Positive Psychology Final Exam

What is the definition of Positive Psychology?

The scientific study of optimal human functioning; focuses on strengths, well-being, and flourishing.

What does Positive Psychology focus on?

What makes like worth living, based on research, not just positive thinking or ignoring negative emotions.

Name the major themes of Positive Psychology

Happiness, strengths, meaning, resilience, relationships, and growth

What is subjective well-being?

A person's cognitive and affective evaluations of their life, including life satisfaction, positive affect, and negative affect.

What are the three factors in the Sustainable Happiness Model?

Genetics, life circumstances, and intentional activities

What are the benefits of happiness?

Improved health, relationships, success, and resilience.

What is the Nun Study?

Showed happier nuns lived longer than non-happier nuns (by about 10 years)

What is a Duchenne Smile?

A genuine smile linked to better marriage and well-being in middle age.

What is hedonic well-being?

Focus on pleasure, happiness and avoiding pain. It emphasizes feeling good in the moment and includes life satisfaction and positive emotions.

What is eudaimonic well-being?

Living with purpose, meaning, and personal growth. It emphasizes fulfilling your potential and living in line with your values.

What does the PERMA model stand for?

Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment

How does money relate to well-being?

Spending on experiences and others increases well-being more than spending on material goods.

What are some strategies to increase well-being?

Gratitude practices, acts of kindness, goal-setting, savoring, and mindfulness

What is the Broaden and Build theory?

Positive emotions broaden awareness and build lasting resources (e.g., resilience, relationships, skills)

What is dispositional optimism?

The general tendency to expect good outcomes

What is optimism as an explanatory style?

Explaining positive events as due to internal, stable, and global causes; and negative events as external, temporary, and specific causes.

What is the myth about optimism?

That optimism is denial of reality, but optimism includes realistic hope and effort.

What are some positive personality traits?

Courage, honesty, and perserverance

What are approach goals?

Goals framed in terms of desired outcomes or experiences

What are avoidance goals?

Goals framed in terms of negative outcomes that people try to prevent

How are goals linked to well-being?

Pursuing meaningful and intrinsically motivated goals is associated with higher well-being

What is self-regulation?

The ability to control one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors to achieve long-term goals

What are implementation intentions?

"If-then" plans that link situations to goal-directed responses (e.g., If I feel tired, then I will go for a short walk)

What is grit?

Passion and perseverance for long-term goals.

What is a growth mindset?

The belief that abilities can be developed through effort and learning

What is flow?

A state of complete immersion in an activity with high focus and enjoyment

What are the benefits of flow?

Increased engagement, productivity, and well-being

What are the three components of meaning in life?

Comprehension, purpose, and significance

What is comprehension in terms of meaning in life?

Making sense of life events

What is purpose in terms of meaning in life?

Having goals and direction

What is significance in terms of meaning in life?

Feeling that life matters

What are the top sources of meaning?

Relationships, work, spirituality, and personal growth

What are some strategies to increase meaning in life?

Reflective writing, values clarification, and volunteering

What is the VIA classification?

A framework of 24 character strengths grouped into 6 virtues (wisdom, courage, humanity, justice, temperance, transcendence)

What are the characteristic of Wisdom?

Creativity, curiosity, judgement, love of learning, perspective

Which is an example of wisdom?

Darby enjoys learning new things and often gives good advice to her friends

What are the characteristics of Courage?

bravery, perseverance, honesty, zest

Which is an example of courage?

Emma speaks up when something feels wrong, even if it's uncomfortable

What are the characteristics of Humanity?

Love, kindness, social intelligence

Which is an example of humanity?

Aine goes out of her way to support and care for the people in her life

What are the characteristic of Justice?

teamwork, fairness, leadership

Which is an example of justice?

Lexi makes sure everyone has a fair say when working in a group

What are the characteristics of Temperance?

Forgiveness, humility, prudence, self-regulation

Which is an example of temperance?

Anna stays calm under pressure and doesn't let her emotions take over

What are the characteristics of Transcendence?

Appreciation of beauty and excellence, gratitude, hope, humor, spirituality

Which is an example of transcendence?

Kimberly finds meaning in everyday moments and stays hopeful during hard times

What is equity theory?

People are happiest in relationships where there is a fair balance of give and take

What is attachment theory?

