Untitled Flashcards Set

Optimism & Pessimism

Q: What is optimism?
A: A general expectation that good things will happen in the future.

Q: What is pessimism?
A: The tendency to expect negative things in the future.

Q: Are optimism and pessimism opposites?
A: No, you can experience both at the same time.

Q: What is dispositional optimism?
A: A global expectation that good things will happen and bad things will not.

Q: What are benefits of dispositional optimism?
A: Better coping, problem-solving, health, work performance, motivation, and longevity.

Q: Does optimism lead people to ignore health issues?
A: No, optimistic people still respond to health threats.

Explanatory Style (Seligman)

Q: What is explanatory style?
A: The way we think about the causes of events, forming the basis for optimism or pessimism.

Q: What are the three dimensions of explanatory style?
A: Stability (stable vs. temporary), Pervasiveness (global vs. specific), Locus of control (internal vs. external).

Q: How does an optimist explain bad events?
A: Temporary, specific, and external causes.

Q: How does a pessimist explain bad events?
A: Stable, global, and internal causes.

Myths About Optimism

Q: True or False: You are either optimistic or pessimistic.
A: False.

Q: True or False: Optimism is always better than pessimism.
A: False.

Q: True or False: Optimists are born, not made.
A: False.

Defensive Pessimism

Q: What is defensive pessimism?
A: Negative thinking that channels anxiety into successful achievement.

Q: What are benefits of defensive pessimism?
A: Helps with planning and preparing for negative outcomes.

Q: What are downsides of defensive pessimism?
A: Higher anxiety, lower self-esteem.

Hope

Q: What are the two components of hope?
A: Pathways (finding ways to reach goals) and agency (motivation to use those pathways).

Q: What are benefits of hope?
A: Better academic and athletic performance, happiness, and health outcomes.

Locus of Control

Q: What is an internal locus of control?
A: Belief that outcomes are under personal control.

Q: What is an external locus of control?
A: Belief that outcomes are influenced by external factors.

Q: What is an internal locus of control associated with?
A: Higher self-esteem, better coping, and greater life satisfaction.

Self-Esteem

Q: What is self-esteem?
A: The evaluative component of self-concept.

Q: What is self-esteem strongly related to?
A: Happiness and life satisfaction.

Q: What is sociometer theory?
A: Self-esteem serves as a metric for monitoring social relationships.

Goal Setting

Q: What makes a goal more likely to be achieved?
A: Being concrete and specific.

Q: What type of goals lead to better outcomes: approach or avoidance?
A: Approach goals.

Q: What are the characteristics of SMART goals?
A: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-based.

Q: What is the difference between approach and avoidance goals?
A: Approach goals focus on positive outcomes; avoidance goals focus on preventing negative outcomes.

WOOP Model

Q: What does WOOP stand for?
A: Wish, Outcome, Obstacle, Plan.

Q: What is the purpose of the WOOP model?
A: A goal-setting strategy for initiating and sustaining effort toward goals.

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation

Q: What increases intrinsic motivation?
A: Autonomy, competence, relatedness, alignment with personal values, and removing barriers.

Q: What does intrinsic motivation predict?
A: Quality of performance.

Q: What does extrinsic motivation predict?
A: Quantity of performance.

Transtheoretical Model of Change

Q: What are the six stages of the Transtheoretical Model of Change?
A: Precontemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, Maintenance, Termination.

Q: What is the goal of the Transtheoretical Model?
A: To help people understand and manage behavior change.

Self-Regulation

Q: What is self-regulation?
A: The ability to initiate and guide actions toward achieving a desired future goal.

Q: What are the four components of control theory?
A: Standards, monitoring, strength/willpower, and motivation.

Q: What is the difference between goal intentions and implementation intentions?
A: Goal intentions = desire for outcome; Implementation intentions = plan for action.

Procrastination

Q: What is procrastination?
A: Voluntary delay of an intended action despite knowing it will make things worse.

Q: What personality traits are associated with higher procrastination?
A: Higher neuroticism, higher impulsiveness, lower conscientiousness.

Grit

Q: What is grit?
A: Passion and perseverance for long-term, meaningful goals.

Q: How can you develop grit?
A: Develop fascination, aim for daily improvement, greater purpose, and a growth mindset.

Growth Mindset

Q: What is a fixed mindset?
A: Believing that qualities are carved in stone and cannot change.

Q: What is a growth mindset?
A: Believing that qualities can be developed through effort.

Q: What are benefits of a growth mindset?
A: Embracing challenges, persisting through setbacks, and valuing effort.

Flow

Q: What is flow?
A: A state of complete absorption in an activity.

Q: What are the key characteristics of flow?
A: Challenge-skill balance, clear goals, concentration, loss of self-consciousness, sense of control.

Q: What are psychological benefits of flow?
A: Increased motivation, emotional well-being, and focus.

Q: What types of activities can produce flow?
A: Music, sports, work, video games, hobbies.