Module 16—Emotion
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. In which component of emotion might we experience fear, happiness, or disgust?
a. having subjective feelings
b. experiencing a physiological response
c. a change in heart rate and breathing
d. interpreting or appraising some stimulus
Answer: A
2. What is the best example of stimulus appraisal in the story on the shark attack that opens
the chapter?
a. Bethany’s parasympathetic division becomes activated.
b. Bethany shows fearful behavior, such as frantic swimming.
c. Bethany interprets the shark as a threat to her well-being.
d. Bethany’s heart rate and breathing rapidly increase.
Answer: C
3. In which component of emotion might someone have a “poker face?”
a. stimulus appraisal
b. subjective feeling
c. physiological responses
d. overt behavior
Answer: D
4. An emotion is a feeling made up of:
a. anger, fear, or happiness
b. having a subjective feeling and objectively learned behavioral responses
c. appraising a stimulus, having a subjective feeling, physiological responses, and overt
behavior
d. facial expressions that convey social signals, social needs, and physiological responses
Answer: C
5. An emotion has four components. Which of the following is not one of the four?
a. appraisal of a stimulus
b. subjective feeling
c. observable behavior
d. unconscious motives
Answer: D
6. You are playing a card game with your friends. You don’t know if one of them is about to
win, because of his poker face. Which of the following components of an emotion does poker
face best illustrate?
a. appraising a stimulus
b. subjective feeling
c. overt behavior
d. physiological responses
Answer: C
7. During a study of emotion in children, one of the subjects starts singing a song. She sings,
“If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands ... if you’re happy and you know it, clap
your hands.” You comment in your notes that “subjects decision whether or not to clap their
hands was based upon their:
a. appraisal of a stimuli.”
b. processing of information.”
c. physiological responses.”
d. subjective experiences.”
Answer: D
8. As you get ready for the professor to pass back your graded test, you experience the
emotion of anxiety. Using the definition of emotion presented in your textbook, which one of
the following is incorrect?
a. subjective experience or feeling—anxiety
b. overt behavior—tapping your pencil
c. physiological response—heart rate is rapid
d. appraising the stimulus—if you do poorly on this exam, you won’t make the Dean’s Honor
List
Answer: A
9. Marcus is appraising a stimulus, having a subjective feeling, experiencing physiological
responses, and showing overt behavior. Marcus is experiencing:
a. guilt
b. an emotion
c. an attribution
d. a nervous breakdown
Answer: B
10. Which of the following is an example of the observable behavior component of emotion?
a. increased heart rate
b. raising one’s fist in victory
c. feeling happy
d. increased body temperature
Answer: B
11. Which of the following is an example of the physiological component of emotion?
a. increased heart rate
b. raising one’s fist in victory
c. feeling happy
d. punching a pillow out of frustration
Answer: A
12. Of the following, which question has most intrigued psychologists studying emotion?
a. Do people attempt to interpret the stimulus?
b. In what order do the components occur?
c. What are the physiological responses in emotions?
d. Do we show observable behaviors in emotions?
Answer: B
13. Theories of emotions tend to fit into three categories. What are the names of the
categories?
a. peripheral theories, cognitive appraisal theories, and affective neuroscience
b. central theories, social learning theories, and Freudian theory
c. peripheral theories, central theories, and humanistic theories
d. behavioral theories, cognitive appraisal theories, and peripheral theories
Answer: A
14. Dr. Campbell is an affective neuroscientist. Which of the following journal articles is she
most likely to have written?
a. The role of the superego in experiencing emotion
b. Social learning and the expression of emotion
c. The unconscious effect on emotions
d. The role of the brain’s circuits on expressing emotion
Answer: D
15. In explaining the steps in emotions, ____ emphasize(s) our body’s physiological changes
that lead to subjective feelings.
a. social learning theory of emotions
b. central theory of emotions
c. peripheral theories of emotion
d. cognitive appraisal theories of emotion
Answer: C
16. The ____ explain(s) the steps in emotions by focusing on how we interpret situations.
a. social learning theory of emotions
b. affective neuroscience approach
c. peripheral theories of emotion
d. cognitive appraisal theories of emotion
Answer: D
17. Peripheral is to ____ as cognitive appraisal is to ____.
a. learning; innate
b. brain; emotion
c. side; interpretation
d. physiological; interpretation
Answer: D
18. Dr. Arkin has developed a theory to explain emotions, which focuses on how emotions
result from changes in the body. Dr. Arkin’s theory would be considered a(n):
a. cognitive appraisal theory
b. arousal theory
c. peripheral theory
d. feedback theory
Answer: C
19. The subjective feelings of an emotion follow our interpretations or appraisals of the
stimulus according to the:
a. social learning theory of emotions
b. affective neuroscience approach
c. peripheral theories of emotion
d. cognitive appraisal theories of emotion
Answer: D
20. Dr. Catson has developed a theory to explain emotions, which focuses on how emotions
result from the interpretations we make of the stimulus. Dr. Catson’s theory would be
considered a(n):
a. cognitive appraisal theory
b. arousal theory
c. peripheral theory
d. feedback theory
Answer: A
21. The James-Lange theory emphasizes the ____ component of emotion.
a. behavioral
b. physiological
c. cognitive
d. active
Answer: B
22. If William James of the James-Lange theory was here talking to you as you’re taking the
test, he would say:
a. “You’re anxious because you’re taking a very important test.”
