Deck 14: Personality

Question 1

Research suggests that a person's future academic success can be better predicted with

A) statistics.
B) intuitions.
C) self reports.
D) peer reviews.

Answer 1

statistics.

Question 2

According to Renaud and Estess (1961), therapists who expect to find evidence of early childhood traumas are likely to uncover such experiences among

A) clients who are males.
B) clients who are real victims of childhood sex abuse.
C) clients who are healthy, successful adults.
D) all clients.

Answer 2

all clients.

Question 3

Snyder and Swann (1984) gave students some hypotheses to test concerning individuals' traits, and found that people often tested for a trait by

A) asking questions related to childhood experiences.
B) looking for information that would contradict it.
C) looking for information that would confirm it.
D) asking very specific questions to disprove it.

Answer 3

looking for information that would confirm it.

Question 4

When researchers pit statistical prediction-such as predicting graduate school success using a formula that includes grades and aptitude scores-against interviewers' intuitive prediction,

A) statistical prediction is usually superior to expert intuition.
B) expert intuition is usually superior to statistical intuition.
C) statistical prediction and expert intuition do equally well.
D) both methods usually fare no better than chance.

Question 5

The work of Alloy and Abramson (1979) examined how depressed individuals tend to make accurate rather than self-serving judgments, attributions, and predictions. This phenomenon is known as

A) depressive optimism.
B) pessimistic exaggeration.
C) depressive realism.
D) defensive pessimism.

Question 6

The study, assessment, and treatment of people with psychological difficulties is known as

A) developmental psychology.
B) comparative psychology.
C) biopsychology.
D) clinical psychology.

Question 7

Vanessa is a mildly depressed college student. In the context of depressive realism, she would probably

A) be inaccurate in estimating her degree of control in comparison with those not depressed.
B) have distorted judgements than those nondepressed.
C) demonstrate the sadder-but-wiser effect.
D) be below average in intelligence.

Question 8

Research indicates that when interviewers are instructed to test for a trait, they tend to ask questions that show evidence of

A) self-confirming diagnoses.
B) the illusion of control.
C) egocentric bias.
D) illusory correlations.

Question 9

When Rosenhan and his research associates (1973) reported to mental hospital admissions offices that they were "hearing voices," most were

A) diagnosed with schizophrenia and hospitalized for two to three weeks.
B) not diagnosed with a mental illness, since they were in fact normal.
C) diagnosed with schizophrenia initially but never hospitalized.
D) diagnosed with schizophrenia initially, hospitalized, but then released after testing revealed that they were normal.

Question 10

Researchers suggests that we can avoid self-confirming diagnoses by

A) looking for illusory correlations.
B) carefully monitoring the information that is consistent with our ideas.
C) considering opposing ideas and then testing them.
D) confirming our intuitions.

Question 11

Alloy and Abramson (1979) had depressed and nondepressed students observe whether pressing a button was linked with a light blinking and found that depressed students

A) were too self-focused to complete the task.
B) were quite accurate at assessing their control.
C) exaggerated the extent of their control of the light.
D) underestimated the extent of their control of the light.

Question 12

In the context of implications for better clinical practice, one important effect of hindsight is that it can

A) eliminate the tendency to see relationships that you expect to see.
B) lead to increased cautiousness and decreased confidence.
C) lead to both overconfidence and the tendency to judge yourself too harshly.
D) be very helpful in developing hypotheses about personality traits.

Question 13

In Rosenhan's study (1973), clinicians who dealt with pseudopatients who had faked symptoms to get into mental hospitals demonstrated the error of

A) projection bias.
B) hindsight bias.
C) self-handicapping.
D) impact bias.

Question 14

Rosenhan and his colleagues (1973) faked schizophrenic symptoms to infiltrate mental hospitals. Once they had been admitted and no longer complained of any fake symptoms,

A) professional clinicians quickly distinguished them from the real patients and released them from the hospital.
B) the clinicians sought and found evidence in their histories and behavior to confirm their admitting diagnoses.
C) the pseudopatients were abandoned by the hospital's real patients.
D) the pseudopatients absorbed their "sick" roles and developed additional symptoms in the course of their treatment.

