Question 1

People not only find confirmation for what they expect to see but also tend to overestimate how often they are right. This is referred to as ____.
A)intervention
B)the illusory correlation
C)the self-fulfilling prophecy
D)misattribution

Accepted Answer

The illusory correlation refers to the phenomenon where people perceive a relationship between two variables even when no such relationship exists. This often occurs because individuals tend to notice and remember instances that fit their expectations, leading to overestimation of how often their expectations are met.

Question 2

Which of the following is most directly concerned with the stages that people go through-and the themes present at each stage-when they are trying to change a specific behavior? ​
A)The theory of planned behavior
B)The general adaptation syndrome ​
C)The cognitive appraisal model ​
D)The transtheoretical model ​

Accepted Answer

The transtheoretical model is specifically designed to address the stages through which people progress when attempting to change a behavior, including precontemplation, contemplation, preparation, action, and maintenance.

Question 3

Are there any differences in health between people who have solid social support and people who do not?
A)No-psychologists suspect that there are differences, but research has not consistently found any evidence that social support makes a real difference.
B)Yes-although social support does not appear to improve people's physical health, it does improve their mood and general psychological well-being.
C)Yes-social support appears to improve physical and psychological well-being though it does not improve objective measures of health (e.g., recovery time from illness).
D)Yes-social support has been tied to better health, more rapid recovery from illness, and a lower risk for mortality.

Accepted Answer

Social support has been linked to various positive health outcomes, including better overall health, quicker recovery from illness, and a reduced risk of mortality, indicating its significant role in both physical and psychological well-being.

Question 4

In health psychology, a(n)____ can be defined as any program or message providing information or structure to change a behavior. ​
A)intervention
B)treatment ​
C)therapy ​
D)manipulation ​

Accepted Answer

An intervention in health psychology refers to any program or message designed to provide information or structure aimed at changing a behavior. This can include educational campaigns, counseling sessions, or structured programs.

Question 5

Research has shown that the more instances of smoking that adolescents view in movies, the more likely they are to smoke. This is believed to be a result of ____.
A)social pressures to smoke cigarettes
B)a spurious relationship since the actual relationship involves being able to afford cigarettes
C)a spurious relationship, since students who perform poorly are both more likely to smoke and watch movies
D)identification with movie characters

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is D because research suggests that adolescents may imitate behaviors seen in movies, including smoking, due to identification with movie characters. This identification can lead to an increased likelihood of adopting similar behaviors, such as smoking, seen in those characters.

Question 6

The ____ model is a value-expectancy theory in which the values and expectations have been reformulated from abstract concepts.
A)planned behavior
B)health belief
C)cognitive appraisal
D)transtheoretical

Accepted Answer

The health belief model is a value-expectancy theory that has been reformulated to include specific values and expectations related to health behaviors.

Question 7

In the transtheoretical model, the stage in which people are ready to take action to change their behavior is termed ____.
A)precontemplation
B)contemplation
C)maintenance
D)preparation

Accepted Answer

In the transtheoretical model of behavior change, the preparation stage is when individuals are ready to take action within the next 30 days. They start to take small steps towards change and believe that changing their behavior can lead to a healthier life.

Question 8

Edward has a difficult coworker who is constantly in conflict with him over how to use the limited resources in office. Edward offers to take the coworker out to lunch, and over lunch, they discuss how they can manage their respective needs for the office resources with less conflict. In this scenario, Edward has used ____ coping.
A)avoidant
B)emotion-focused
C)problem-focused
D)precontemplative

Accepted Answer

Edward has used problem-focused coping by directly addressing and seeking a solution to the conflict over limited resources with his coworker. This approach involves tackling the problem head-on rather than avoiding it or focusing solely on emotional relief.

Question 9

A(n)____ is defined as a person's subjective probability that he or she will perform the behavior in question. ​
A)plan
B)intention ​
C)appraisal ​
D)hypothesis ​

Accepted Answer

Intention is the term used to describe a person's subjective probability that they will perform a specific behavior, reflecting their readiness to perform that behavior.

Question 10

Who among the following is most likely to be a hypochondriac?
A)Andrea, who attributes her headache to not getting enough sleep
B)Tina, who refuses to go to the doctor to treat her flu
C)Mike, who constantly thinks that he is seriously ill despite doctors telling him he is fine
D)George, who believes he is perfectly fine and ignores symptoms of a major illness

Accepted Answer

Mike's behavior of constantly thinking he is seriously ill despite medical reassurance is characteristic of hypochondria, a condition where individuals are excessively worried about having a serious illness without substantial medical evidence.

Question 11

In one study, researchers recruited single, sexually active student volunteers to take part in a campaign (actually the experimental manipulation)supposedly designed to get other students who were just becoming sexually active to practice safe sex. The volunteers were asked to develop a persuasive speech about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)and safer sex that was then videotaped. Researchers found that the students who made the taped speeches were more likely to use condoms, a finding that is consistent with ____.
A)social learning theory
B)the stages of change model
C)the health belief model
D)cognitive  dissonance theory

Accepted Answer

The finding is consistent with cognitive dissonance theory, which suggests that when individuals experience inconsistency (dissonance) between their attitudes or beliefs and their behaviors, they are motivated to reduce the dissonance. In this case, making a public commitment to safe sex practices through the speeches likely led the students to align their behaviors (using condoms) with their publicly stated beliefs to reduce dissonance.

