Deck 7: Health and Well-Being

Question 1

The ecological fallacy is the erroneous assumption that information about a group can be used to make inferences about individuals who belong to the group.

Answer 1

True

Question 2

Researchers have discovered that, in both Japan and the United States, individuals who often express anger are at greater risk for heart disease than individuals who rarely express anger.

Answer 2

False

Question 3

Researchers examined 148 million tweets in the United States and discovered that the best predictor of a county's heart disease death rate was __________________________.

A) a collection of words (in the tweets) associated with economic concerns
B) a collection of words (in the tweets) associated with hostility and aggression
C) a collection of words (in the tweets) associated with being the target of prejudice
D) none of the above

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which of the following is an important limitation of big data studies?

A) Very large samples are not necessarily representative samples.
B) Anonymous remarks from social media users generally cannot be trusted.
C) Studies that examine dozens of variables are less likely to achieve statistical significance.
D) all of the above

Question 5

Researchers have used big data studies and prospective studies to examine the impact of expressing anger on heart disease. Using multiple methods is always a good idea but, in this situation, prospective studies are generally superior to big data studies. Why?

Question 6

Shinobu Kitayama and his colleagues discovered that, in the United States, expressing anger is associated with poor heart health. In Japan, however, expressing anger is associated with good heart health. How did the researchers explain this puzzling finding?

Question 7

A study by the World Health Organization found that the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was very similar in all 20 nations studied.

Question 8

Children who suffer from ADHD perform poorly on cognitive tests of verbal memory, naming speed, and visual-spatial skills.

Question 9

According to a study by the World Health Organization, the prevalence of childhood ADHD was strongly related to _________________________.

A) a nation's wealth
B) the prevalence of pathogens in a country's water supply
C) the number of psychiatrists in the country
D) all of the above

Question 10

Which hypothesis was supported by the results of MacDonald's study of ADHD in Australia, Norway, Sweden, and the United States?

A) The prevalence of ADHD varies because health care providers in different countries use different definitions and measures of ADHD.
B) ADHD is more noticeable at an early age in countries that teach academic skills to preschoolers.
C) Parents and doctors in some countries underreport the prevalence of ADHD because some societies stigmatize childhood mental disorders.
D) Parents and doctors in some countries overreport the prevalence of ADHD because some societies pathologize the normal behaviors of young children.

Question 11

According to researcher Beatriz MacDonald, why are rates of ADHD in Australia and the United States much higher than rates in Norway and Sweden?

Question 12

Suppose you were asked by the World Health Organization to estimate the prevalence of depression in nations around the world. Assuming the WHO provided you with plenty of money and staff, how would you do it?

Question 13

A placebo is a medicinal substance that has a real curative effect, but the medicine fails to work because the patient mistakenly believes the medicine is useless.

Question 14

Meta-analysis is the process in which an empirical study is reviewed and evaluated by three or more experts to determine if the study should be published in an academic journal.

Question 15

According to psychiatrist and anthropologist
a. using a reliable and valid diagnostic test
b. naming the problem in terms the client will accept as valid
c. raising the client's expectations about the likelihood of success
d. giving the client a sense of mastery and control over the problem

Question 16

A meta-analysis in 1980 examined the results of 475 separate studies of the effectiveness of psychotherapy. What did the researchers conclude on the basis of their meta-analysis?

A) Overall, behavior therapies were more effective than psychoanalytic therapies.
B) Lengthy treatments were, on average, more effective than brief treatments.
C) The typical client was better off than 75% of individuals who were not treated.
D) all of the above

Question 17

Imagine you have accepted a position at a mental health clinic in which you will be counseling many clients who were born and raised in a foreign country. Given what you have learned about the fundamental components of effective psychotherapy, what should you keep in mind when you devise therapeutic treatments for your clients?

Question 18

What is the self-fulfilling prophecy? In your answer, present an example that demonstrates your understanding of the concept.

Question 19

The construct called subjective well-being has two components, life satisfaction and happiness.

Question 20

Studies have found that countries that report higher levels of subjective well-being are less urbanized, more religious, and more collectivistic.

Question 21

____________________ aim to identify and enhance the human strengths and virtues that allow individuals and communities to flourish.

A) Moral psychologists
B) Positive psychologists
C) Clinical psychologists
D) Virtue psychologists

Question 22

Compared to people in most nations, people in some nations generally choose lower ideal levels of happiness, intelligence, and health. People in these nations are also likely to _________________________.

A) have a strong tradition of East Asian philosophies and religions
B) think holistically and expect things to change
C) have an interdependent view of self
D) all of the above

Question 23

According to researchers, what factors are associated with higher levels of subjective well-being in studies of individuals? What factors are associated with higher levels of subjective well-being in studies of nations?

Question 24

What is the maximization principle? What is the moderation principle? Give an example of each principle to demonstrate your understanding.