Deck 3: Positive Emotions and Well-Being

Question 1

Both physiological and self-report studies suggest that positive and negative affect are best regarded as

A) two basic dimensions of our emotional experience.
B) a misleading dichotomy that oversimplifies the diversity of our emotional experiences.
C) a complex mixing of physiology, emotional experience and positive and negative feelings.
D) more a matter of general mood than distinguishable emotional experiences.

Answer 1

two basic dimensions of our emotional experience.

Question 2

The focus of Fredricksons' broaden-and-build theory of positive emotions is on

A) emotions associated with simple sensory pleasures such as eating and sex.
B) positive feelings associated with being in a good mood.
C) discrete positive emotions such as joy, love, interest and contentment.
D) all of the above

Answer 2

discrete positive emotions such as joy, love, interest and contentment.

Question 3

From a biological and evolutionary perspective, the effect of negative emotions, like fear and anger, is described by the idea of specific action tendencies, meaning that negative emotions

A) tend to narrow the focus of our thoughts and possible actions.
B) result in a consistent pattern of body reactions.
C) are usually socially caused, resulting from the specific actions of others.
D) depend on the temperament of the person.

Answer 3

tend to narrow the focus of our thoughts and possible actions.

Question 4

According to Fredrickson, positive emotions have four effects. These are

A) broadening thought-action repertoires, undoing the effects of negative emotions, building personal resilience resources, and creating an upward spiral of well-being.
B) broadening thought-action repertoires, undoing the effects of negative emotions, reducing the negative influence of others, and making us more creative in finding the source of our own personal happiness.
C) broadening thought-action repertoires, building personal resilience resources, creating a positive life outlook, and finding the deeper meanings of a happy life.
D) broadening thought-action repertoires, helping us overcome stress and challenge, increasing the quality of our interpersonal relationships, and building happiness based on our unique personal strengths.

Question 5

In one of Fredrickson's studies, college students became very nervous after they were told they had one minute to prepare a speech to give in front of their peers. After preparing their speeches, students were assigned to different conditions to watch films with a neutral, positive, or negative emotional content. The findings of this study supports the value of positive emotions

A) in broadening our thinking because students in the positive emotion film condition gave better speeches.
B) in undoing the effects of negative emotions because of the faster rate of return to baseline heart-rate among students in the positive emotion film group.
C) in increasing personal satisfaction because students in the positive film group were more satisfied with the speeches they gave.
D) in undoing the effects of negative emotions because students in the positive film group obtained more positive support from other students.

Question 6

In his classic book The Anatomy of an Illness, Norman Cousins describes what might be called his ______ cure for ankylosing spondylists, a painful disease of joints and connecting tissue.

A) faith
B) self-awareness
C) laughing
D) love

Question 7

According to your text, the most general pathways through which positive emotions may affect health involve

A) mind-body interactions and the healing power of faith.
B) enhancing people's physical, psychological and social resources.
C) the positive power of positive thinking.
D) offsetting the physical effects of negative emotions and the distress of mental illness.

Question 8

A major advance in the study of how emotions affect physical health is the ability of researchers to

A) gather extensive family and personal histories.
B) experimentally induce different moods.
C) analyze data from large-scale health surveys involving over 100,000 people.
D) measure specific immune system outputs such as T-cells, NK cells, and antibodies.

Question 9

Stone and his colleagues had adult men keep a daily diary of their moods at work, home, and in leisure activities for 12 weeks. Each man in the study also took a harmless protein antigen pill everyday. Results showed that the

A) more positive moods and events the men experienced the more antibodies to the antigen pill their immune systems produced.
B) more positive events and moods the men experienced the less antibodies to the antigen pill their immune systems produced.
C) the more negative moods the men experienced the more antibodies to the antigen pill their immune systems produced.
D) None of the above. Antibody production depended on the initial strength of the men's immune system.

Question 10

Health researchers have described three coping strategies that people may adopt to reduce stress and its negative effects. Each approach has a different goal or focus. The goal of problem-focused coping is to 1.__________, emotion-focused coping is to 2.____________ and pro-active coping is to 3._____________.