Question 12

It is estimated that ____ of all deaths in the United States could have been postponed or avoided had people changed unhealthy behaviors. ​
A)5%
B)20% ​
C)50% ​
D)90% ​

Accepted Answer

It is estimated that up to 50% of all deaths in the United States could have been postponed or avoided if people had changed unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, poor diet, and lack of physical activity. These behaviors contribute significantly to the development of chronic diseases, which are leading causes of death.

Question 13

Amira notices a lump in her breast but convinces herself that it was always there. As she continues to examine her breasts monthly, the lump remains and seems larger, but each time Amira finds a way to explain it away-the lump is just a result of the uncomfortable bra she was wearing, the lump is connected to her menstrual cycle, and so forth. In fact, she never has the lump investigated because she interprets the lump in terms of her belief that she is "healthy." Which social psychological error has Amira succumbed to in her thinking?
A)Confirmation bias
B)Attribution
C)Self-fulfilling prophecy
D)Chronic negative affect

Accepted Answer

Amira is demonstrating confirmation bias by interpreting new evidence as confirmation of her pre-existing beliefs or theories, in this case, her belief that she is "healthy," despite evidence to the contrary.

Question 14

People who experience ____ show a disease-prone personality. ​
A)low levels of anxiety
B)long-term negative feelings ​
C)high self-esteem ​
D)chronic positive affect ​

Accepted Answer

People who experience long-term negative feelings often show a disease-prone personality, as these negative emotional states can weaken the immune system and increase vulnerability to illnesses.

Question 15

The theory of planned behavior assumes that ____.
A)people decide to behave a certain way on the basis of intentions that depend on their attitude toward the behavior and their perceptions of the social norms regarding the behavior
B)we progress through different stages as we think about, attempt to, and finally change any specific behavior
C)our beliefs about the effectiveness, ease, and consequences of doing (or not doing)a certain behavior determine whether we do (or do not do)that behavior
D)we behave in ways that best reflect our past circumstances

Accepted Answer

The theory of planned behavior posits that an individual's behavior is determined by their intention to perform the behavior, which in turn is influenced by their attitude toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. This encompasses their views on the behavior itself and their perceptions of what others think they should do.

Question 16

The health belief model proposes that ____.
A)we form our health beliefs on the basis of observational information and our sense of self-efficacy
B)our beliefs about the effectiveness, ease, and consequences of doing (or not doing)a certain behavior determine whether we do (or do not do)that behavior
C)our beliefs about what others are doing vis-à-vis their health (whether accurate or not)guide our health-related behavior
D)we form our health beliefs by relying too much on what feels good either psychologically or physically

Accepted Answer

The health belief model suggests that individuals' beliefs about health problems, perceived benefits of action and barriers to action, and self-efficacy can predict health-related behaviors. It posits that a person's belief in the severity of a health threat, and the appraisal of the costs and benefits of taking action, influence their readiness to act.

Question 17

Research on the effects of movie watching on teen smoking behavior (i.e., watching popular movies containing instances of smoking)found that ____.
A)there were only very weak effects
B)there were moderately strong effects-but these effects disappeared when one accounted for individual differences on personality variables
C)there were moderately strong effects-but these effects disappeared when one accounted for parental smoking and peer group smoking
D)there were progressively stronger effects as the exposure to instances of smoking in movies increased

Accepted Answer

Research indicates that exposure to smoking in movies can influence teen smoking behavior, with effects becoming stronger as the level of exposure increases. This suggests that seeing smoking in films may normalize or glamorize the behavior, potentially increasing the likelihood that teens will start smoking themselves.

Quiz 16: Application Module B: Applying Social Psychology to Health

People not only find confirmation for what they expect to see but also tend to overestimate how often they are right. This is referred to as ____.

Which of the following is most directly concerned with the stages that people go through-and the themes present at each stage-when they are trying to change a specific behavior?

Are there any differences in health between people who have solid social support and people who do not?

In health psychology, a(n) ____ can be defined as any program or message providing information or structure to change a behavior.

Research has shown that the more instances of smoking that adolescents view in movies, the more likely they are to smoke. This is believed to be a result of ____.

The ____ model is a value-expectancy theory in which the values and expectations have been reformulated from abstract concepts.

In the transtheoretical model, the stage in which people are ready to take action to change their behavior is termed ____.

A(n) ____ is defined as a person's subjective probability that he or she will perform the behavior in question.

Who among the following is most likely to be a hypochondriac?

It is estimated that ____ of all deaths in the United States could have been postponed or avoided had people changed unhealthy behaviors.

People who experience ____ show a disease-prone personality.

The theory of planned behavior assumes that ____.

The health belief model proposes that ____.

Research on the effects of movie watching on teen smoking behavior (i.e., watching popular movies containing instances of smoking) found that ____.