belonging and connectedness, which can further promote mental and physical well-being.

Question 7

Adam has been reading the research literature on positive psychology. He has decided to write a letter to thank his grandfather, whom he greatly admires. What should happen after
Adam writes and delivers this letter?

Accepted Answer

Writing a letter of gratitude has been shown in research to increase one's level of happiness and well-being. This is because expressing gratitude can foster positive emotions and strengthen social bonds. Therefore, it is likely that Adam will experience an increase in his level of happiness after writing and delivering the letter to his grandfather.

Question 8

Dr. Zakaria, a young faculty member at Sojourner University, is interested in how personal characteristics such as hopefulness, trustworthiness, and kindness affect
Self-perceived happiness. Dr. Zakaria is most likely a

Accepted Answer

Positive psychology is the study of positive emotions, personal strengths, and factors that contribute to overall well-being, including happiness. Dr. Zakaria's interest in personal characteristics and their influence on self-perceived happiness aligns with the focus of positive psychology.

Question 9

Marriage has many health benefits. Which of the following is also true of marriage?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that while marriage can have health benefits, being in a bad marriage can have negative effects on mental and physical health. Therefore, unmarried people who are happy can be healthier and happier than those who are in unhappy marriages. Option A is not true as studies have shown that marriage provides unique health benefits compared to just cohabitating. Option B is not entirely true as simply getting married does not guarantee happiness, but rather being with a compatible partner. Option C is also not true as studies have shown that the benefits of marriage can increase over time, particularly in terms of emotional support and companionship.

Question 10

The relationship between religiousness and health can be described as

Accepted Answer

The relationship between religiousness and health is generally positive, as research has found that individuals who are more religious tend to have better physical and mental health outcomes. This may be due to the social support, sense of purpose, and coping mechanisms that often come with religious beliefs and practices.

Question 11

Having a higher level of social support is

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that having a higher level of social support is associated with better physical and mental health outcomes and lower likelihood of health problems.

Question 12

Safia is a moderately healthy person. She has a small network of acquaintances and friends. If Safia wants to get all the health benefits associated with social support, she should increase

Accepted Answer

Safia should increase her support network, including people who provide encouragement, in order to get all the health benefits associated with social support. This will provide her with a stronger sense of community, additional emotional support, and opportunities to engage in positive social interactions. Simply increasing the number of new people she meets or the size of her network and leadership capacity may not necessarily lead to increased social support or improved health outcomes. Additionally, emphasizing social integration or dominance expressions may not be appropriate or effective for Safia's particular situation.

Question 13

Sasha finds her job difficult and has had a hard time learning how to do some of the tasks that are required of her. She decides to put in some extra hours to learn how to complete
The tasks, and she is confident that in doing so she will be able to perform the tasks well.
According to research discussed in your textbook, what is a likely outcome?

Accepted Answer

According to research on the relationship between effort and job satisfaction, employees who put in extra effort to learn new skills and complete tasks are more likely to feel less stressed and happier than those who do not. Therefore, it is likely that Sasha will feel less stressed and happier as a result of putting in the extra effort to learn the required tasks. There is no evidence to suggest that Sasha will become physically ill or more negative and depressed, and there is no direct connection between learning new skills and becoming a friendlier person.

Question 14

Research on the relationship between marital status and well-being generally shows that being

Accepted Answer

Research consistently shows that being married has a positive effect on health and well-being. Married individuals generally have lower rates of physical and mental health problems, higher life satisfaction, and better social support compared to those who are not married. The benefits, however, are not uniform across different types of marriages and may vary depending on factors such as the quality of the marriage and the cultural context. There is no evidence to suggest that the positive effects of marriage are limited to traditional marriages or exclude same-sex marriages.

Question 15

What is one piece of evidence that social interaction has physical as well as mental health benefits?

Accepted Answer

There have been studies that have shown that people who have larger social networks are less likely to catch colds, which suggests that social interaction has physical health benefits in addition to mental health benefits.

Question 16

Scott is having a difficult time with his classes. He tries to keep from becoming anxious about his grades by going to movies and parties with his friends. However, Scott is frequently
Irritated and gets sick often. Which of the following factors is probably contributing to Scott's
Mood problems and illnesses?

Accepted Answer

Scott's coping strategy of going to movies and parties with friends is an emotion-based coping strategy, meaning he is trying to regulate his emotions by distracting himself from his problems. However, this strategy is not addressing the root cause of his stress and may be increasing his irritability and susceptibility to illness.

Question 17

The most central goal of the positive psychology movement is to

Accepted Answer

The most central goal of the positive psychology movement is to study and understand psychological well-being. Positive psychology seeks to understand and promote the factors that contribute to human flourishing and happiness, and to help individuals and communities thrive. While promoting positive change in society, cultivating gratitude, and developing positive leadership skills may be byproducts of positive psychology research and interventions, they are not the central or primary goals of the movement.

Question 18

According to your textbook, a large number of studies have examined the relationship between attitude and health. What type of relationships have these studies all shown between
People's attitudes and their health?

Accepted Answer

The studies have consistently shown that people with positive attitudes are healthier than people with negative attitudes.

Question 19

Murid's grandfather is dying of cancer. The coping strategy that will be most effective in reducing Murid's stress around this event is

Accepted Answer

Emotion-focused coping strategies aim to reduce negative emotions associated with a stressful event. In this case, Murid cannot change the fact that his grandfather is dying of cancer, but he can try to manage his emotions related to the situation. Therefore, emotion-focused coping is the most effective strategy for reducing Murid's stress.

Question 20

Which of the following people is most likely to experience the most distress over a stressful situation?

Accepted Answer

Donna is a single mom of three who works full-time, indicating that she has multiple stressors in her life. Research suggests that individuals with more stressors and fewer resources to cope with them are more likely to experience distress in response to stressful situations. Pamela and Alex are in happy marriages, which may provide social support that buffers against distress, and Gerard's domestic partnership status is not necessarily indicative of his stress levels.

Quiz 11: Health and Well-Being