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

PSY292 — Positive Psychology 50 Questions
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1 In the context of positive psychology and self-control, the famous "Marshmallow Test" conducted by Walter Mischel primarily measured which concept?

A. Learned helplessness
B. Intrinsic motivation
C. Ego depletion
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 bottomless well
C. A muscle
D. A computer processor

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A. Approach goals
B. Extrinsic goals
C. Avoidance goals
D. Imposed 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. Pleasure, Engagement, and Meaning
D. Wealth, Fame, and Image

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

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

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

A. Having excessive willpower
B. Over-monitoring behavior
C. Obsessive-compulsive tendencies
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. Intrinsic regulation
B. Flow inhibition
C. Ego depletion
D. Counterproductive strategies

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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. Setting low expectations to avoid disappointment.
C. Unrealistic expectations about the speed, amount, and ease of self-change.
D. A lack of desire to change behavior.

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

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

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

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

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. Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi
D. Ed Diener

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A. It is the genetic component of willpower.
B. It is the belief in one's capacity to execute behaviors necessary to produce specific performance attainments.
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 test reveals that the current state matches the standard.
B. When the operator gets bored.
C. When the standard is removed.
D. Running out of energy.

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

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

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

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

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 easier to monitor.
D. Are less important for well-being.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

46 Goal Shielding refers to:

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

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

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

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

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

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