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Unit 1: Introduction to Positive Psychology - Practice Quiz

PSY292 — Positive Psychology 50 Questions
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1 Who is officially considered the 'father' of modern Positive Psychology, following his 1998 APA presidential address?

A. Martin Seligman
B. Carl Rogers
C. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
D. Abraham Maslow

2 Which of the following best defines the primary 'Nature' of Positive Psychology?

A. It is the scientific study of optimal human functioning.
B. It is solely the study of mental illness and pathology.
C. It is a branch of philosophy focused on ethics.
D. It is a pseudoscience focused on positive thinking affirmations.

3 Positive Psychology aims to shift the focus of psychology from a to a:

A. Health/Wellness Model
B. Behavioral Model
C. Psychoanalytic Model
D. Pharmacological Model

4 According to Seligman, which of the following is NOT one of the three 'pillars' of Positive Psychology?

A. Positive Subjective Experiences
B. Positive Individual Traits
C. Positive Institutions
D. Positive Financial Status

5 In the context of the dimensions of Positive Psychology, 'Subjective Level' experiences regarding the past include:

A. Hope and Optimism
B. Faith and Trust
C. Flow and Happiness
D. Well-being and Contentment

6 The concept of 'Flow', a state of complete immersion in an activity, was introduced by which researcher?

A. Christopher Peterson
B. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
C. Ed Diener
D. Barbara Fredrickson

7 Which perspective on well-being focuses on pleasure attainment and pain avoidance?

A. Eudaimonic well-being
B. Holistic well-being
C. Social well-being
D. Hedonic well-being

8 What is the primary focus of 'Eudaimonic' well-being?

A. The absence of physical disease
B. Maximizing momentary pleasure
C. Accumulation of material wealth
D. Meaning, self-realization, and human flourishing

9 In Martin Seligman's PERMA model of well-being, what does the 'R' stand for?

A. Relationships
B. Resilience
C. Resources
D. Rest

10 Which mathematical-like relationship is often used to describe Subjective Well-Being (SWB)?

A.
B.
C.
D.

11 The term 'Positive Psychology' was actually first coined by which Humanistic psychologist in the 1950s?

A. Viktor Frankl
B. Rollo May
C. Carl Rogers
D. Abraham Maslow

12 The 'Easterlin Paradox' relates to the measurement of GDP and happiness by suggesting that:

A. Increases in income do not correlate with increases in happiness after basic needs are met.
B. GDP is the most accurate measure of psychological well-being.
C. Higher income always leads to higher happiness indefinitely.
D. Poorer nations are always happier than richer nations.

13 Gross National Happiness (GNH) was introduced as an alternative to GDP by the leadership of which country?

A. Bhutan
B. New Zealand
C. Costa Rica
D. Norway

14 Which of the following is NOT one of the typical pillars or domains of Gross National Happiness (GNH)?

A. Conservation of the environment
B. Sustainable socio-economic development
C. Maximization of stock market value
D. Preservation of culture

15 A 'Holistic Approach' to human development in Positive Psychology implies:

A. Prioritizing career success over health.
B. Ignoring the negative aspects of life completely.
C. Focusing strictly on biological factors.
D. Integrating physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, and social dimensions.

16 The 'Value Crisis' in modern society is often attributed to:

A. The increase in scientific education.
B. The over-emphasis on materialism and consumerism.
C. The focus on physical health.
D. The rise of democratic governments.

17 Carol Ryff’s model of Psychological Well-Being (PWB) includes which of the following dimensions?

A. Wealth Accumulation
B. Physical Attractiveness
C. Popularity
D. Environmental Mastery

18 The aim of 'Second Wave' Positive Psychology is to:

A. Return to the disease model of psychology.
B. Focus only on negative emotions.
C. Reject all findings from the First Wave.
D. Integrate the positive and negative aspects of human experience (dialectics).

19 Which theory suggests that positive emotions expand our awareness and encourage novel thoughts and actions?

A. Attachment Theory
B. Self-Determination Theory
C. Set-point Theory
D. Broaden-and-Build Theory

20 In the context of 'Scope', Positive Psychology is applied in education to:

A. Foster character strengths, resilience, and well-being in students.
B. Increase standardized test scores regardless of student health.
C. Identify learning disabilities only.
D. Enforce stricter discipline.

21 Which concept describes the tendency of humans to return to a relatively stable level of happiness despite major positive or negative events?

A. The Optimism Bias
B. The Virtuous Circle
C. The Hedonic Treadmill
D. The Flow State

22 The 'VIA Classification' helps individuals identify their:

A. Signature Strengths and Virtues
B. Intelligence Quotient (IQ)
C. Career Aptitude regarding salary
D. Psychological Disorders

23 From a Western perspective, well-being is often associated with , whereas Eastern perspectives often emphasize:

A. Pure Hedonism
B. Interdependence and Harmony
C. Isolation
D. Narcissism

24 What is the primary criticism of using GDP as the sole indicator of national development?

A. It includes unpaid labor like housework.
B. It fails to account for environmental degradation and social well-being.
C. It is too difficult to calculate.
D. It places too much value on happiness.

