LCC Positive Psychology & Strengths-Based Coaching 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: According to Martin Seligman's PERMA model, which of the following is NOT one of the five elements of well-being?
- Positive emotions
- Relationships
- Resilience (Correct answer)
- Accomplishment
Correct answer: Resilience
PERMA stands for Positive emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment — resilience is not one of the five elements.
Question 2: The VIA (Values in Action) Classification, developed by Peterson and Seligman, identifies how many universal character strengths?
- 18
- 24 (Correct answer)
- 30
- 12
Correct answer: 24
The VIA Classification identifies 24 universal character strengths organized under six broad virtues considered universal across cultures.
Question 3: Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi's concept of 'flow' is best described as:
- A state of deep relaxation achieved through meditation
- A state of optimal experience where challenge matches skill level (Correct answer)
- A technique for managing anxiety in high-pressure situations
- A framework for setting and achieving long-term goals
Correct answer: A state of optimal experience where challenge matches skill level
Flow is Csikszentmihalyi's concept of complete immersion in an activity where the challenge level optimally matches one's skill, producing effortless engagement.
Question 4: Barbara Fredrickson's broaden-and-build theory suggests that positive emotions primarily:
- Are less important than negative emotions for survival
- Broaden awareness and build lasting personal resources (Correct answer)
- Should be amplified to completely override negative emotional states
- Are primarily social signals for communicating safety to others
Correct answer: Broaden awareness and build lasting personal resources
Fredrickson's theory proposes that positive emotions widen thought-action repertoires and build lasting physical, intellectual, social, and psychological resources.
Question 5: In Martin Seligman's concept of learned optimism, which explanatory style is associated with greater well-being?
- Internal, stable, global attributions for negative events
- External, unstable, specific attributions for negative events (Correct answer)
- External, stable, global attributions for positive events
- Internal, unstable, global attributions for all events
Correct answer: External, unstable, specific attributions for negative events
Optimists attribute negative events to external, temporary, and situation-specific causes, which protects well-being and promotes resilience.
Question 6: Carol Dweck's growth mindset theory holds that individuals with a growth mindset believe:
- Intelligence and abilities are fixed traits determined at birth
- Success depends primarily on natural talent and innate ability
- Abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work (Correct answer)
- Effort is less important than natural intelligence for achievement
Correct answer: Abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work
According to Dweck, individuals with a growth mindset believe that abilities and intelligence can be developed through effort, learning, and persistence.
Question 7: Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in coaching is primarily based on:
- Identifying and correcting deficits and weaknesses in the client
- Focusing on what is working well and building on existing strengths (Correct answer)
- Analyzing past failures to prevent similar future mistakes
- Using standardized assessments to benchmark client progress
Correct answer: Focusing on what is working well and building on existing strengths
Appreciative Inquiry focuses on discovering and amplifying what is already working, using positive questions to envision and build on existing strengths rather than fixing problems.
