Question 1

Shirley is talking to a group of third graders about the importance of drinking sufficient water every day.She is focused on:

Accepted Answer

Shirley's focus on the importance of drinking sufficient water every day falls under health promotion, which aims to encourage individuals to adopt healthy behaviors and prevent illness or disease.

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between mind and body?

Accepted Answer

People who have led healthy lives can still fall ill, indicating that there is not always a direct correlation between physical health and psychological wellness. Furthermore, while the mind can influence the body (through the placebo effect, for example), the body can also influence the mind (such as in cases where physical illness leads to depression or anxiety). Lastly, while psychological factors can contribute to some illnesses, there are also many physiological factors (such as genetics or environmental toxins) that can cause disease independent of mental state.

Question 3

Adam's friends advise him to spend his free time doing something productive rather than playing online games the entire day.So,he considers joining a gym,but he is not very sure of committing to this new habit.He feels that although going to the gym will keep him in shape and is a better use of his time,he will have to give up playing online games.According to the stages of change model,which of the following stages does this scenario depict?

Accepted Answer

In the contemplation stage, individuals are aware of the need for change and are considering making a change in the near future. They may weigh the pros and cons of the change, and may feel ambivalent about committing to the change. This is evident in Adam's situation, as he is considering joining a gym but is not very sure of committing to it. He is weighing the pros and cons of joining a gym and is feeling ambivalent about giving up playing online games.

Question 4

Jack has started a new diet program.He wants to lose thirty pounds.His wife is supporting him and he feels that the weight loss is under his control.His behavior reflects the theory of:

Accepted Answer

Jack's behavior reflects the theory of planned behavior, as he has set a specific goal for weight loss and believes that he has control over it. This theory suggests that behavior is influenced by attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. In this case, Jack's attitude towards the diet program is positive and his wife's support may act as a subjective norm. Lastly, Jack believes that he has control over his weight loss, indicating a high level of perceived behavioral control.

Question 5

Sam is an alcoholic.He gets drunk at parties four to five nights a week and he often experiences blackouts.Despite his friends' concerns,Sam does not think he has a problem and believes that he is just being a typical college student.Sam would most likely be classified as being in the _____ stage of change.

Accepted Answer

In the precontemplation stage, a person is not yet considering making a change and may not even recognize that they have a problem. They may rationalize their behavior or deny that there is a problem. In this scenario, Sam does not think he has a problem and believes his behavior is typical for a college student, indicating he is in the precontemplation stage.

Question 6

The theory of planned behavior differs from the theory of reasoned action in that the theory of planned behavior:

Accepted Answer

The theory of planned behavior includes the idea that an individual's perceptions of control over the outcome are important, while the theory of reasoned action does not place emphasis on this aspect. Choice A is related to social norms, which is a component of the theory of planned behavior but not a difference between the two theories. Choice B is a common aspect in both theories as attitude is emphasized as a predictor of behavior. Choice C is more specific to goal-setting theories rather than either theory of planned behavior or reasoned action.

Question 7

The main difference between health psychology and behavioral medicine is that in addition to behavioral and social influences,health psychology focuses on _____ influences,while behavioral medicine focuses on biomedical influences.

Accepted Answer

Health psychology focuses on how cognitive factors such as beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions influence health behaviors and health outcomes. On the other hand, behavioral medicine focuses on the biomedical factors such as genetics, physiology, and neurochemistry that impact health and well-being. Emotional and ecological factors are relevant to both fields, while evolutionary influences are predominantly studied in the field of evolutionary psychology.

Question 8

The element of _____ differentiates the theory of reasoned action from the theory of planned behavior.

Accepted Answer

The theory of planned behavior includes the element of perceived behavioral control, which is the perceived ability to control one's behavior in a specific situation. The theory of reasoned action does not include this element. Therefore, the element of control is what distinguishes the two theories. Confidence, caring, and creativity are not elements discussed in either theory.

Question 9

Lawrence was just told by his doctor that his recent weight gain has placed him at risk for Type II diabetes.Lawrence chooses to ignore his doctor's diagnosis.According to the stages of change model,Lawrence is at which of the following stages?