b. “You’re anxious because you’re sweating and have a rapid heart rate.”
c. “You’re anxious because this is a hard test.”
d. “You’re anxious because you interpret this situation as anxiety-provoking.”
Answer: B
23. According to the ____, the reason why you feel fear when seeing a shark is because you
have experienced a specific pattern of physiological responses that your brain recognizes as
fear.
a. James-Lange theory
b. cognitive theory
c. behavioral theory
d. facial feedback theory
Answer: A
24. According to the James-Lange theory, experiencing emotion starts with:
a. changes in facial muscles
b. a show of observable behavior
c. the brain interpreting stimulus
d. physiological changes
Answer: D
25. The idea that different patterns of physiological arousal result in feeling different
emotions is known as the ____ of emotion.
a. James-Lange theory
b. cognitive theory
c. behavioral theory
d. facial feedback theory
Answer: A
26. According to the James-Lange theory, each specific pattern of physiological responses is
associated with a:
a. situation
b. facial expression
c. specific emotion
d. specific situation
Answer: C
27. The James-Lange theory would predict that people with a severed spinal cord at the neck
would experience:
a. little or no emotion
b. an intensifying of emotion
c. the same type and intensity of emotion as those with intact spinal cords
d. continuing feedback of physiological responses
Answer: A
28. The James-Lange theory of emotion has been criticized on the grounds that some
emotions:
a. have no physiological component
b. are purely physical
c. require much interpretation or appraisal of the situation
d. are not experienced by individuals with injured spinal cords
Answer: C
29. One criticism of the James-Lange theory of emotion is that:
a. sometimes we feel emotions and we are not aroused physiologically at all
b. not everyone is aroused the same way by a given emotional experience
c. even single-cell organisms experience emotion
d. different emotions do not necessarily have distinct physiological patterns
Answer: D
30. Which of the following is a criticism of the James-Lange theory of emotions?
a. People with severed spinal cords still experience emotions.
b. The theory is too cognitive to be explanatory.
c. Researchers agree that emotions cannot occur without physiological arousal.
d. Physiological arousal does not increase the intensity of emotions.
Answer: A
31. The research indicates that while the James-Lange theory seems incorrect, physiological
changes may:
a. cause positive emotions
b. cause emotions
c. increase the intensity of emotions
d. decrease the intensity of emotions
Answer: C
32. The sequence of components for emotion according to the James-Lange theory is:
a. emotional feeling, physiological changes, interpretation of changes, overt behavior
b. facial muscles change, interpretation of changes, overt behavior, emotional feeling
c. physiological changes, interpretation of changes, emotional feeling, overt behavior
d. physiological changes, overt behavior, interpret cues, emotional feeling
Answer: C
33. You read in an article that, “If you see a bear you are frightened because your heart is
pounding, rather than your heart is pounding because you are frightened.” You recognize this
statement as describing the:
a. Schachter-Singer theory
b. cognitive appraisal theory
c. facial feedback theory
d. James-Lange theory
Answer: D
34. According to research, physiological changes may ____ the intensity of emotional
experiences.
a. increase
b. decrease
c. stabilize
d. mask
Answer: A
35. Which of the following theories suggests that emotions originate in the brain, and are not
the result of physiological responses?
a. The James-Lange theory
b. The Cannon-Bard theory
c. The Schachter-Singer theory
d. The Lazarus and Plutchik theory
Answer: B
36. If you were designing a website designed to explain the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion,
which of the following would be the best domain name?
a. www.facialfeedback.edu
b. www.universal.ca
c. www.endocrineactivate.com
d. www.inthebrain.org
Answer: D
37. The facial feedback theory emphasizes the ____ component of emotion.
a. behavioral
b. physiological
c. cognitive
d. active
Answer: B
38. Professor Akbari is presenting a lecture on emotions. He presents the idea that your facial
muscles provide input to your brain. Then he assigns a short paper to everyone to read on the
theory. What is the most likely title of the short paper?
a. The Role of Appraisal in Emotions
b. Affective-Primary Theory: An Examination
c. Emotions Explained by the Facial Feedback Theory
d. Thinking Before Feeling: Cognitive-Appraisal Theory
Answer: C
39. Charles Darwin was the originator of the explanation of emotion currently known as:
a. James-Lange theory
b. cognitive theory
c. facial feedback theory
d. behavioral theory
Answer: C
40. If Charles Darwin of the facial feedback theory was here talking to you as you’re taking
the test, he would say:
a. “You’re anxious because you’re taking a very important test.”
b. “You’re anxious because you’re sweating and have a rapid heart rate.”
c. “You’re anxious because you’re biting your lower lip.”
d. “You’re anxious because you interpret this situation as anxiety-provoking.”
