Question 1

Suicide rates tend to be higher ____.

Accepted Answer

Suicide rates tend to be higher among individuals who experience a significant loss of wealth or status, such as rich people who have recently become poor, due to the psychological impact of such a drastic change.

Question 2

Dierdre smokes a pack of Marlboro Reds every day. Social psychologists would say that this is a self-defeating behavior ____.

Accepted Answer

Social psychologists would consider smoking a self-defeating behavior regardless of whether Dierdre is aware of the health risks or eventually gets sick as a result of smoking. This is because self-defeating behaviors are those that ultimately have negative consequences for the individual performing the behavior. The negative consequences of smoking are well documented and include increased risk of cancer, heart disease, and other health problems.

Question 3

Freud's notion that most people have a "death wish" that impels them to pursue their own downfall and death ____.

Accepted Answer

Freud's notion of a "death wish" has not been supported by empirical research and is not widely accepted in modern psychology. There is no evidence that most people subconsciously seek their own downfall and death.

Question 4

Suicide often ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suicide often ____.
...

Question 5

When is the best time for a person to try to quit a habit like smoking?

Accepted Answer

When traveling on vacation, a person is often more relaxed and away from daily stressors, making it a potentially better time to attempt quitting a habit like smoking.

Question 6

Suicide is commonly thought to involve a trade-off between death, which people think will bring ____, and future life, which ____.

Accepted Answer

In this context, suicide is typically perceived as a means of escaping pain and suffering, leading to the expectation of "peace from suffering." However, the second part of the statement is open to interpretation. Some people may believe that their future life has the potential to be good, whereas others may not have such optimistic expectations. Option B acknowledges the uncertainty of the future and the potential for it to turn out positively or negatively.

Question 7

Realizing that the due date for several rather substantial research papers was approaching, Rob decides that he ought to get to work. However, somehow, whenever he sits down to work, he finds himself playing games, surfing the web, checking his Facebook, or doing just about anything other than working. In terms of the TOTE approach, Rob is having trouble with the ____ phase.

Accepted Answer

In the TOTE (Test-Operate-Test-Exit) approach, the "operate" phase involves actually carrying out the plan to achieve the goal. In this scenario, Rob is struggling to transition from the "test" phase (recognizing the need to work on the papers) to the "operate" phase (actually working on the papers). Therefore, the answer is B, operate.

Question 8

The so-called "fear of success" theory-the idea that many people fear being too successful at work lest they turn off potential romantic partners-____.

Accepted Answer

The "fear of success" theory has generally been discredited as it lacks substantial empirical support and is not widely accepted in contemporary psychological research.

Question 9

Two key reasons that people engage in self-defeating behaviors are because of ____ and because of ____.

Accepted Answer

Self-defeating behaviors often involve tradeoffs where people may engage in behaviors that have immediate benefits but long-term negative consequences. Additionally, people may engage in self-defeating behaviors because of faulty knowledge or ineffective strategies.

Question 10

Gisele has applied to a very competitive graduate program. She knows that a faculty committee meets for several days to make decisions about who to admit. Based on research, the faculty committee will be making their best decisions ____.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that decision-making quality can improve after breaks, such as a relaxing lunch, due to reduced fatigue and refreshed focus.

Question 11

Suicide rates tend to be higher in places that generally have ____ climates. In general, suicide rates also tend to be higher during the ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suicide rates tend to be higher in...

Question 12

As discussed in the text, suicide typically starts with some discrepancy between ____.

Accepted Answer

The text states that suicide "begins with a discrepancy between expectations (or other standards) and reality." This implies that there is a mismatch between what someone wants or expects and what they are actually experiencing in their life. This can lead to a sense of hopelessness and despair, ultimately contributing to thoughts of suicide.

Question 13

According to MOST theories in social psychology, self-defeating behavior is ____.

Accepted Answer

Self-defeating behavior is often viewed as a paradox because individuals engage in behaviors that ultimately harm themselves despite their desire to achieve positive outcomes. This behavior seems contradictory to rational decision-making, and it is often studied in social psychology to understand the underlying factors that contribute to it. It is not generally considered a clear sign of a mental disorder or genetically wired, although individual differences may play a role in susceptibility to engaging in such behavior.

Question 14

Research on suicide among humans and non-human animals has shown that ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Research on suicide among humans and non-human...

Question 15

Research on habits shows that if you want to break a habit it helps to ____.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that if you want to break a habit, it helps to change your routine to alter the stimulus cues that support the habit. By changing the environmental cues, it becomes harder for the brain to associate certain cues with the habit, making it easier to break the habit. Changing the routine also helps in reducing stress levels and increasing motivation, aiding in breaking the habit.

Question 16

Researchers offered people free popcorn at the movies. Some people were offered fresh popcorn, while others were offered stale popcorn. People ate more ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Researchers offered people free popcorn at the...

Question 17

Researchers gave people free popcorn at the movies. Some people got fresh popcorn and others got stale popcorn. People rated the fresh popcorn as more pleasant than the stale popcorn ____.

Accepted Answer

The study did not mention whether the participants were habitual popcorn eaters or not, so their consumption habits were not a factor in their ratings of the popcorn. Therefore, the freshness of the popcorn was more important in determining its pleasantness, regardless of the participants' popcorn eating habits.

Question 18

Carefully controlled research testing the idea that many people have a "fear of success," and therefore sabotage their careers, has shown that ____.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Carefully controlled research testing the idea that...

Question 19

According to the text, which of the following may best describe the relationship between habits and goals?

Accepted Answer

The text states that habits "are behaviors that were once new, but now have become almost automatic because they have been performed frequently and consistently in the past as part of pursuing a particular goal." This suggests that habits are developed as a result of past efforts to achieve a goal.

Question 20

According to the text, one key reason that people engage in self-defeating behaviors is because of ____.

Accepted Answer

The text states that one key reason people engage in self-defeating behaviors is because of faulty knowledge or erroneous beliefs. They may not have accurate information or may believe in negative self-talk that hinders their ability to succeed. The other options, such as the "death drive" or self-enhancement motivation, are not mentioned in the text as reasons for self-defeating behaviors. The fear of success may be a factor for some individuals, but it is not the main reason discussed in the text.

Quiz 4: Choices and Actions