25 In the context of the Value Crisis, 'Anomie' refers to:

A. A strong religious connection.
B. A state of intense happiness.
C. The ability to adapt to new cultures.
D. A condition of instability resulting from a breakdown of standards and values.

26 Which of the following is considered a 'Positive Institution' within the scope of Positive Psychology?

A. A democratic community
B. A chaotic family
C. A corrupt government
D. A segregated school

27 Lyubomirsky's research suggests that approximately what percentage of the variance in happiness is determined by intentional activity?

A. 50%
B. 10%
C. 40%
D. 90%

28 Self-Determination Theory (SDT) posits three basic psychological needs essential for well-being:

A. Autonomy, Competence, Relatedness
B. Sleep, Diet, Exercise
C. Safety, Shelter, Clothing
D. Money, Power, Fame

29 The concept of 'Flourishing' is often described mathematically or conceptually as:

A.
B.
C.
D.

30 Which aim of Positive Psychology addresses the prevention of mental illness?

A. The diagnostic aim
B. The statistical aim
C. The buffering aim
D. The curative aim

31 The 'Value Crisis' often leads to a phenomenon where individuals lose a sense of purpose. This relates closely to a lack of which PERMA component?

A. Engagement
B. Accomplishment
C. Meaning
D. Positive Emotion

32 In the holistic approach, 'Spiritual Well-being' generally refers to:

A. Adherence to a specific religious dogma.
B. Regular attendance at a place of worship only.
C. The rejection of scientific principles.
D. A sense of connection to something larger than oneself and finding meaning.

33 Which of the following is a 'Future-oriented' positive emotion?

A. Pride
B. Optimism
C. Forgiveness
D. Savoring

34 The 'Mental Health Continuum' suggests that mental health is:

A. A complete state consisting of the presence of flourishing, not just the absence of languishing/disorder.
B. Simply the absence of mental illness.
C. Unrelated to societal factors.
D. A binary state (either healthy or sick).

35 In the transition from GDP to GNHI, which element is emphasized regarding 'Time Use'?

A. Spending all time on leisure.
B. Balancing work, sleep, and leisure.
C. Working as many hours as possible.
D. Reducing sleep to increase productivity.

36 The 'Gratification' aspect of well-being, as distinguished from simple 'Pleasure', usually involves:

A. Little effort.
B. Short-term duration.
C. Strong sensory input (e.g., taste, touch).
D. Engaging one's strengths and virtues.

37 Which ancient philosophy aligns most closely with the 'Eudaimonic' perspective in Positive Psychology?

A. Nihilism
B. Cynicism
C. Aristotelian Ethics
D. Hedonism (Cyrenaic school)

38 One of the goals of Positive Psychology regarding 'Assessment' is to:

A. Create more labels for mental disorders.
B. Eliminate the need for psychological testing.
C. Develop metrics for happiness, strengths, and life satisfaction.
D. Rely solely on intuitive guessing.

39 A 'Holistic Approach' to development suggests that an individual's value crisis affects:

A. None of the above.
B. Their psychological, physical, and social well-being concurrently.
C. Only their economic status.
D. Only their spiritual life.

40 Which scholar is associated with the concept of 'Learned Optimism'?

A. Sigmund Freud
B. John Watson
C. Albert Bandura
D. Martin Seligman

41 In the context of Human Development, the 'Capability Approach' (often linked to holistic well-being) focuses on:

A. What people actually do.
B. How much money people have.
C. The GDP of the country.
D. What people are effectively able to do and to be.

42 The 'Values in Action' (VIA) Institute classifies virtues into how many core categories?

A. 24
B. 10
C. 6
D. 4

43 Which of the following best describes the 'Prevention' scope of Positive Psychology?

A. Treating patients after a breakdown.
B. Isolating individuals from stress.
C. Prescribing medication proactively.
D. Building competencies to minimize the risk of future pathology.

44 Why is 'Sustainability' often discussed in the context of the shift from GDP to GNH/Well-being indices?

A. Because GNH ignores the environment.
B. Because high GDP always ensures environmental protection.
C. Because sustainability is irrelevant to psychology.
D. Because current economic growth models often deplete resources needed for future well-being.

45 The 'Salutogenic' orientation in health psychology, which aligns with Positive Psychology, focuses on:

A. The origins of health and assets.
B. Surgical interventions.
C. Genetic defects.
D. The origins of disease.

46 In Ryff's model, 'Autonomy' is defined as:

A. Having warm, satisfying, trusting relationships.
B. Self-determining and independent; able to resist social pressures.
C. A sense of realization of one's potential.
D. Managing the environment effectively.

47 A major cause of the 'Value Crisis' is the shift from (community) to (society), which implies:

A. No change in social structure.
B. A shift from urban to rural living.
C. A shift from impersonal to personal relationships.
D. A shift from close-knit communal bonds to impersonal, self-interest-based associations.

48 Subjective Well-Being (SWB) is often used interchangeably with the lay term:

A. Intelligence
B. Happiness
C. Depression
D. Wealth

49 Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a holistic approach to development?

A. Integration
B. Interconnectedness
C. Balance
D. Reductionism

50 The ultimate goal of Positive Psychology is to help individuals, communities, and societies to:

A. Survive
B. Flourish
C. Conform
D. Cope
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Unit 2