Answer: C
41. If the facial feedback theory is correct, what should we expect when people smile for no
apparent reason?
a. It depends on what the person’s emotional state was before smiling.
b. Nothing, since there is no situation to interpret why the person is smiling.
c. Nothing, since there is no corresponding physiological change.
d. They should report feeling happy.
Answer: D
42. The facial feedback theory argues that ____ from the muscles of the face and skin are
interpreted as ____ by your brain.
a. feedback; emotional feelings
b. biological byproducts; anger
c. feedback; physiological changes
d. emotional feelings; physiological changes
Answer: A
43. The song “Put on a Happy Face” implies that if we smile, we’ll begin to feel happy.
Which explanation of emotion does this idea support?
a. James-Lange theory
b. cognitive theory
c. behavioral theory
d. facial feedback theory
Answer: D
44. The term “poker face” describes a person’s ability to hold a very good hand in a card
game without letting other players know it by his facial expression. According to the facial
feedback theory, the “poker-faced” player will:
a. probably be tensing muscles other than those on the face
b. be doing a much poorer job at hiding his emotions than he or she thinks
c. find the game more exciting
d. find the game less exciting
Answer: D
45. The sequence of components for emotion according to the facial feedback theory is:
a. emotional feeling, facial muscles change, interpretation of changes, overt behavior,
emotional feeling again
b. facial muscles change, interpretation of changes, overt behavior, emotional feeling
c. physiological changes, interpretation of changes, emotional feeling, overt behavior
d. facial muscles change, interpretation of changes, emotional feeling, overt behavior
Answer: D
46. The research has found that facial feedback:
a. contributes to an emotion
b. leads to specific feelings
c. is an adequate theory that explains how facial muscles produce emotions
d. fails to indicate our general emotional state
Answer: A
47. Some recent research on the effect of facial expressions on emotional experience has
concluded that:
a. we can initiate emotional experience with appropriate facial expression
b. laughter relieves depression because of what our face is doing
c. facial expressions are learned and therefore do not reflect emotional arousal
d. facial expressions contribute to but do not initiate emotional experience
Answer: D
48. Schachter and Singer’s theory emphasizes the ____ component of emotion.
a. behavioral
b. physiological
c. cognitive
d. active
Answer: C
49. Which names are most associated with the cognitive appraisal theory of emotions?
a. James and Lange
b. Schachter and Singer
c. Darwin and Ekman
d. Yerkes and Dodson
Answer: B
50. Those subjects who were given epinephrine (blindly) and were later put in a happy
situation reported feeling happy. Why?
a. Subjects interpreted their arousal by examining their situation, and concluded they were
happy because of the situation.
b. They were smiling.
c. Their specific pattern of physiological arousal was interpreted as happiness.
d. Their facial feedback was consistent with the emotional feeling of happiness.
Answer: A
51. The cognitive appraisal theory of emotion stresses the importance of:
a. physiological differences among different emotions
b. labeling an emotion to explain an aroused state
c. facial expressions as causes of emotion
d. other people’s reactions to a person’s aroused state
Answer: B
52. The sequence of components for emotion according to the Schachter-Singer cognitive
theory of emotion is:
a. emotional feeling, facial muscles change, interpret cues, overt behavior, emotional feeling
again
b. facial muscles change, interpret cues, overt behavior, emotional feeling
c. stimulus, interpretation of stimulus, emotional feeling, overt behavior
d. physiological arousal, emotional feeling, interpret cues, overt behavior
Answer: C
53. According to Schachter and Singer’s cognitive theory of emotion, the experience of
happiness would depend on the:
a. context in which one was physiologically aroused
b. nature of the physiological arousal
c. strength of the physiological arousal
d. duration of the physiological arousal
Answer: A
54. Schachter and Singer’s cognitive theory states that physiological arousal:
a. causes particular emotions to be experienced
b. results from the movements of facial muscles
c. creates the need for an explanation
d. cannot be cognitively appraised
Answer: C
55. Which of the following is a revision in Schachter and Singer’s cognitive theory?
a. a stimulus causes physiological arousal
b. physiological arousal creates the need for some kind of explanation
c. an individual’s appraisal of the situational cues results in the experience of an emotion
d. emotions may occur without any thought or awareness
Answer: D
56. The main argument about the role of cognition in emotion seems to be:
a. whether cognition occurs in all emotional experiences
b. if there is a different cognitive experience for each emotion
c. how the frontal lobes interact with the limbic system
d. whether cognition comes before emotion or emotion comes before cognition
Answer: D
57. The physiological arousal that you experience before taking a test can be interpreted as
anxiety or excitement. Which theory would emphasize how your interpretation of this arousal
impacts the emotion you feel?