Question 15

According to James Maddux, professional clinicians are NOT likely to

A) be the victims of illusory correlation.
B) suffer from confirmation bias.
C) be invulnerable to insidious errors and biases.
D) overestimate their clinical intuition.

Question 16

Yvonne, a college senior, is mildly depressed. Asked to describe herself, she notes both her positive and negative qualities. She recalls both past successes and failures and takes personal responsibility for both. Yvonne clearly illustrates the _____ effect.

A) Forer
B) sadder-but-wiser
C) false consensus
D) pseudocentricity

Question 17

Some physicians take credit when things go well but not take blame for failure. This is indicative of their _____ in research.

A) self-serving bias
B) testing effect
C) impact bias
D) context effect

Question 18

Following the suicide of a friend or family member, feelings of guilt are often magnified by

A) illusory thinking.
B) the fundamental attribution error.
C) hindsight bias.
D) obscurantism.

Question 19

Chapman and Chapman had college students and professional clinicians study the relationship between patients' test performances and diagnoses. They found that

A) if students or clinicians expected a particular association, they generally perceived it.
B) students and clinicians only saw relationships that were supported by the data.
C) professional clinicians were more accurate than students in assessing relationships.
D) students and clinicians only recognized positive relationships if the actual correlations were greater than 0.75.

Question 20

Compared to depressed people, nondepressed people

A) exaggerate their control of events around them.
B) have realistic perceptions of the good and bad things that the future holds.
C) readily accept responsibility for both successes and failures.
D) make more accurate judgements.

Question 21

Who is more likely to exhibit a negative explanatory style?

A) a teenager
B) a nondepressed person
C) an elderly person
D) a depressed person

Question 22

Studies show that college students who have depressed roommates tend to become

A) somewhat depressed themselves.
B) more accepting of people suffering from psychological disorders.
C) more optimistic about their own lives.
D) more studious and committed to achieving academic success.

Question 23

When faced with a difficult situation, short-term depression protects us by

A) slowing us down.
B) redirecting our energy.
C) reassessing the situation.
D) all of the above.

Question 24

According to Lewinsohn and his colleagues (1985), which of the following does NOT belong in the vicious circle of depression?

A) negative experiences
B) self-blame
C) depressed mood
D) defensive pessimism

Question 25

In the context of the negative explanatory style, which of the following best illustrates an internal attribution for a failure or setback?

A) "It's a temporary setback."
B) "This ruins everything."
C) "It's my fault."
D) "The whole world is against me."

Question 26

Maxwell, a college junior, suffers from chronic depression. After learning that he has performed poorly on his chemistry test, he is most likely to say,

A) "The test was not a fair assessment of what I actually know."
B) "My chemistry professor does not grade his tests fairly."
C) "I'm incompetent and probably always will be."
D) "I am sure most people did poorly on the test."

Question 27

Which of the following attributions regarding a failure or setback specifically illustrates the stable quality of a depressed person's explanatory style?

A) "It's all my fault."
B) "It's going to last forever."
C) "The whole world is against me."
D) "It's going to affect everything I do."

Question 28

In comparison to those in Western cultures, depressed people in Japan are more likely to report feeling

A) guilt and self-blame over personal failure.
B) shame over letting down their family or co-workers.
C) sad about social problems such as poverty and discrimination.
D) hopeless and helpless when things don't go well for them.

Question 29

Strack and Coyne (1983) found that depressed people were realistic in thinking that other people

A) possessed more accurate self-concepts than they did.
B) did not appreciate their pessimism.
C) would welcome their friendship and trust.
D) were less influenced by fear of social disapproval than they were.

Question 30

According to Seligman (2002), near-epidemic levels of depression in America today, ironically, can be blamed in part on the promotion of attitudes that say,

A) "Everybody needs somebody sometime."
B) "You can make it on your own."
C) "You're nobody if nobody loves you."
D) "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die."

