Unit 2: Self Control, Regulation and Personal Goal Setting - Practice Quiz

PSY292 — Positive Psychology 50 Questions
0 Correct 0 Wrong 50 Left
0/50

1 In the context of positive psychology and self-control, the famous "Marshmallow Test" conducted by Walter Mischel primarily measured which concept?

A. Intrinsic motivation
B. Ego depletion
C. Learned helplessness
D. Delayed gratification

2 According to the Strength Model of Self-Control proposed by Baumeister, self-control is best compared to:

A. A logical algorithm
B. A muscle
C. A computer processor
D. A bottomless well

3 Which of the following terms describes the state of diminished self-control resources following the exertion of self-control?

A. Ego depletion
B. Cognitive dissonance
C. Self-actualization
D. Flow state

4 In the study of self-regulation, the TOTE model stands for:

A. Think-Organize-Test-Evaluate
B. Test-Operate-Test-Exit
C. Try-Observe-Think-Evaluate
D. Time-Organize-Time-Exit

5 Which of the following is considered a 'Cool' system characteristic in the Hot/Cool System analysis of self-control?

A. Fast and automatic
B. Reflexive and emotional
C. Cognitive and reflective
D. Stimulus-driven

6 High trait self-control has been positively correlated with all of the following EXCEPT:

A. Better interpersonal relationships
B. Higher academic achievement (GPA)
C. Higher levels of impulsive spending
D. Lower rates of psychopathology

7 What is the primary difference between Self-Control and Self-Regulation?

A. Self-regulation is only about stopping behaviors, while self-control is about starting them.
B. Self-control is generally conscious and effortful, while self-regulation includes automatic processes.
C. Self-control refers to external constraints, while self-regulation is internal.
D. There is no difference; they are exact synonyms.

8 Peter Gollwitzer introduced a strategy to improve goal attainment known as Implementation Intentions. This is best represented by the formula:

A. "I will do my best."
B. "I want to achieve because it is important."
C. "I must avoid failure at all costs."
D. "If situation arises, then I will perform response ."

9 Which type of goal is generally associated with higher well-being and better persistence?

A. Approach goals
B. Avoidance goals
C. Imposed goals
D. Extrinsic goals

10 According to Self-Determination Theory (SDT), goal pursuit leads to greater well-being when it satisfies which three basic psychological needs?

A. Autonomy, Competence, and Relatedness
B. Safety, Belonging, and Esteem
C. Wealth, Fame, and Image
D. Pleasure, Engagement, and Meaning

11 The "What-the-Hell Effect" (also known as the Abstinence Violation Effect) describes:

A. Abandoning a goal completely after a minor slip-up.
B. The aggressive reaction to blocked goals.
C. The tendency to set goals that are too easy.
D. The boost in motivation after a small success.

12 Which of the following is a common cause of under-regulation?

A. Over-monitoring behavior
B. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
C. Having excessive willpower
D. Setting standards that are vague or ambiguous

13 In the context of Misregulation, striving for a goal using a method that produces the opposite of the intended result is often called:

A. Counterproductive strategies
B. Intrinsic regulation
C. Flow inhibition
D. Ego depletion

14 Goals that are consistent with an individual's core values and interests are known as:

A. Socially desirable goals
B. Self-concordant goals
C. Introjected goals
D. Abstract goals

15 According to Snyder's Hope Theory, high-hope individuals possess both:

A. Optimism and Intelligence
B. Dreams and Desires
C. Extroversion and Conscientiousness
D. Agency (willpower) and Pathways (waypower)

16 The phenomenon where people grant themselves permission to indulge in bad behavior after doing something good is called:

A. Implementation intention
B. Goal shielding
C. Moral licensing
D. Decision fatigue

17 Which aspect of goal setting creates a standard against which performance can be compared?

A. Goal complexity
B. Goal difficulty
C. Goal commitment
D. Goal specificity

18 When an individual exerts self-control to suppress emotions during a movie, and subsequently squeezes a handgrip for a shorter duration than usual, this supports the theory of:

A. Self-control strength depletion
B. Learned industriousness
C. Emotional intelligence
D. Physiological adaptation

19 Which of the following is NOT a component of the self-regulation feedback loop?

A. External attribution
B. Standards
C. Strength/Willpower
D. Monitoring

20 In the context of personal goals, intrinsic motivation refers to doing something because:

A. You will be punished if you don't.
B. You find the activity itself inherently interesting or enjoyable.
C. You want to impress others.
D. You want a reward or prize.

21 The False Hope Syndrome is characterized by:

A. Successful long-term maintenance of difficult goals.
B. Unrealistic expectations about the speed, amount, and ease of self-change.
C. A lack of desire to change behavior.
D. Setting low expectations to avoid disappointment.

22 Which brain region is most heavily implicated in executive functions and self-control?

A. Amygdala
B. Hippocampus
C. Prefrontal Cortex
D. Occipital Lobe

23 According to Control Theory (Cybernetics), if a person detects a discrepancy between their current state and their goal state, they feel:

A. Flow
B. Negative affect/anxiety
C. Satisfied
D. Indifferent

24 What is the relationship between monitoring and self-control failure?

A. Excessive monitoring always leads to failure.
B. Failure often occurs when people stop monitoring their behavior (e.g., not tracking spending).
C. Monitoring is irrelevant to self-control.
D. Monitoring only matters for physical tasks.

25 The concept of "Flow", often achieved when goals provide the right balance of challenge and skill, was proposed by:

A. Albert Bandura
B. Martin Seligman
C. Ed Diener
D. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

26 Why might avoidance goals (e.g., "I will not get angry") be detrimental to well-being compared to approach goals?

A. They are too easy to achieve.
B. They increase ego strength.
C. They require constant monitoring of negatives and offer fewer clearly defined paths to success.
D. They provide a clear endpoint for success.

