Why We Do What We Do Ch. 12

Question 1

individual differences among people

Answer 1

People are born with individual differences that generally follow a normal distribution

Question 2

Factors that help people become autonomous

Answer 2

• A more vital and proactive temperament. This can influence adults to be less controlling
• Having a special support person, whether it’s a relative, coach, teacher, etc
• Interpreting situations as more autonomy-supportive than they actually are
• Promoting one’s own development
• Developing regulatory processes to manage one’s emotions and inner urges about finding ways to get one’s needs satisfied
• Regulating one’s behaviour
• Accepting oneself and taking an interest in one’s inner world

Question 3

people who have a strong autonomy orientation:

Answer 3

• display greater coherence among various aspects of their personality and between their behaviour and personality
• are more satisfied with their interpersonal relationships
• have more positive mental health
• experience social contexts as more autonomy-supportive

Question 4

Deci case study with San Francisco managers

Answer 4

Deci worked with a company in San Francisco that was characterized by controlling interpersonal relationships between the management team. He found that as the managers began relating to each other differently and providing support for each other, they also became more autonomy-supportive with their work teams, leading to a more positive morale in the whole company. They also began to deal with their boss differently and give him support so that he would reciprocate

Question 5

emotions

Answer 5

reactions to real or imagined stimuli in the current situation or your memory

Question 6

meanings of emotional stimuli

Answer 6

Stimuli have different meanings to different people

Question 7

two components of emotional regulation

Answer 7

• Immediate intuitive response
• Reappraisal process (reflective assessment)

Question 8

what component of emotional regulation gives people power over their emotions

Answer 8

Reappraisal process

Question 9

emotions in ego-involved people

Answer 9

Ego-involved people become pawns to their emotions

Question 10

emotions and behavioural tendencies

Answer 10

Emotions have behavioural tendencies built into them but we can inhibit the impulses and decide how to behave

Question 11

signalling function of emotions

Answer 11

Emotions signal a discrepancy between a person’s current state and some standard they hold

Question 12

Deci on the meaning of life

Answer 12

“The true meaning of being alive is not just to feel happy but to experience the full range of human emotions.”

Question 13

developing autonomy through techniques

Answer 13

There are no techniques that make people autonomous; it has to come from within oneself