Question 31

Explaining failures and setbacks in terms of factors that are stable, global, and internal is a _____ explanatory style.

A) negative
B) positive
C) realistic
D) repressive

Question 32

Compared to nondepressed people, depressed people

A) exaggerate their control of events around them.
B) have realistic perceptions of the good and bad things that the future holds.
C) take credit for successful outcomes and tend to deny responsibility for failure.
D) describe themselves primarily positively.

Question 33

"Explanatory style" refers to

A) the complexity of one's persuasive arguments.
B) one's habitual way of describing life events.
C) the pitch and speed with which one communicates.
D) whether one relies primarily on reason or emotion when debating an issue.

Question 34

The vicious circle of depression is usually triggered by negative experiences that lead directly to

A) self-focused rumination and self-blame.
B) depressed moods.
C) further negative experiences.
D) blaming others for the negative experiences.

Question 35

Which of the following explains the relationship between depression and negative thinking?

A) Depressed moods do not cause negative thinking.
B) Negative thinking always causes major depression.
C) Depression and negative thinking are unrelated in laboratory experiments.
D) Depressed moods can cause negative thinking and vice versa.

Question 36

Which of the following attributions regarding a failure or a setback illustrates specifically the global quality of a depressed person's explanatory style?

A) "It's my fault."
B) "It's going to last forever."
C) "It's going to affect everything I do."
D) "It's the same with everybody."

Question 37

Which statement is NOT true about the impact of mood on human behavior and cognition?

A) Moods modify memories.
B) Depressed moods cause negative thinking.
C) When we feel happy, we think happy.
D) Depressed moods don't affect behavior.

Question 38

According to Seligman's (2002) analysis of the attitudes that promote near-epidemic levels of depression in today's Western world, most of us feel that, if we do not "make it" in today's world, we can blame

A) our parents.
B) only the government.
C) the alienation of the modern world.
D) only ourselves.

Question 39

Compared to nondepressed people, depressed people are more likely to attribute their failures and setbacks to causes that are

A) external.
B) specific.
C) internal.
D) situational.

Question 40

Your roommate Joel is depressed. As a result, you will tend to become

A) somewhat depressed yourself.
B) more accepting of people suffering from psychological disorders.
C) more optimistic about your own life.
D) more studious and committed to achieving academic success.

Question 41

When people notice a symptom and interpret it as possibly serious, they more often seek treatment if they

A) feel embarrassed about their illness.
B) want to avoid a possibly devastating diagnosis.
C) think the likely benefits of medical attention won't justify the cost and inconvenience.
D) believe their symptoms have a physical rather than a psychological cause.

Question 42

In the context of health and illness, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A) Men have higher rates of hypertension and ulcers.
B) Women are more often sick.
C) Women are more likely than men to visit a physician.
D) Men use fewer prescription and nonprescription drugs.

Question 43

Chronically lonely people tend to blame _____ for their poor social relationships.

A) their parents and early childhood experiences
B) the uncaring attitudes of those presently around them
C) themselves
D) cultural changes

Question 44

According to the self-presentation theory, we will feel social anxiety when we are

A) motivated to impress others but have self-doubts.
B) motivated and able to impress others, but they ignore us.
C) in any circumstance in which we can be observed.
D) deeply depressed about being alone.

Question 45

Brodt and Zimbardo (1981) found that shy women were no longer shy when they

A) were provided an alternative explanation for their social anxiety.
B) were provided alcohol before interacting with others.
C) discovered that most people feel shy.
D) were taught to blame their failures on circumstances beyond their control.

Question 46

Shy, anxious people tend to

A) overpersonalize situations.
B) be unaware of their self-consciousness.
C) see incidental events as irrelevant to themselves.
D) be assertive and disapproving.

Question 47

In the industrialized world, at least _____ of all deaths are linked with behaviors that people choose to do, like smoking, drinking, and not exercising.

A) 5 percent
B) 25 percent
C) 50 percent
D) 75 percent

Question 48

Dr. Jones is a psychologist who specializes in the causes and control of stress-related illnesses. Dr. Jones is most likely a(n) _____ psychologist.