a. cognitive appraisal theory
b. James-Lange theory
c. facial feedback theory
d. Cannon-Bard theory
Answer: A
58. The importance of the Schachter and Singer study was to show that:
a. appraisal of the stimulus occurs after behavior changes
b. physiology plays an insignificant role in emotion
c. cognitive factors could trigger and give rise to emotional feelings
d. facial muscles trigger emotional feelings
Answer: C
59. The sequence of components for emotion according to the cognitive-appraisal theory of
emotion is:
a. stimulus, interpretation, bodily response, emotional feeling
b. stimulus, interpretation, emotional feeling, bodily response
c. stimulus, emotional feeling, interpret, bodily response
d. stimulus, emotional feeling, bodily response, interpret
Answer: B
60. Which specialty examines the relationship of emotion and how the brain produces or
contributes to emotion?
a. affective neuroscience
b. affective physiology
c. mood dynamics
d. bioaffective psychology
Answer: A
61. Our emotions are different than other psychological states. What is this difference?
a. Our emotions occur independently of cognitive processes.
b. Our emotions are expressed in stereotypic facial expressions.
c. Our emotions are based solely on biological arousal.
d. Our emotions are more controllable.
Answer: B
62. The module describes four unique qualities of emotions. Which of the following is not
among those four qualities?
a. Some emotions are hard wired in the brain.
b. Emotions impact our cognitive functioning.
c. Emotions are not influenced by one’s culture.
d. Emotions are expressed in stereotypic ways.
Answer: C
63. Based on the content in the module, why do emotions influence our decisions?
a. Emotions often are related to unconscious conflicts, and it is these conflicts that influence
the decisions we make.
b. Emotions create “neurological confusion” in our memory systems, which then disrupts
decision making.
c. The forebrain, which makes decisions, does not have complete control over the limbic
system.
d. Emotions release stress hormones that can influence our reasoning ability.
Answer: C
64. Most people would detect a ____ faster than a ____.
a. snake; book
b. dog; cat
c. square; circle
d. baseball; football
Answer: A
65. Most people would detect ____ stimuli faster than ____ stimuli, according to affective
neuroscience.
a. stationary; moving
b. moving; stationary
c. color; uncolored
d. emotional; unemotional
Answer: D
66. You’re at a baseball stadium watching a game. Suddenly a ball is hit right at you, and you
detect the stimulus very quickly. What would affective neuroscientists say about that?
a. The baseball is round and we can detect this shape very fast.
b. The baseball coming right at you represents a potential threat.
c. The baseball represents some unconscious stimulus that symbolizes conflicts experienced
in childhood.
d. The baseball is detected very fast because it is moving and not stationary.
Answer: B
67. Which part of the brain is especially active when viewing facial expressions of fear?
a. hippocampus
b. amygdala
c. thalamus
d. visual cortex
Answer: B
68. Imagine that the parts of the brain can speak. As you look at a black widow spider coming
towards you, which part would say, “It’s my responsibility to determine if a stimulus has
positive or negative emotional significance”?
a. Broca’s area
b. hippocampus
c. thalamus
d. amygdala
Answer: D
69. Which of the following statements would be the most likely outcome if your amygdala is
damaged?
a. your ability to produce speech would be impaired
b. your ability to understand language would be affected
c. you might ignore important emotional cues in the environment
d. you would be unable to display facial expressions
Answer: C
70. “I just flew-in from Cincinnati ... boy, are my arms tired.” Your ability to remember this
joke as funny depends on the ____ remembering the emotional/humorous content.
a. hypothalamus
b. thalamus
c. Wernicke’s area
d. amygdala
Answer: D
71. “I remember when a dog chased me up a tree. I was scared.” What brain part was
responsible for storing that memory of that fear?
a. amygdala
b. thalamus
c. Wernicke’s area
d. hippocampus
Answer: A
72. You are writing an article for the local newspaper on the amygdala and its role in emotion.
What would be a catchy and accurate title for your article?
a. “Your Amygdala: The Major Relay Station of the Brain”
b. “The Amygdala: Unconscious Motives and Conflicts”
c. “Amygdala: The Reward Center?”
d. “Amygdala: Is That Person Friend or Foe?”
