Week 9

Question 1

True or False:

People are more likely to choose the pleasure later and what is good for them now.

Answer 1

False, they are more likely to delay the healthy choice and have the pleasure now.

Question 2

What is self-regulation?

Answer 2

The process of altering one’s responses, including thoughts, feelings, impulses, actions, and task performances.

Question 3

True or False:

The limbic brain is also known as the emotional brain.

Answer 3

True.

Question 4

What is the function of the limbic brain?

Answer 4

It helps with first reactions and fast automatic processing, impulsive behavior, and unconscious processing.

Question 5

Is the limbic brain or prefrontal cortex older? Newer?

Answer 5

The limbic brainer is older while the PFC is newer.

Question 6

What is the function of the prefrontal cortex?

Answer 6

The PFC is responsible for abstract thinking, analyzing thoughts, and regulating behavior. It’s the last part of the brain to mature.

Question 7

True or False:

Robert Sapolsky believes that the main job of our PFC is to encourage the brain towards doing the easier thing.

Answer 7

False, Sapolsky believed the brain encourages us do the harder thing.

Question 8

True or False:

Making decisions or resisting pleasure seems to deplete one’s willpower.

Answer 8

True. The same energy that is used for self-control is also used for making decisions.

Question 9

What is “ego-depletion”?

Answer 9

The state of depleted willpower.

Question 10

How can blood glucose levels effect self-control?

Answer 10

Acts of self-control can reduce blood glucose levels. Low levels of glucose predict poor performance. Replenishing glucose can improve self-control performance.

Question 11

What are micro-exercises?

Answer 11

Small and arbitrary exercises to help strengthen self-control.

Question 12

True or False:

Being paid or some other type of high motivation can help reduce ego-depletion.

Answer 12

True.

Question 13

True or False:

Using self-control frequently and effectively can lead to weaker willpower muscles and more ego-depletion.

Answer 13

False, it would lead to stronger willpower muscles and less ego-depletion.

Question 14

What is the most important factor in delaying gratification successfully?

Answer 14

The ability to change your perception of the object or action you want to resist.

Question 15

True or False:

If your resting heart rate is lower than you are more likely to manage stress better.

Answer 15

True.

Question 16

What has been shown to weaken willpower?

Answer 16

Self-criticism, shame, and self-doubt.

Question 17

Are people more likely to have uncertainty (or “entropy” if they do not have a map for where they are going?

Answer 17

Yes.

Question 18

True or False:

Anxiety can arise in a day with a potential of reward or no reward and the uncertainty of the reward.

Answer 18

True.

Question 19

Who tends to have a higher rejection sensitivity? People with lower or higher ability to delay gratification?

Answer 19

Lower abilities to delay gratification result in a higher rejection sensitivity.