A) social
B) gestalt
C) forensic
D) health

Question 49

Shyness is a form of _____ characterized by self-consciousness and worrying about what others think.

A) loneliness
B) social anxiety
C) depression
D) social ostracism

Question 50

Which is NOT an example of how emotions are linked with illness?

A) Heart disease has been linked with a competitive, anger-prone personality.
B) Depression is linked with heart disease.
C) Anger, depression, and stress are heartfelt emotions.
D) Stress decreases the production of inflammation-producing proteins.

Question 51

Identify a true statement about loneliness.

A) Loneliness is not genetically influenced.
B) People affected by loneliness see most things within their control.
C) Lonely individuals perceive their interactions as making a poor impression.
D) Loneliness signals people to avoid social connections.

Question 52

Shy people tend to

A) make a good first impression.
B) depersonalize social situations.
C) become disliked over time.
D) be self-conscious.

Question 53

Psychology's contribution to the interdisciplinary field of behavioral medicine is

A) parapsychology.
B) psychiatry.
C) behavioral analysis.
D) health psychology.

Question 54

Loneliness is best described as a state created by the awareness that you

A) are alone most of the time.
B) have lost a significant relationship.
C) have fewer numerous or meaningful social relationships than you desire.
D) are not really respected even though you have many acquaintances.

Question 55

Which of the following theories most clearly predicts that we will feel anxious when we are motivated to impress others but doubt our ability to do so?

A) social learning theory
B) self-presentation theory
C) self-perception theory
D) cognitive dissonance theory

Question 56

Brodt and Zimbardo (1981) found that shy women who were bombarded with loud noise and told that it would leave them _____ were subsequently _____ when interacting with a handsome male.

A) with a pounding heart; no longer so shy
B) unaffected; no longer so shy
C) with a pounding heart; even more shy
D) unaffected; unaffected

Question 57

Which of the following is NOT an example of one of the components of a pessimistic explanatory style?

A) "This is all my fault."
B) "I've learned my lesson."
C) "This is going to ruin everything."
D) "Things are going to be terrible from now on."

Question 58

For most people, the tendency to be cautious and self-protective in some social situations can result in all of the following EXCEPT

A) talking less.
B) being agreeable and smiling.
C) being guarded about ourselves.
D) being assertive.

Question 59

People are more likely to use sunscreen or get an HIV test when the message is

A) framed attractively.
B) threatening.
C) short.
D) focused on the details of their ill effects.

Question 60

The similarity between chronically lonely people and depressed people with a negative explanatory style is that

A) both blame others for poor social relationships.
B) both perceive their interactions as making the best impression.
C) both perceive others in a positive way.
D) both see most things as beyond their control.

Question 61

A study by Haemmerlie and Montgomery (1986) enticed shy college men to participate in laboratory exercises that would enhance their social competence. The men

A) were taught specific communication skills.
B) had to deliver a presentation to female clients.
C) delivered self-laudatory speeches to strangers.
D) had several successful conversations with women.

Question 62

Identify a true statement about health risks and people with close relationships.

A) They are less likely to die prematurely than lonely people.
B) They are more likely to have less sleep than people who are lonely.
C) They are more likely to experience stress.
D) They are less likely to be satisfied with their personal health.

Question 63

Haemmerlie and Montgomery (1986) concluded that the success of their social skills training with shy men may have occurred because their program

A) employed skilled counselors who took responsibility for inspiring the men to feel confident and competent.
B) included no counseling, so the participants made internal attributions for their success.
C) trained the participants in specific communication skills and mentored them throughout the program.
D) paved the way for conversational success by providing many external reasons for initiating conversation.

Question 64

Mendonca and Brehm (1983) found that overweight children were more likely to lose weight both at the end of the 8-week program and 3 months later if they

A) felt responsible for choosing their weight-loss program.
B) were regularly monitored and penalized for breaking rules.
C) were praised and rewarded for even minor weight loss.
D) had been assigned to their "least preferred" treatment program.

