Deck 16: Social Psychology and the Sustainable Future

Question 1

Ecosystems around the world are most in danger because of ______________ and global-warming linked effects.

A) terrorism
B) human exploitation
C) consumption
D) pollution

Answer 1

human exploitation

Question 2

In the United States, Canada, and Europe, the correlation between increased individual income and personal happiness is

A) surprisingly strong.
B) moderately strong.
C) about .30.
D) surprisingly weak.

Answer 2

surprisingly weak.

Question 3

According to the text, both __________________ and _________________ are weapons of mass destruction.

A) physical health; mental health
B) economic growth; personal income
C) terrorism; global warming
D) new technologies; consumption

Answer 3

terrorism; global warming

Question 4

According to the text, we are currently experiencing a global crisis due to ________________.

A) increased population and increased consumption
B) decreased population and decreased consumption
C) transportation problems
D) the consummation-utilization dilemma

Question 5

One pressing concern that has accompanied economic growth in developing countries, and which contributes to waste-disposal problems and emissions, is the increase in __________ that people have today.

A) televisions
B) cars
C) air conditioners
D) computers

Question 6

According to your text, consumption levels and population are both destined to

A) increase.
B) increase and then decrease drastically.
C) decrease.
D) none of these choices.

Question 7

Surveys of how important university students rate becoming "very well off financially" have found that in 1970, _____ of students ranked this as very important, compared to _____ in 2005.

A) 10%; 55%
B) 28%; 85%
C) 39%; 74%
D) 15%; 91%

Question 8

The earth is being assaulted by a "doubly whammy" that includes

A) high inflation and high taxes.
B) more people and colder climates.
C) more people and greater consumption.
D) fewer people and greater consumption.

Question 9

According to economist Robert Frank, an effective way to promote more sustainable consumption is _________________ that would encourage savings and investment while discouraging the purchase of nonessential luxury goods.

A) a public awareness campaign
B) a progressive consumption tax
C) government endorsed voluntary guidelines
D) harsh penalties

Question 10

A source of hope for a sustainable future is

A) cloning.
B) reduced consumption.
C) moderating global temperatures.
D) high birth rates in technologically advanced countries.

Question 11

According to studies on the total ecological footprint we are leaving, the resources from how many earths were being consumed by humanity in 2002?

A) 0.5
B) 1.0
C) 1.2
D) 2.5

Question 12

A source of hope for a sustainable future is

A) increasing technological efficiency and agricultural productivity.
B) to educate the masses in third-world countries to consume less.
C) to decrease the rate at which technology advances.
D) all of these choices.

Question 13

Policies that would curb individual consumption require

A) further research.
B) political acts supported by public attitudes.
C) a one-world economy.
D) none of these choices

Question 14

A sustainable future may be achieved through

A) increased technological efficiency.
B) increased agricultural productivity.
C) reduced consumption.
D) all of these choices.

Question 15

Increased consumption, such as the burning of coal and oil to generate electricity and heat buildings, has contributed to

A) global warming.
B) the advance of polar icecaps.
C) earthquakes becoming more common.
D) increased birth rates in industrialized nations.

Question 16

Among nations with more than $10,000 GNP per person, the correlation between national wealth and well-being is

A) close to zero.
B) around .30.
C) around .60.
D) close to .90.

Question 17

Economist Robert Frank suggests taxing people __________ as a way to moderate consumption.

A) on what they earn
B) on what they spend
C) who are rich, but not those who are poor
D) double the current rates

Question 18

Which of the following is one way to reduce individual consumption?

A) increase income tax
B) regulate birth rates
C) provide incentives for conservation behaviours
D) create a one-world economy

Question 19

In poor countries, where low income often threatens basic human needs, being relatively well off _________________ greater well-being.

A) does not predict
B) does predict
C) has no effect on
D) is the same as being poor in terms of experiencing

Question 20

_______________ agree(s) that money buys happiness, whereas _____________ agree that a little more money will make one a little happier.

A) Most; few
B) All; none
C) Few; many
D) None; all

Question 21

The emotional impact of significant life events

A) lasts longer than most people suppose.
B) is always negative.
C) dissipates sooner than most people suppose.
D) Both A and B.

Question 22

List several ways in which technology can help in sustaining our future.

Question 23

John has just received a 5% increase in salary. However, after learning that his coworkers have all received 10% increases, John becomes upset with his employer and dissatisfied with his raise. We can understand John's feelings in terms of

A) relative deprivation.
B) the adaptation-level phenomenon.
C) Parkinson's second law.
D) the hydraulic model of aggression.