27 In the context of self-control failure, Decision Fatigue refers to:

A. The physical tiredness felt after exercise.
B. The preference for making difficult decisions over easy ones.
C. The inability to make any decisions.
D. The deteriorating quality of decisions made after a long session of decision making.

28 Which of the following best describes Introjected Regulation in the context of goal motivation?

A. Doing something only for a paycheck.
B. Doing something to avoid guilt or anxiety, or to enhance ego.
C. Doing something for pure enjoyment.
D. Doing something because it aligns with personal values.

29 Research suggests that the best way to replenish depleted self-control resources (ego depletion) is to:

A. Engage in rest, positive affect induction, or glucose consumption.
B. Self-criticize to build toughness.
C. Avoid setting any goals in the future.
D. Force yourself to work harder.

30 The "White Bear" experiment by Daniel Wegner demonstrated the ironic effects of:

A. Implementation intentions
B. Self-efficacy
C. Goal setting
D. Thought suppression

31 Which of the following is an example of an intrinsic goal?

A. Popularity
B. Financial success
C. Physical attractiveness
D. Personal growth

32 In the context of personal goals and well-being, Goal Conflict (e.g., wanting to save money vs. wanting to travel) typically leads to:

A. Psychological distress and immobilization
B. Enhanced self-regulation
C. Faster goal attainment
D. Increased creativity

33 The ability to alter one's own responses, including thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, to align with standards is the definition of:

A. Self-presentation
B. Self-regulation
C. Self-concept
D. Self-esteem

34 Procrastination is often conceptualized as a failure of self-regulation caused by:

A. A lack of intelligence.
B. Over-planning.
C. Prioritizing short-term mood repair over long-term goals.
D. Having too much time.

35 What role does Self-Efficacy (Bandura) play in self-regulation?

A. It is the belief in one's capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments.
B. It is the genetic component of willpower.
C. It is the accurate assessment of one's past failures.
D. It is the reliance on others to achieve goals.

36 According to the Cybernetic Control Theory, what triggers the "Exit" phase in the TOTE unit?

A. When the standard is removed.
B. When the test reveals that the current state matches the standard.
C. Running out of energy.
D. When the operator gets bored.

37 Which of the following strategies represents "reappraisal" in emotion regulation?

A. Venting emotions to a friend.
B. Changing the way one thinks about a situation to alter its emotional impact.
C. Avoiding the situation entirely.
D. Suppressing facial expressions.

38 Baumeister suggests that self-control failures often occur later in the day due to:

A. Circadian rhythms decreasing intelligence.
B. Lack of sunlight.
C. The cumulative effect of earlier acts of self-control (depletion).
D. Increased social pressure at night.

39 Abstract goals (e.g., "be a good person") generally differ from concrete goals (e.g., "call mom") in that abstract goals:

A. Provide meaning and purpose but are harder to monitor.
B. Have a clear finish line.
C. Are less important for well-being.
D. Are easier to monitor.

40 When goals are imposed by others (controlled motivation), individuals are more likely to experience:

A. Greater persistence.
B. High subjective well-being.
C. Deep conceptual learning.
D. Defiance, low creativity, or doing the minimum required.

41 The "Zeigarnik Effect" relates to goal pursuit by stating that:

A. Uncompleted or interrupted tasks are remembered better than completed ones.
B. People forget their goals once they write them down.
C. Multitasking improves goal efficiency.
D. Completed tasks are remembered better than uncompleted ones.

42 In the context of dieting, the failure of self-control is often exacerbated by:

A. Cognitive narrowing
B. High self-efficacy.
C. Over-monitoring caloric intake.
D. The "Hot" emotional appeal of food overwhelming the "Cold" rational system.

43 Which of the following best characterizes "commitment" in Goal Setting Theory?

A. The feedback received on the goal.
B. The degree to which a person is attached to the goal and determined to reach it.
C. The difficulty of the goal.
D. The complexity of the task.

44 Failing to control an impulse because the brain prioritizes immediate reward over future consequences is often described economically as:

A. Diminishing returns
B. Opportunity cost
C. Temporal discounting (or hyperbolic discounting)
D. Sunk cost fallacy

45 A student sets a goal to study, but cleans their entire room instead. This is an example of:

A. Implementation intention
B. Productive procrastination
C. Flow
D. Ego depletion

46 Goal Shielding refers to:

A. Protecting the focal goal by inhibiting thoughts about distracting alternative goals.
B. Hiding one's goals from others.
C. Creating a backup plan in case of failure.
D. lowering standards to ensure success.

47 If a person has low Frustration Tolerance, they are more likely to:

A. Maintain a "Cold" system focus.
B. Succeed in long-term goals.
C. Use effective coping strategies.
D. Experience self-control failure when obstacles arise.

48 In the context of the Strength Model, which of the following is an example of conservation?

A. Withholding effort on a current task to save energy for a future, more important task.
B. Using all energy on the first task.
C. Sleeping before a task.
D. Drinking glucose drinks.

49 Which of the following is NOT a benefit typically associated with high self-control?

A. Higher creativity
B. Less substance abuse
C. Better physical health
D. Higher income potential

50 The concept of "Mental Contrasting" (Oettingen) involves:

A. Thinking about the positive future outcome and contrasting it with the present reality/obstacles.
B. Ignoring the future and living in the moment.
C. Focusing solely on the obstacles.
D. Only visualizing the positive outcome.