Question 65

Research has reported that newlywed couples who become angry while discussing problems

A) experience catharsis and have better long-term relationships with their spouses.
B) are less susceptible to problems of depression and loneliness.
C) suffer more immune system suppression the next day.
D) are more prone to develop colon cancer in the subsequent six months.

Question 66

The _____ style people use to explain bad events makes illness _____ likely.

A) eccentric; less
B) pessimistic; more
C) pessimistic; less
D) optimistic; more

Question 67

In the context of psychological approaches to treatment, the circles of depression, loneliness, and shyness can be broken by all of the following EXCEPT

A) positive experiences that alter self-perceptions.
B) social skills training.
C) changing negative thought patterns.
D) believing that they will go away.

Question 68

A common conclusion reached by several studies involving thousands of people is that

A) close relationships predict health.
B) close relationships promote stress and some forms of illness.
C) lonely people are better equipped to deal with stress than those with close relationships.
D) physical health is not linked to social support.

Question 69

Research by Haemmerlie and Montgomery (1986) supported the notion that social skills training can lead shy men to

A) become dependent on their therapist.
B) reduce their social anxiety.
C) increase their level of nervousness.
D) become more shy six months after treatment.

Question 70

Peterson and Seligman (1987) analyzed the press quotes of baseball's Hall of Famers and found that those who routinely offered pessimistic explanations for bad events, like losing big games, were more likely to

A) earn lower salaries.
B) experience divorce.
C) play aggressively.
D) die at younger ages.

Question 71

A growing body of evidence reveals that people who undergo highly stressful experiences become

A) more resistant to low-level illnesses like colds and flu.
B) more vulnerable to disease.
C) less self-disclosing and more socially isolated.
D) stronger and more socially skilled than less stressed people.

Question 72

Experiments that subject animals to mild but uncontrollable electric shocks have shown that such experiences

A) directly cause diseases like cancer.
B) lower the body's resistance to disease.
C) strengthen the animals' capacity to deal with future stressors.
D) lead to the animals becoming more aggressive in interacting with members of their own species.

Question 73

Which of the following is NOT a therapy that utilizes the "attitudes-follow-behavior" principle?

A) assertiveness training
B) rational-emotive therapy
C) self-help groups
D) psychoanalysis

Question 74

Which is NOT true about the process of therapy?

A) Psychologists believe that social influence is an insignificant part of therapy.
B) Therapists begin with establishing credibility and trust.
C) A key component in therapy is helping clients think differently.
D) Change in therapy is best maintained when people attribute their improvement to internal rather than external factors.

Question 75

Having shy or anxious people observe, then rehearse, then try out more assertive behaviors in real situations is called

A) foot-in-the-door training.
B) rational-emotive therapy.
C) social skills training.
D) explanatory style therapy.

Question 76

Maria's therapist instructed her to monitor her attributions for successes and failures. Maria is probably participating in

A) rescue style therapy.
B) explanatory style therapy.
C) salvage therapy.
D) group therapy.

Question 77

Identify a true statement about health risks and loneliness.

A) Health risks are the lowest among lonely people.
B) People who are lonely sleep less.
C) Lonely people are less likely to commit suicide.
D) Lonely people hardly experience stress.

Question 78

Improvements achieved through changing thought or behavior patterns are most likely to endure if people

A) redesign their behavioral contexts.
B) report back to their therapist every week.
C) attribute such changes to factors under their own control.
D) tie its success to the treatment programs.

Question 79

As a result of participating in a program to help her quit smoking, Anne has not had a cigarette for three weeks. She is least likely to return to smoking if she attributes her success in quitting the habit to

A) her own motivation.
B) the therapist who helped her quit.
C) the support of her friends.
D) the unique nature of the therapeutic program.

Question 80

Research investigating the nature of the connection between explanatory style and health has shown that people who routinely use the pessimistic style

A) are more likely to experience illness.
B) are less likely to die at younger ages than optimists.
C) tend to be impulsive and resistant to influence.
D) tend to have highly active immune defenses.