Question 1

According to a recent study on longevity, friend ratings of participants' personalities that predicted longevity were ________ participants' self-ratings.

Accepted Answer

Friend ratings of participants' personalities were found to be better predictors of longevity than participants' self-ratings, indicating that how others perceive our personalities may have a more significant impact on our health and longevity than how we view ourselves.

Question 2

What two components define the so-called healthy personality?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What two components define the so-called healthy...

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT accurate regarding some of the concerns that have been raised about the DSM?

Accepted Answer

The DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) is widely used by the psychiatric community as a standard classification of mental disorders, which contradicts choice A. Choices B, C, and D reflect common criticisms of the DSM, including concerns about pathologizing behavior, lack of clear definitions, and the potential for overuse of diagnostic labels.

Question 4

Which of the following describes the benefit of changing someone's personality in an effort to improve their physical (or mental) health, rather than changing specific behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Changing a trait could potentially influence multiple behaviors associated with that trait simultaneously, making it a more efficient approach to improving health. This is because personality traits can influence a wide range of behaviors, so altering a trait could lead to improvements in all behaviors influenced by that trait.

Question 5

According to the text, what is one potential issue for diagnosing personality disorders?

Accepted Answer

The potential issue for diagnosing personality disorders is that there is no sharp defining line between what is considered a normal personality and an abnormal personality, making diagnosis challenging.

Question 6

Dr. Spitz is a clinical psychologist whose last patient has recently developed a habit of lying to his parents. If Dr. Spitz were to immediately diagnose his patient with antisocial personality disorder, he would be ________ his patient's behavior.

Accepted Answer

Pathologizing refers to treating or considering a behavior or a part of someone's psychological makeup as abnormal or pathological. Immediately diagnosing a patient with antisocial personality disorder based solely on a habit of lying, without considering the broader context or additional criteria necessary for such a diagnosis, would be an example of pathologizing the behavior.

Question 7

Clinical psychologist Dr. Powell has just seen a new patient and needs to diagnose him to appease the insurance company. In this case, use of ________ is helpful to Dr. Powell.

Accepted Answer

Labeling is helpful in diagnosing a patient, as it allows the psychologist to categorize the patient's symptoms into a specific diagnosis that can be communicated to others, such as insurance companies.

Question 8

A recent cross-lagged correlational study shows that being sick leads to ________ but that the reverse isn't true.

Accepted Answer

Being sick often leads to negative emotions due to discomfort, pain, or worry about health, which is supported by the findings of the study mentioned.

Question 9

One reason why people high on conscientiousness have especially good health is because

Accepted Answer

People high on conscientiousness tend to engage in behaviors that promote good health, such as exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding risky behaviors. This proactive approach to health management is a key reason for their generally better health outcomes.

Question 10

Research on the Type A personality disorder has ________ in recent years.

Accepted Answer

Research on Type A personality disorder has declined in recent years as the concept has been criticized and is not widely used in contemporary psychological research.

Question 11

According to the text, labeling personality disorders can be useful for all of the following reasons EXCEPT it can

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, labeling personality disorders...

Question 12

What trait is MOST clearly associated with positive health outcomes?

Accepted Answer

Conscientiousness, a personality trait characterized by organization, responsibility, and diligence, is most clearly associated with positive health outcomes. Research has shown that individuals high in conscientiousness tend to have better health habits, lower rates of chronic diseases, and longer lifespans compared to those lower in conscientiousness. This is likely due to their propensity for leading a healthier lifestyle, adhering to medical advice, and avoiding risky behaviors.

Question 13

What two pathways between personality and health must be considered when evaluating their relationship with one another?

Accepted Answer

The two pathways between personality and health that must be considered are biological and behavioral. Biological pathways refer to how genetic predispositions and physiological mechanisms can influence health, while behavioral pathways involve how personality traits can lead to health-promoting or health-damaging behaviors.

Question 14

According to the text, psychological remedies to improve health often focus on changing

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, psychological remedies to...

Question 15

According to the text, correlations between personality traits and self-reports of "feeling good" may reflect how personality affects ________ rather than physical health.

Accepted Answer

The text suggests that personality traits may influence mood, which in turn affects self-reports of "feeling good," rather than directly impacting physical health.

Question 16

Greg is often characterized as "marching to a different drummer" or acting original and somewhat idiosyncratically. What is an exaggerated version of Greg's tendencies?

Accepted Answer

Schizotypal personality disorder is characterized by severe social anxiety, thought disorder, paranoid ideation, derealization, transient psychosis, and often unconventional beliefs. Greg's original and idiosyncratic behavior, when exaggerated, aligns with the schizotypal personality disorder's emphasis on eccentricity and odd beliefs or behaviors.

Question 17

The original research on individuals with the Type A personality claimed that these individuals had a higher chance of

Accepted Answer

The original research on Type A personality, particularly by Friedman and Rosenman, found a correlation between Type A behavior and an increased risk of heart disease. This was attributed to the high-stress lifestyle, competitiveness, and urgency associated with Type A individuals.

Question 18

One reason that research on Type A personality was so popular for so long may be because research on it was funded by the

Accepted Answer

The tobacco industry funded research on Type A personality as part of a strategy to shift the focus away from smoking as a primary cause of heart disease, suggesting instead that personality traits like those in Type A individuals (high stress, competitiveness) were significant factors.

Question 19

According to research on emotionality, ________ leads people to experience more stressful events, such as unemployment and divorce, while ________ leads people toward optimistic thinking engagement in more health-promoting behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Negative emotions often result in individuals experiencing more stressful life events, such as unemployment and divorce, due to their impact on one's outlook and behavior. Conversely, positive emotions contribute to optimistic thinking and encourage individuals to engage in behaviors that promote their health.

Question 20

All of the following are reasons for why it is difficult to gather data on health EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Death records, while they may have limitations, are generally considered a reliable source for certain types of health data, such as causes of death. The other options (A, C, D) are valid reasons that can make gathering health data difficult, such as lack of self-awareness, unwillingness to disclose personal health information, and confidentiality restrictions.

Quiz 17: Mental and Physical Health