A) 1. change or reduce one's response to stress 2. eliminate the source of stress 3. obtain social support
B) 1. seek help from others 2. see the good in the bad 3. take concrete action aimed the cause
C) 1. reduce or eliminate the source of the stress 2. change or reduce one's response to stress 3. prevent stress from happening in the first place
D) 1. eliminate the problem 2. fix the problem 3. stop the problem

Question 11

Folkman and Tedlie Moskowitz studied caregivers of people with AIDS. When asked about their emotional experiences in their day-to-day care giving, what percentage of caregivers reported that they had found positive meaning, purpose, and positive emotional experiences?

A) almost none - less than 5%
B) about half - 50% did and 50% didn't
C) a little half - about 60%
D) virtually everyone - 99.5%

Question 12

The relationship between the traits of self-esteem and optimism to physical/emotional health may be based on the connection of these two traits to

A) success and competence.
B) a "can do" attitude.
C) the emotional support of others.
D) positive emotions.

Question 13

An extensive literature documents the importance of social support resources to health and longevity. The buffering hypothesis states that social support enhances health

A) by reducing the debilitating effects of stress on the immune system.
B) directly, by increasing positive emotions.
C) by increasing the odds that people will get to a doctor when necessary.
D) by bringing together your closest friends and relatives and repairing hurt feelings that are the major source of stress in our lives.

Question 14

The direct effects hypothesis says that social support enhances health

A) only when we are in a crisis or confronting stressful events.
B) all the time through the health effects of increased positive emotions.
C) by directly reducing the toxic effects of negative emotions.
D) when people first confront their illness, problem, or trauma directly with the help of others.

Question 15

Your textbook authors argue that the health benefits of positive emotions should be judged

A) based on whether positive emotions help cure illness or not.
B) to be a powerful scientific fact, given the extensive research documentation.
C) relative to their absence and to the effects of negative emotions.
D) as exaggerated and without scientific foundation.

Question 16

The critical positivity ratio studied by Fredrickson and Losado is based on the ratio of

A) mental illness and mental health symptoms.
B) scores on measures of languishing and flourishing.
C) trait measures of positive and negative affectivity.
D) positive and negative emotions within a given time period.

Question 17

In diverse samples and domains of life, Fredrickson and Losado examined the ratio of positive and negative emotional experiences in relation to individual and group functioning. They found evidence that a critical positivity ratio of

A) 2.9 (or above) positive to negative emotions predicted was the dividing line between flourishing and languishing.
B) 2.9 (or above) positive to negative emotions predicted when people were finally on the road to recovery.
C) 5.8 (or above) positive to negative emotions was needed to overcome significant life challenges.
D) 2.9 to 4.9 positive to negative emotions signified languishing and 4.9 (or above) signified flourishing in life.

Question 18

According studies by Csikszentmihalyi, the flow experience is characterized by

A) relaxation, contentment, and inner peace.
B) total absorption, loss of self, and exhilaration.
C) self-control, internal talk, and self-insight.
D) daydreaming, wandering attention, and self-absorption.

Question 19

Your textbook authors argue that the potential well-being benefits of flow experiences would most likely result from

A) peak performance and success.
B) following your dreams if only in your dreams.
C) positive emotions and the discharge of stress.
D) improving the effectiveness of your 8 to 5 mind.

Question 20

According to Bryant and Verhoff, savoring refers to people's ability to

A) indulge in their passions even if it disrupts their daily routine.
B) take time out from their life and count their blessings.
C) attend to, appreciate, and extend positive experiences.
D) by letting their mind wander to wherever it wants to go.

Question 21

According to Bryant and Verhoff, three preconditions must be met for a savoring experience to occur. These are

A) self-indulgence, pleasure, and sharing with others.
B) a powerful sensory experience, thoughtful consideration, and living for the moment.
C) spontaneity, a frivolous attitude, and forgetting about tomorrow.
D) sense of here and now, setting aside self-esteem needs, and a mindful appreciation of the moment.