Answer: D
73. When noticing an emotional stimulus, what is the fastest pathway of neural activity?
a. eyes, amygdala, visual cortex
b. eyes, thalamus, amygdala
c. eyes, visual cortex, thalamus
d. eyes, thalamus, visual cortex, thalamus
Answer: B
74. “Look over there. It’s a poisonous snake!” your friend yells as the two of you are hiking.
What is the pathway of neural activity?
a. eyes, amygdala, visual cortex
b. eyes, thalamus, amygdala
c. eyes, visual cortex, thalamus
d. eyes, thalamus, visual cortex, thalamus
Answer: B
75. Matt has problems controlling his emotions. From the affective neuroscience perspective,
why might that be the case?
a. His levels of norepinephrine are out of balance.
b. His prefrontal cortex is not working properly.
c. The thalamus is not sending information properly to his visual cortex.
d. Unconscious motives are responsible for his lack of control.
Answer: B
76. Duane suffers from social phobia. What area of his brain is especially active, according to
research described in the module?
a. thalamus
b. prefrontal cortex
c. visual cortex
d. amygdala
Answer: D
77. A phobia results from more neural connections from the ____ to the ____, rather than the
other way.
a. amygdala; cortex
b. prefrontal cortex; temporal lobe
c. visual cortex; auditory cortex
d. thalamus; hippocampus
Answer: A
78. Universal emotions refer to a(n) ____ number of specific ____ that signal feelings or
emotional states.
a. inherited; verbalizations
b. learned; facial expressions
c. large; hand gestures
d. inherited; facial expressions
Answer: D
79. A ____ is a universal sign of happiness or friendliness.
a. hand shake
b. wave
c. smile
d. verbal greeting
Answer: C
80. Which of these is not generally considered an emotional expression recognized across
cultures?
a. frustration
b. happiness
c. surprise
d. sadness
Answer: A
81. Who formulated the existence of universal emotions?
a. Stanley Schachter
b. Richard Lazarus
c. Robert Zajonc
d. Charles Darwin
Answer: D
82. Of the following expressions, which one tends to have the least agreement across
cultures?
a. surprise
b. happiness
c. anger
d. sadness
Answer: A
83. According to cross-cultural evidence, which of the following emotions is least likely to
have universal expression?
a. fear
b. anger
c. sadness
d. shame
Answer: D
84. At about ____, infants begin to smile, even infants who are ____.
a. 1 to 3 days; blind
b. 8 to 10 weeks; blind
c. 1 to 2 weeks; deaf
d. 4 to 6 weeks; blind
Answer: D
85. Which of these statements is not correct in regard to universal facial expression?
a. infants around 5 to 7 months show fear
b. infants develop facial expressions in an unpredictable sequence
c. happiness is expressed the same way in Western and primitive cultures
d. anger is a biologically determined universal emotion
Answer: B
86. Right before you visit a residential school for blind children, a friend tells you to be
prepared to see the children show “different” facial expressions. Your friend says, “These
kids have never seen a smile, so what do you expect?” What do you observe at the school?
a. Your friend is wrong. The children show the same facial expression as kids who are
sighted.
b. Your friend is half-right. The children show the same facial expressions, but only for
positive emotions.
c. Your friend is correct. The children show different expressions.
d. Your friend is half-right. The children show the same facial expressions, but only for
negative emotions.
Answer: A
87. When you see a child smiling, her smile communicates her feelings of happiness to you,
and then you wave and smile back to her. Emotion in this regard serves as a(n):
a. social signal
b. adaptive method
c. warning of her intentions
d. outlet for stress
Answer: A
88. If you wanted to scan a crowd for angry faces, who would you pick and why?
a. Michael; men do this task better than women
b. Heather; women do this task better than men
c. 17-year-old Katelyn; teenage girls do this task the best
d. 17-year-old Dan; teenage boys do this type of task the best
Answer: A
89. What function do social signals serve?
a. These social signals are patterns that solve problems in our environment.
b. They help us to adapt to the environment.
c. Different social signals elicit responses from those around us.
d. Social signals alleviate stress.
