Question 1

In their study of happiness and success during the first year of college, Sheldon and Houser-Marko evaluated freshmen students' reasons for attending college according to the extent to which their reasons reflected external, introjected, identified, or intrinsic motivations. The results of their study suggested the potential for an upward spiral of well-being, because some students maintained or increased their well-being gains from the first to the second semester of college. What factor seemed to determine whether first semester well-being increases were lost, maintained, or increased in the second semester?

Accepted Answer

The study suggested that continued success in achieving personal goals was a key factor in maintaining or increasing well-being from the first to the second semester.

Question 2

In their classic study of the "dark side of the American dream," Kasser and Ryan found strong evidence for an inverse relationship between financial aspirations and well-being. What was the specific nature of this relationship?

Accepted Answer

Kasser and Ryan's study found that individuals who prioritized financial success over intrinsic goals like self-acceptance and affiliation experienced lower well-being.

Question 3

Conclusions from the classic Kasser and Ryan study on the "dark side of the American dream"

Accepted Answer

The conclusions from the Kasser and Ryan study have been replicated in various cultures, indicating that the findings are not limited to a specific cultural context.

Question 4

The goal contents explanation (what goals are pursued) for the relationship between strong financial aspirations and lower well-being is that

Accepted Answer

Extrinsic goals, like financial aspirations, are less satisfying than intrinsic goals and can interfere with achieving intrinsic goals, impacting well-being.

Question 5

The goal motive explanation (why goals are pursued) for the relationship between strong financial aspirations and lower well-being is that

Accepted Answer

Controlled motivations, such as those driven by external pressures or obligations, are linked to lower well-being compared to autonomous motivations, which are self-endorsed and aligned with personal values.

Question 6

Studies conducted by Sheldon and his colleagues evaluated whether goal content or goal motive was more important in the relationship between strong financial aspirations and lower well-being. These studies showed that

Accepted Answer

The studies indicated that both goal content and goal motive independently contributed to well-being, suggesting that each plays a distinct role in the relationship between financial aspirations and well-being.

Question 7

Studies showing that materialistic people have unmet needs and doubts about their self-worth and their acceptance by others suggests that strong financial aspirations may be motivated by

Accepted Answer

Materialistic people often pursue financial goals to compensate for feelings of insecurity and low self-worth, as they believe that acquiring wealth will fulfill their unmet needs and gain acceptance from others.

Question 8

Earnest Becker in his classic book The Denial of Death argued that everything from the Egyptian pyramids to modern skyscrapers to cultural heroes who triumph over adversity all communicate the symbolic message that

Accepted Answer

Becker's theory suggests that cultural symbols and achievements serve to deny the reality of death, implying that through them, we achieve a form of symbolic immortality, thus communicating that we don't really die.

Question 9

Terror management theory states that the evolution of human intelligence came with a price tag. Which is that

Accepted Answer

Terror management theory posits that the awareness of mortality is a byproduct of human intelligence, leading to existential anxiety that influences behavior and culture.

Question 10

Terror management theory states that all cultures have developed a system of beliefs and sources of individual self-esteem whose purpose is to

Accepted Answer

Terror management theory posits that cultural worldviews and self-esteem serve to buffer individuals from the existential anxiety and terror associated with the awareness of mortality.

Question 11

What is the connection of death and materialism as shown in studies employing a mortality salience condition in which people are instructed to think about their own death? Studies of mortality salience show that

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that mortality salience, or thinking about one's own death, can increase materialistic expectations and behavior. This suggests that money and possessions may provide a sense of safety and security in the face of existential anxiety.

Question 12

According to the historical analysis of Solomon and his colleagues (developers of terror management theory), what does gold in ancient Egypt, the Temple of Juno Moneta in Rome, and the imagery on a U.S. dollar bill all have in common? These authors argue that each of these example show

Accepted Answer

Solomon and his colleagues argue that these examples show how money is connected to the transcendence of death, as they symbolize stability, permanence, and immortality, which help people manage their fear of mortality.

Question 13

Recent studies by Luthar and others have compared the adjustment problems, rates of depression, and drug use of low-income inner-city teenagers to those of affluent teens living in the suburbs. These studies show that

Accepted Answer

Recent studies have found that affluent teens often experience greater levels of maladjustment and higher rates of depression compared to their low-income counterparts, challenging the assumption that wealth equates to better mental health outcomes.

Question 14

Explanations for the connection between affluent families and teenagers' emotional health and well-being have focused on the

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that affluent teenagers often face high parental achievement pressures and may experience a lack of parental supervision and attention, which can negatively impact their emotional health and well-being.

Question 15

According to the research by Van Boven and Gilovich, many of the negative effects of materialism can be reduced if people would

Accepted Answer

Van Boven and Gilovich's research suggests that experiential purchases, which involve new experiences and learning opportunities, can mitigate the negative effects of materialism by providing more lasting satisfaction and happiness compared to material goods.

Quiz 7: Personal Goals As Windows to Well-Being