Accepted Answer

Lawrence is at the precontemplation stage since he is not considering or intending to change his behavior despite being informed of the risks associated with his current lifestyle choices.

Question 10

Which of the following would NOT be classified under health behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Studying is not a health behavior. It may indirectly impact health by leading to better academic or career outcomes, but it is not a behavior directly related to physical or mental health.

Question 11

Which of the following individuals is NOT engaged in what psychologists refer to as health behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Studying history notes is not categorized as a health behavior. The other options are all examples of health behaviors.

Question 12

Dr.Sanders is testing the water supplies of a few villages in a remote region of Africa to ascertain water purity.Dr.Sanders is interested in:

Accepted Answer

Dr. Sanders is testing water supplies to ascertain water purity, which is a direct concern for public health.

Question 13

Which of the following is the first stage of the change model?

Accepted Answer

The first stage of the change model is precontemplation, where an individual is not yet thinking about making a change and may not even see a problem with their current behavior or situation.

Question 14

_____ is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on developing and integrating behavioral and biomedical knowledge to promote health and reduce illness.

Accepted Answer

Behavioral medicine is the field that integrates behavioral sciences with biomedical knowledge to promote health and wellness. It encompasses a wide range of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, medicine, and public health. Its primary goal is to understand the underlying psychological and behavioral factors that influence health and illness, and to develop interventions and treatments that can improve health outcomes. Clinical neuroscience, cognitive psychology, and behavioral targeting are not directly related to this field.

Question 15

Which of the following statements is true of the relationship between the theory of reasoned action and theory of planned behavior?

Accepted Answer

The theory of planned behavior is an extension of the theory of reasoned action, incorporating the concept of perceived behavioral control. Both theories require individuals to hold positive attitudes towards a behavior for it to be performed.

Question 16

Gerald wants to wake up early every day so that he can go for a morning walk.He requests his friends to help him wake up.His friends call and wake him up at 7 a.m.following which he goes for his walk.But,he still feels that he can never wake up early on his own if his friends don't call.Which of the following components of the theory of planned behavior is missing in Gerald's plan to wake up early?

Accepted Answer

Gerald lacks a positive attitude towards waking up early on his own, as he feels dependent on his friends' calls to wake up.

Question 17

Ginny was not aware that she always talked too loudly,until last week,when her friends made fun of her.According to the stages of change model,Ginny was at the _____ stage.

Accepted Answer

In the precontemplation stage, individuals are not aware of their problematic behavior. Ginny was unaware of her loud talking until her friends pointed it out, indicating she was in the precontemplation stage.

Question 18

Nina has been gambling very often in the last three months and has lost a lot of money.When she was confronted by her friend about her gambling problem,she refused to accept it.She is likely in the _____ stage of the change model.

Accepted Answer

Nina is not yet considering changing her behavior, as she denied having a gambling problem. Therefore, she is still in the precontemplation stage of the change model, which comes before the contemplation stage.

Question 19

Ryan has started working out in the gym so that he can play for the football team next year.He is very optimistic about being chosen in the team and feels his peers will support him.Ryan's views reflect:

Accepted Answer

Ryan's beliefs about being chosen for the football team are based on his own evaluation of the situation and the support he expects to receive from his peers. This aligns with the theory of reasoned action, which emphasizes the importance of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control in predicting individual behavior. The theory of planned behavior is similar, but also includes the individual's perceived behavioral control as a key factor. The social exchange theory focuses on the costs and benefits of social interactions, and the self-perception theory emphasizes how individuals infer their attitudes and beliefs from their own behavior. Neither of these theories seems to be the best fit for Ryan's situation.

Question 20

Vince is overweight and hence,wants to join a gym to lose weight.According to the theory of reasoned action,which of the following is a critical factor with regard to Vince's chances of effective change?

Accepted Answer

According to the theory of reasoned action, social norms and the influence of others' opinions, such as believing that friends will approve, play a critical role in shaping intentions and behaviors.

Quiz 17: Health Psychology