Answer: C
90. It was Charles Darwin who argued that emotions function to allow us to:
a. choose mates who are similar to us in emotional disposition
b. adapt and solve problems that are important for our survival
c. communicate our feelings or moods
d. indicate how others are, to respond to us
Answer: B
91. The ____ theory of emotion suggests that we have emotions to help us judge objects and
situations to determine if they can help us survive.
a. evolutionary
b. James-Lange
c. cognitive appraisal
d. affective-primacy
Answer: A
92. The notion that emotions can help or hinder performance is key to the:
a. Law of Effect
b. Schachter and Singer theory
c. adaptation level theory
d. Yerkes-Dodson law
Answer: D
93. To do well on a difficult task, the Yerkes-Dodson law would recommend:
a. high arousal
b. moderate arousal
c. low arousal
d. that arousal does not play a role in performance
Answer: C
94. An athlete has a simple task in the game she is playing. According to the Yerkes-Dodson
law, she ought to have:
a. high arousal
b. moderate arousal
c. low arousal
d. that arousal does not play a role in performance
Answer: A
95. Bill has a very difficult test coming up tomorrow. But he is confused on his plan of
attack—that is, in which emotional state he should be when taking the exam. The YerkesDodson law would advise Bill to be:
a. adequately prepared for his exam
b. in a high state of arousal
c. in a low state of arousal
d. “psyched up”
Answer: C
96. In order to achieve high performance on a simple, familiar task, the Yerkes-Dodson law
would recommend:
a. high arousal
b. moderate arousal
c. low arousal
d. that arousal does not play a role in performance
Answer: A
97. Sue works on a factory line. Her tasks are very simple, but since she wants a promotion,
she needs to be productive and make few errors. The Yerkes-Dodson law would advise Sue to
be:
a. “psyched up”
b. in a moderate state of arousal
c. in a low state of arousal
d. adequately trained for her job
Answer: A
98. The module describes a study in which students were aroused either because of high test
anxiety or drinking coffee. When completing a difficult task, the most highly aroused
students:
a. did better than less aroused students
b. did more poorly than less aroused students
c. completed the task more quickly than less aroused students
d. completed the task less quickly than less aroused students
Answer: B
99. What part of the brain recognizes happy facial expressions?
a. amygdala
b. hypothalamus
c. corpus callosum
d. hippocampus
Answer: A
100. What emotion is most related to dopamine, the nucleus accumbens, and the ventral
tegmental areas of the brain?
a. surprise
b. anger
c. happiness
d. fear
Answer: C
101. What did Pam, the young woman who won 87 million dollars in the lottery, discover
about money and happiness?
a. Being rich leads to long-term happiness.
b. Money helps and makes life easier, but does not buy long-term happiness.
c. Money has no effect in the short or long term on happiness.
d. More money and things brings a sense of emptiness to life.
Answer: B
102. A friend of yours just won a multi-million dollar lottery. She asks you what you thought
would happen to her level of happiness. Given that you’ve just studied happiness, you would
correctly tell her that:
a. she will likely deeply regret winning the money and will suffer from mild to moderate
depression
b. she will experience great long-term happiness
c. happiness will actually decrease, but she won’t become depressed
d. she will experience a short period of great happiness, but in the long run will be no happier
than before
Answer: D
103. Who would you predict is happier and why? A 50-year-old man or a 50-year-old
woman?
a. 50-year-old man; men are more satisfied with family and finances
b. 50-year-old woman; women are more satisfied with family and finances
c. 50-year-old man; men are more satisfied with their sex lives
d. 50-year-old woman; the children are leaving home, freeing up more resources like time
and energy
Answer: A
104. Who would be the happiest, based on research summarized in Module 16?
a. Alyssa, a three-year-old female
b. Kurt, a 7-year-old male
c. Gary, a 75-year-old male
d. Fran, a 73-year-old female
Answer: C
105. The study of lottery winners indicated that one year after winning:
a. there was a great deal of sorrow for most of the people studied
b. most subjects considered winning the lottery to be the best thing that could have happened
to them
c. most subjects experienced few changes in their lifestyle
d. overall, winners were no happier than non-winners
Answer: D
106. Which phrase best describes the adaptation level theory?
a. “easy come, easy go”
b. “taking things for granted”
c. “a level playing field”
d. “so much to do in so little time”
Answer: B
107. Rosie married a very wealthy man and, initially, was extremely happy that she could
now afford all the things she could never have before. Six months later, her happiness had
lessened. She had become accustomed to having money and now took it for granted.
According to recent research, Rosie’s reduction in happiness is due to:
a. adaptation level theory
b. overjustification
c. contrast principle
d. attribution
Answer: A
108. According to the adaptation level theory, money cannot buy happiness because:
a. we are greedy
b. we adapt to continuous satisfaction
c. most of us cannot afford to buy those things that create true happiness
d. we find it difficult to put a price tag on happiness
Answer: B
109. The adaptation level theory would suggest that long-term happiness is more dependent
on:
a. other people’s financial success
b. enjoying good news and the little pleasures of life
c. setting and reaching high goals
d. accumulating material things that give us pleasure
Answer: B
110. Of the following, what would researchers say would have the most impact on long-term
happiness?
a. winning a multimillion lottery
b. getting married
c. graduating from college
d. getting a phone call each week from a friend who has moved away
Answer: D
111. “Getting used” to money is most related to the ____.
