Question 1

According to the _______,feelings of success,failure,satisfaction,and dissatisfaction are relative to prior experiences.

Accepted Answer

A) relative attainment hypothesis 
B) achievement motivation syndrome 
C) social prestige principle 
D) adaptation-level phenomenon

Question 2

Frank has been feeling a great deal of stress lately because he has been struggling to meet his monthly expenses.Naturally,then,he is ecstatic when he receives a raise at work.After a few weeks,though,he again finds himself struggling to make his credit payments.Frank's situation is an example of

Accepted Answer

A) the adaptation-level phenomenon. 
B) social comparison. 
C) the ingroup bias. 
D) the misinformation effect.

Question 3

A source of hope for a sustainable future is

Accepted Answer

A) increasing technological efficiency and agricultural productivity. 
B) moderating consumption. 
C) decreasing population. 
D) All of the above

Question 4

Joseph has just received a 5 percent increase in his salary.However,after learning that his coworkers have all received 10 percent increases,Joseph becomes upset with his employer and dissatisfied with his raise.We can understand Joseph's feelings in terms of

Accepted Answer

A) relative deprivation. 
B) the adaptation-level phenomenon. 
C) Parkinson's second law. 
D) the hydraulic model of aggression.

Question 5

The author hopes that a shift to postmaterialist values will gain momentum as people, governments,and corporations take all of the following steps EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) face the implications of population and consumption growth for pollution,climate change,and environmental destruction. 
B) put more time in learning the problems and issues facing our world. 
C) realize that materialist values make for less happy lives. 
D) identify and promote the things in life that matter more than economic growth.

Question 6

Which statement is NOT true?

Accepted Answer

A) Downward social comparisons facilitate contentment. 
B) Downward comparison to a hypothetical worse-off self enhances contentment. 
C) Realizing that others have it worse helps us count our blessings. 
D) Remembering the unhappy times in our lives enhances contentment.

Question 7

Myers reported that lottery winners typically gain _______ from their winnings.

Accepted Answer

A) long-lasting happiness 
B) a temporary jolt of joy 
C) anxiety over their new freedom 
D) a mixture of happiness and anxiety

Question 8

Happiness is relative to our comparisons with others especially with

Accepted Answer

A) members of our ingroup. 
B) people better off than we are. 
C) people worse off than we are. 
D) scapegoated groups.

Question 9

The adaptation-level phenomenon refers to our tendency to adapt relative to a neutral level defined by

Accepted Answer

A) our own previous experiences. 
B) the previous experiences of others. 
C) how similar others are functioning. 
D) how better-off people are functioning.

Question 10

The Guidelines for National Indicators of Subjective Well-Being and Ill-Being have questions available for assessing all of the following issues EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) life satisfaction 
B) quality of life 
C) positive and negative emotions 
D) anger levels

Question 11

In what month are violence rates likely to be highest?

Accepted Answer

A) December 
B) March 
C) August 
D) October

Question 12

In China,70% of people are willing to address climate change by paying more for energy.What percentage of Americans would be willing to do this?

Accepted Answer

A) 25% 
B) 38% 
C) 70% 
D) 88%

Question 13

Which of the following does NOT characterize Americans over the last 40 years?

Accepted Answer

A) increased personal income 
B) increased subjective well-being 
C) increased rates of depression 
D) increased consumption

Question 14

When we seek _____ goals we tend to experience a higher quality of life.

Accepted Answer

A) extrinsic 
B) monetary 
C) intrinsic 
D) physical

Question 15

Which statement is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A) Rich people are happier than poor people are. 
B) People who win lotteries experience a permanent increase in overall happiness. 
C) As the United States has become more affluent,its citizens have also become happier. 
D) Despite the fact that Americans are wealthier now than they were in previous decades,many report feeling less satisfied with their lives.

Question 16

Donna has been short of money and worried about her job security.Yesterday she was surprised to find she was being promoted and given a 10 percent raise.The adaptation-level phenomenon suggests that she will

Accepted Answer

A) soon be worried again about her finances. 
B) have much better self-esteem from now on. 
C) behave much less aggressively from now on. 
D) be a much more ambitious,achievement-oriented worker now that she sees that her past behavior has paid off.

Question 17

A 65-degree day seems warm in February but cold in July.This is best explained in terms of

Accepted Answer

A) relative deprivation. 
B) the adaptation-level phenomenon. 
C) displacement. 
D) Parkinson's second law.

Question 18

The top-rated objective among entering collegians today is

Accepted Answer

A) raising a family. 
B) helping others in difficulty. 
C) finding fulfilling work. 
D) being very well-off financially.

Question 19

The tendency to adapt to a given level of stimulation,and notice and react to changes from that level,defines

Accepted Answer

A) social comparison. 
B) the adaptation-level phenomenon. 
C) relative deprivation. 
D) Parkinson's second law.

Question 20

_____ leads the way in incentivizing mass transit over personal vehicle use.

Accepted Answer

A) China 
B) Europe 
C) America 
D) Brazil

Exam 16: Social Psychology and the Sustainable Future