Question 24

Donna has been short of money and worried about her job security. Yesterday she was surprised to find she was being promoted and given a 10% raise. The adaptation-level phenomenon suggests that she will

A) soon be financially worried again.
B) have much better self-esteem from now on.
C) behave much less aggressively from now on.
D) be a much more ambitious, achievement-oriented worker now that she sees that her past behaviour has paid off.

Question 25

When people have difficulty predicting the intensity and duration of their future positive and negative emotions, this is called

A) the miswanting hypothesis.
B) the impact bias.
C) the displacement effect.
D) the adaptation-level phenomenon.

Question 26

What are some of the suggestions in the text as to how can we enable sustaining lifestyles?

Question 27

The King of Bhutan has argued that "___________________ is more important than gross national product".

A) individual success
B) social comparison
C) collective consciousness
D) gross national happiness

Question 28

Are rich people happier? Cite the evidence in your answer.

Question 29

Brenda has just moved into residence and is starting her first year of university. Which of the following is likely to make her most happy?

A) Getting the beautiful and well-located dorm she wanted.
B) Meeting her roommates and forming close bonds with them.
C) Getting an entrance scholarship from the university.
D) Being sent extra spending money from her parents each month.

Question 30

Steve strives for intimacy, personal growth, and ways to contribute to his community, whereas Bill works at "getting ahead" financially. In all likelihood

A) they will be equally happy.
B) Steve will be happier.
C) Bill will be happier.
D) none of these choices.

Question 31

The fact that affluent people often feel as frustrated as those who have less can be understood in terms of

A) the catharsis hypothesis.
B) the weapons effect.
C) displacement.
D) the adaptation-level phenomenon.

Question 32

Relative deprivation is frequently the result of

A) upward social comparison.
B) downward social comparison.
C) Parkinson's second law.
D) the adaptation-level phenomenon.

Question 33

Social psychology's contribution to a sustainable future will come partly through insights into ________________ and ________________.

A) prejudice; conformity.
B) decision-making; conformity.
C) adaptation; social comparison.
D) adaptation; accomodation.

Question 34

Tina, a single mom, just making ends meet, feels most dissatisfied with her current material circumstances after watching a television show about the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Her feelings are best understood in terms of

A) the adaptation-level phenomenon.
B) reactance theory.
C) relative deprivation.
D) downward social comparison.

Question 35

According to the ________________, feelings of success, failure, satisfaction, and dissatisfaction are relative to prior achievements.

A) relative attainment hypothesis
B) achievement motivation syndrome
C) social prestige principle
D) adaptation-level phenomenon

Question 36

Social psychologists have found that the quality of life is enhanced by

A) flow.
B) positive thinking habits.
C) close, supportive relationships.
D) all of these choices.

Question 37

In affluent countries, where most can afford life's necessities, affluence still matters because people with more money

A) can buy things that make them happy.
B) have higher self-esteem because they take pride in their status.
C) perceive more control in their lives.
D) worked hard to earn it and therefore experience greater well-being.

Question 38

Fiona just won 10 million dollars in the Lotto 6-49. According to research on wealth and well-being, we would expect that Fiona will

A) experience elevated well-being initially but this will decrease over time.
B) experience increased well-being because everyday cares are no longer a concern.
C) experience decreased well-being because others seem to only care about her for her money.
D) experience no change in her well-being because money cannot buy happiness.

Question 39

Research by Sheldon asked students to rate the extent to which 10 different needs were met by a variety of satisfying events. He found that at the bottom of the list of factors that predicted satisfaction was

A) personal growth.
B) money and luxury.
C) autonomy.
D) sense of relatedness.

Question 40

All of the following steps are involved in shifting to postmaterialist values except

A) realizing that materialist values make for less happy lives.
B) maintaining equal focus on capitalistic principles and environmental concerns.
C) identifying and promoting the things in life that matter more than economic growth.
D) facing the implications of population and consumption growth for pollution, climate change, and habitat and environmental destruction.

Question 41

What is the adaptation-level phenomenon and how does this relate to our sense of well-being? Provide an example to demonstrate this phenomenon.

Question 42

Describe the role of social comparison processes in influencing subjective well-being.

Question 43

If materialism does not enhance the quality of life, what does? Identify and discuss all four factors.