a. adaptation level theory
b. drive-reduction theory
c. cognitive appraisal theory
d. James-Lange theory
Answer: A
112. According to research, about ____ of our level of happiness comes from ____.
a. 100%; environmental influences
b. 50%; genetic influences
c. 70%; financial security
d. 30%; reaching personal goals
Answer: B
113. Specific cultural norms that govern the control of emotional expression in specific
situations are called:
a. situational cues
b. social signals
c. adaptation levels
d. display rules
Answer: D
114. The fact that there are some gestures and facial expressions that are specific to particular
cultures:
a. leads us to reconsider Charles Darwin’s reasoning
b. calls into question the idea of universal facial expression
c. suggests that display rules influence expression of emotion and mood
d. implies that expression of emotion and mood is primarily determined by learning
Answer: C
115. Sigrid is going on a tour of Japan. She asks you for advice regarding anything she should
know about showing emotions in that culture. Of course, she has great confidence in you
because of your understanding of this topic. You tell her that:
a. Japanese people tend to discourage the showing of emotional intensity in public.
b. Japanese people excel at identifying the emotions of fear and anger.
c. Japanese people love to show positive emotions in public.
d. Japanese people tend to encourage the showing of strong negative emotions in public.
Answer: A
116. Japanese and Americans were asked to rate the most intense emotion out of surprise,
anger, happiness, disgust, and sadness. The most intense according to Japanese was ____;
Americans perceived ____ as the most intense.
a. disgust; happiness
b. anger; anger
c. disgust; sadness
d. sadness; happiness
Answer: A
117. Russians are less likely than Americans to smile in public. Why?
a. In public situations, Russians control their emotions more than Americans.
b. Russians are overall less satisfied in life.
c. Russians don’t want to communicate unrealistic optimism to others.
d. Russians are more likely to express happiness verbally rather than nonverbally like
Americans.
Answer: A
118. You attend a sporting event in Japan. The athletes perform very well. But the mainly
Japanese crowd shows less appreciation than what you expected. This is due to:
a. psychodynamic factors
b. genetic differences
c. a difference in display rules
d. differences in how Japanese understand sporting events
Answer: C
119. When Westerners listen to music, they perceive the fast songs as happy and slow songs
as fearful. What about the Mafa farmers in Cameroon?
a. they show the same pattern as Westerners
b. they show the opposite pattern as Westerners
c. they perceive both types of songs as happy
d. they perceive both types of songs as fearful
Answer: A
120. The ability to perceive and express emotion, understand and reason with emotion, and
regulate one’s emotion is called:
a. interpersonal intelligence
b. self-actualization
c. emotional intelligence
d. emotional maturity
Answer: C
121. Peter has the ability to make others feel as if he is one of them. He can also put people at
ease. People say Peter does a great job of not letting the little things in life bother him. Peter
would most likely score high on a test of:
a. achievement motivation
b. verbal ability
c. creativity
d. emotional intelligence
Answer: D
122. In examining emotional intelligence, research has shown that teenagers with high
emotional intelligence are less likely to:
a. smoke cigarettes
b. to be satisfied with their lives
c. get along with peers
d. empathize with others
Answer: A
123. With regard to emotional intelligence, there is preliminary evidence that:
a. a large thick cortex in the brain is associated with high scores
b. school children with high scores were rated by their teachers as more helpful
c. high scores are related to low life satisfaction
d. high scores are related to aggression in children
Answer: B
124. Recent brain research shows that your ability to share emotions felt by others is because:
a. of shared display rules
b. mirror neurons replicate the emotion felt by others by activating the brain
c. we’ve all experienced the same emotions
d. of shared language
Answer: B
125. Feeling guilty is typically accompanied by ____ physiological responses that can be
measured by a polygraph.
a. involuntary
b. controlled
c. voluntary
d. brief
Answer: A
126. When given a polygraph, a number of measurements are taken of several physiological
responses. Which of the following is not typically assessed during a lie detector test?
a. galvanic skin response
b. body core temperature
c. respiration rate
d. blood pressure
Answer: B
127. Why is the term “lie detector test” inaccurate?
a. These tests simply measure changes in arousal.
b. The test is not detecting lying, but the administrator is.
c. Using the term “lie” does not accurately reflect guilt.
d. Only very sophisticated computers can detect lying, not polygraphs.