Early bonds with caregivers shape expectations for future relationships

What is secure attachment?

Comfort with closeness and trust

What is anxious attachment?

Clinginess, fear of abandonment

What is avoidant attachment?

Distrust and avoids closeness

What is important in friendships?

Mutual support, trust, and shared enjoyment

What are the three components of triangular theory of love?

Intimacy, passion, and commitment.

What is intimacy?

Emotional closeness, trust, connection.

What is passion?

Physical attraction, excitement, and romantic or sexual energy

What is commitment?

The decision to stay in the relationship long-term

What are the characteristics of happy couples?

Friendship, commitment, effective communication

What is the 5:1 ratio?

Five positive interactions per one negative one equals a thriving relationship

What are the stable relationship styles?

Validating, volatile, and conflict-avoidant

What are the characteristics of a validating relationship?

Respectful, collaborative, mutual respect, validation

What are the characteristics of a volatile relationship?

Passionate with conflict

What are the characteristics of a conflict-avoidant relationship?

minimize conflict, focus on common ground, "agree to disagree"

What are the unstable relationship styles?

Hostile-engaged and hostile-detached

What are the characteristics of a hostile-engaged relationship?

Frequent fighting with criticism, sarcasm and minimal listening

What are the characteristics of a hostile-detached relationship?

Emotionally distant or indifferent during conflict and show little warmth

What are the different parenting styles?

Authoritarian, permissive, authoritative, uninvolved

What is authoritative parenting?

Parents set limits and enforce rules but are flexible and listen to their children (best)

What is authoritarian parenting?

Strict, controlling, and less emotionally responsive; values obedience over discussion

What is permissive parenting?

Warm and indulgent, but sets few rules or limits; lets kids do whatever they want

What is uninvolved parenting (neglectful)?

Low in both warm and control; disengaged from child's needs and behaviors

What are the characteristics of positive families?

Open communication, shared values, emotional support, rituals of connection

What is stress?

A psychological, physiological, and behavioral reaction to perceived inability to handle demands.

What are the physical responses to stress?

Stress hormones, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, immune suppression

What are the emotional responses to stress?

Anger, fear, frustration

What are the cognitive responses to stress?

Rumination, catastrophizing, and narrowed thinking

what are the behavioral responses to stress?

Avoidance, substance use, aggression

What is eustress?

Positive stress that can lead to motivation and excitment

What is acute stress?

Short-term stress that comes from immediate demands or pressure

What is chronic stress?

Long-term stress that persists over time

What is coping?

The process used to manage stress

What are characteristics of coping?

Energy consuming, goal-oriented, individualized, and influences by personality.

What are the types of coping strategies?

Problem focused vs. emotion focused; approach vs. avoidance

What are examples of coping strategies for physical stress?

Physical activity, relaxation, good sleep

What are examples of coping strategies for emotional stress?

Feeling emotions, labeling experiences, focus on positives

What are examples of coping strategies for cognitive stress?

Write things down, make small decisions, reflect on past success

What are examples of coping strategies for spiritual stress?

Creative arts, faith, hope-building activities

What is resilience?

Positive adaptation in the context of adversity-- "bouncing back"

What are the two components of resilience?

Facing risk/adversity and adequate functioning

What are the types of resilience?

Resistance, recovery, and reconfiguration

What is resistance?

Little disruption from challenge

What is recovery?

Returning affected systems back to normal operation

What is reconfiguration?

making changes and redefining life

Resilience is..

Common ("ordinary magic"), not insensitivity or lack of caring, and it is not the same for everyone

What are the internal protective factors for resilience?

Optimism, self-regulation, sense of meaning, humor, self-perception

What are the external protective factors for resilience?

Supportive adults, effective schools, healthcare, safe communities

What are the challenges of resilience in adulthood?

Indentity, intimacy, loss, health decline

What are the sources of resilience in adulthood?

Self-acceptance, purpose, autonomy, competence, and positive relationships

What are the three components of the MacArthur Study of Successful Aging?

Avoiding disease, staying cognitively and physically fit, and maintaining social engagement

What is socioemotional selectivity theory?

Older adults prioritize meaningful relationships due to perception of limited time

What are skills for resilience?

Problem-solving, self-care, goal-setting, emotional regulation, social support, positive mindset