Question 1

How does the mindless pursuit of less than meaningful or unchallenging goals leave people feeling?

Accepted Answer

Pursuing less than meaningful or unchallenging goals can lead to boredom and emptiness, as there is no sense of purpose or fulfillment derived from such pursuits.

Question 2

What is the hallmark of Langer's conceptualization of mindfulness?

Accepted Answer

Langer's conceptualization of mindfulness emphasizes reducing our tendency to make evaluations of external events. This is because she believes that our preconceived notions about the world around us limit our ability to fully experience it. Mindfulness, according to Langer, involves actively noticing and questioning our assumptions and staying open to new possibilities.

Question 3

Which of the following best fits the idea of mindfulness?

Accepted Answer

A

Question 4

What is the implication of Langer and Rodin's study of adults in a residential facility?

Accepted Answer

Langer and Rodin's study found that allowing older adults in a residential facility to continue to make choices led to increased alertness and happiness. This suggests that older adults should not be limited in their decision-making abilities and should be allowed to maintain a sense of control in their lives.

Question 5

Drawing novel distinctions requires us to do which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Drawing novel distinctions requires us to do...

Question 6

What was the surprising result of Langer's follow-up with the residential facility 18 months later?

Accepted Answer

The surprising result was that mortality rates were lower in the group encouraged to make choices, highlighting the importance of perceived control over one's environment for well-being.

Question 7

Which two famous individuals defined insanity as "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results?"

Accepted Answer

Insanity is commonly attributed to Albert Einstein, although there is no solid evidence that he actually said it. Benjamin Franklin is also sometimes attributed with this quote.

Question 8

The more a child attempts to hold a feisty pet still, the more it tries to wriggle away. This analogy is a good example of what point?

Accepted Answer

Just as trying to hold a feisty pet still leads to more squirming and resistance, trying to reduce uncertainty often leads to more uncertainty and unpredictability. This analogy highlights the concept of control and how our attempts to control situations or people can sometimes have the opposite effect.

Question 9

How does mindfulness battle people's evaluative nature?

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness promotes non-judgmental awareness and acceptance of one's thoughts and experiences, reducing the tendency to make unnecessary evaluations, even positive ones. This allows people to focus on the present moment without being distracted by judgmental thoughts, which can lead to greater emotional regulation and overall well-being.

Question 10

According to Langer, a flexible state of mind and openness to novelty are characteristics of what positive psychological construct?

Accepted Answer

Langer's work focuses on mindfulness, which involves being open, nonjudgmental, and attentive to the present moment. This state of mind includes flexibility and a willingness to consider multiple perspectives and possibilities, which may lead to increased well-being and happiness.

Question 11

Amy Wrzesniewski found that a third of the hospital cleaners in a metropolitan medical center considered their work as a "calling" and therefore were quite vigilant in their attempts to keep the hospital sanitary. This behavior is an example of which positive psychological construct?

Accepted Answer

The behavior of the hospital cleaners is an example of mindfulness. Mindfulness is the psychological construct of being fully present and engaged in the current moment, and being aware of one's thoughts, feelings, and surroundings. The hospital cleaners who considered their work as a calling were likely very attentive and present in their cleaning tasks, thus exhibiting mindfulness.

Question 12

Mindfulness is often compared to what age-old process?

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist traditions, particularly in the practice of cultivating awareness through meditation.

Question 13

In what way would a Buddhist be expected to use mindfulness?

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness is an important aspect of Buddhist practice, and it is primarily achieved through introspection - the act of looking inward and paying attention to one's thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations. Buddhists engage in various types of meditation to cultivate mindfulness, such as breath awareness and body scans. The point of mindfulness is to become aware of the present moment and develop insight into the true nature of reality. It is not achieved through external means or through the views of others, but through one's own efforts in observing and understanding their own experience. Tangible actions may be influenced by mindfulness, but they are not the primary focus.

Question 14

The psychology of deeper living is concerned with the depths of enjoyment, contentment, and meaningfulness. How is it achieved?

Accepted Answer

According to the statement, achieving deeper living is done through engagement with everyday life. While recognizing peak experiences and resolving conflicts can contribute to this, the statement implies that engagement with everyday life is the primary way of achieving deeper living. The statement does not indicate that it is only achieved by some people and not others.

Question 15

Automaticity of behavior relies on what assumption?

Accepted Answer

Automaticity of behavior relies on the assumption that quick, well-rehearsed behavior is the easiest behavior in which to engage. This means that when we have repeated a behavior enough times, it becomes second nature and requires little conscious effort or attention.

Question 16

Langer, Blank, and Chanowitz explored the automaticity of behavior by sending an interdepartmental memo to university offices. What were they attempting to examine?

Accepted Answer

Langer, Blank, and Chanowitz were attempting to examine the effect of novelty on behavior. They sent out two memos that were virtually identical but differed in one word, either "because" or "although." They found that including the word "because" resulted in a significantly higher rate of compliance with the request in the memo, indicating that people may engage in automatic and mindless behavior when faced with a familiar situation and a perceived reason for their behavior.

Question 17

Which statement about a culture-specific concept of mindfulness is correct?

Accepted Answer

In Buddhist teaching, mindfulness is one of the key components of the Noble Eightfold Path leading to enlightenment. This path also includes right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, and concentration. Mindfulness is seen as a foundational practice that supports the cultivation of the other aspects of the path. Option A is incorrect as Taoism emphasizes a balance of internal and external awareness. Option B is incorrect as Westernized ideas of mindfulness have been studied independently of other constructs. Option D is incorrect as mindfulness is not necessarily a natural outcome of industriousness in Western society.

Question 18

Which of the following best describes the term "analysis paralysis?"

Accepted Answer

Analysis paralysis refers to a state where overanalyzing or overthinking a situation can cause decision-making to become "paralyzed," meaning that no action is taken, effectively stalling the decision-making process.

Question 19

In their study of mindfulness among cleaning hospital workers, Wrzesniewski and colleagues found that mindfulness on the part of the hospital cleaning teams was associated with ______.

Accepted Answer

Mindfulness among hospital cleaning teams was associated with the improvement of the hospital environment, as it likely led to more attentive and thorough cleaning practices.

Question 20

What did the study by Langer and colleagues indicate about the automaticity of behavior?

Accepted Answer

The study by Langer and colleagues indicated that mindfulness can occur when people are less automatic in their behaviors and seek novelty. This suggests that people have some control over the automaticity of their behavior, and can increase mindfulness by deliberately seeking out new experiences and avoiding automatic routines. The study did not suggest that automaticity of behavior typically changes when there is danger, that uncertainty increases automaticity, or that people have little control over automaticity.

Quiz 10: Mindfulness, Flow, and Spirituality: in Search of Optimal Experiences