Answer: A
128. Which of the following refers to changes in sweating of the fingers or palms that
accompany emotional experiences?
a. skin temperature response
b. sweat response
c. polygraphic perspiration reaction
d. galvanic skin response
Answer: D
129. Which of the following statements regarding lie detectors is true?
a. examiners are more likely to identify liars as truthful people
b. lie detectors measure only physiological changes
c. evidence from lie detectors is admissible in most courts of law
d. polygraph examiners make correct decisions 99% of the time
Answer: B
130. Two types of questions are used in the Control Question Technique. These types are
called:
a. neutral question; elicitor question
b. control question; critical question
c. neutral question; critical question
d. control question; stress question
Answer: C
131. Guy has been arrested for attempted armed robbery and is currently being given a lie
detector test. Which of the following is the best example of a neutral question?
a. “What is your full name?”
b. “Where were you on the night on July 15, 1998?”
c. “Do you know the victim?”
d. “Have you ever committed a violent crime against another person?”
Answer: A
132. One problem of lie detector tests described in the textbook is that:
a. lying means different things to different people
b. high error rates have been observed with lie detection in laboratory settings
c. neutral questions in the control question technique actually are biased
d. a pattern of physiological responses that are unique to lying has never been found
Answer: D
133. The lie detector test has been estimated to be inaccurate from:
a. 25% to 75% of the time
b. 5% to 10% of the time
c. 75% to 85% of the time
d. 90% to 95% of the time
Answer: A
134. In most state and federal courts of law, evidence from lie detector tests is:
a. admissible, but only when a qualified professional administers the test
b. admissible only in federal court
c. prohibited
d. typically used in capital cases
Answer: C
135. According to research, the future of lie detection tests could be using:
a. a combination of brain and eye scans
b. a combination of powerful “truth serums” and control question interviewing
c. video cameras to detect subtle facial expressions
d. a combination of control question interviewing and “truth serums”
Answer: A
136. One interesting line of research is to develop brain scans to detect lying. It has been
reported that compared to nonliars, those who pathologically lie have more _____.
a. white matter in the corpus callosum
b. prefrontal white matter
c. myelin on axons located in the amygdala
d. white matter in temporal lobes
Answer: B
137. In what area of the brain is there a difference between pathological liars and non-liars?
a. hypothalamus
b. amygdala
c. prefrontal cortex
d. thalamus
Answer: C
138. Why are volunteers for the 2008 Beijing Olympics required to take classes on how to
smile?
a. The Chinese people are very serious about the success of the Olympics.
b. Since the risk of terrorism is high, smiling will help everyone feel safer.
c. Most of the volunteers are military personnel who are taught not to show any emotion.
d. The Chinese people are not used to smiling in social situations.
Answer: D
139. You are visiting Japan and you notice that the people there are not very kind. What’s the
best explanation for your observation?
a. It is likely that they misinterpreted your actions as rudeness.
b. It is a cultural norm to treat foreigners that way.
c. The people are kind, but are very reluctant to show emotions in public.
d. You must have acted in some threatening way.
Answer: C
TRUE/FALSE
1. Emotions include appraisal and observable behaviors.
Answer: True
2. The peripheral theory of emotions focuses on how we interpret situations.
Answer: False
3. The James-Lange theory says that the brain interprets physiological arousal, which
produces emotions.
Answer: T
4. Physiological changes may increase the intensity of emotional experiences.
Answer: True
5. The James-Lange theory argues that experiencing an increase in heart rate when you see a
bear causes fear.
Answer: True
6. Feedback from facial muscles can cause emotions.
Answer: False
7. The cognitive interpretation of events can influence emotions.
Answer: True
8. In the Schachter-Singer experiment, subjects explained their arousal by focusing on the
situation.
Answer: True
9. Emotions are expressed in stereotypic facial expressions.
Answer: T
10. The hindbrain is responsible for regulating emotions.
Answer: False
11. The thalamus evaluates stimuli to determine their emotional significance.
Answer: False
12. There are more connections from the amygdala to the cortex than from cortex to the
amygdala.
Answer: True
13. When we view emotional facial expressions, the amygdala is especially active.
Answer: True
14. For complex tasks, it is best to have high arousal.
Answer: False
15. The Yerkes-Dodson law describes the relationship between arousal and performance on
tasks.
Answer: True
16. According to adaptation level theory, emotions come after arousal.
Answer: False
17. Lottery winners tend to be happier than normal for the rest of their lives after they win
their money.
Answer: False
18. Facial expressions tend to have the same meaning around the world.
Answer: False
19. Japanese tend to be more emotionally reserved than Americans.
Answer: True
20. Specific rules that regulate the expression of emotions are called display rules.
Answer: True
21. Youths scoring high on tests of emotional intelligence tend to be less aggressive.
Answer: True
22. There are unique patterns of arousal for lying that lie detector tests can measure.
Answer: False
23. Lie detectors have accuracy rates of around 95%.
Answer: False
24. The Japanese are reluctant to express emotions in public.
Answer: True
25. Japanese women rarely cover their mouths when smiling.
Answer: False
Test Bank for Introduction to Psychology
Rod Plotnik, Haig Kouyoumdjian
9781133939535, 9781305008113, 9781285061306
