Question

new year’s resolutions & behavior change
name
date
directions: choose the best answer.

1. maya goes for a ten - minute walk each morning. afterward, she feels energized and proud, which makes her want to do it again the next day. what psychological concept explains why this routine is strengthening?

a. positive reinforcement b. punishment c. decision fatigue

1. every evening after school, jonah hears the ping of his phone and immediately opens social media without thinking. the ping triggers the behavior. what part of the habit loop is the ping?
2. a. reward b. cue c. automaticity
3. sarah promises herself that “if it’s 7 pm, then i start my homework immediately.” this plan helps her begin consistently. what concept is she using?

a. implementation intentions b. verbal persuasion c. physiological states

1. after practicing for two weeks, leo successfully runs a full mile without stopping. this success makes him believe he can achieve bigger fitness goals. what is leo developing?

a. mastery experiences b. secondary reinforcement c. behavioral drift

1. a student studies for 20 minutes, then allows herself to listen to a favorite song as a treat. the song helps reinforce the study behavior. what concept does the song represent?

a. reward b. punishment c. cue

1. whenever riley feels stressed, his stomach tightens and his hands shake. he interprets these sensations as signs that he won’t do well in his new habit. what concept is influencing his self - efficacy?

a. positive reinforcement b. physiological states c. automaticity

1. vanessa has been making decisions all day such as what to wear, what to eat, what assignments to prioritize. by evening, she finds it harder to resist scrolling on her phone instead of studying. what concept explains her weakened self - control?

a. cue b. decision fatigue c. mastery experience

1. a teacher encourages a student, saying, “you’ve improved every week. you can reach your goal.” the student feels more confident. what concept is being demonstrated?

a. behavioral drift b. punishment c. verbal persuasion

1. ryan’s goal is to drink more water. he places a water bottle on his desk every morning so the sight of it triggers the behavior. which part of the habit loop is the water bottle serving as?

a. cue b. routine c. reward

1. after a few months of consistent practice, lena brushes her teeth immediately after breakfast without thinking about it. the behavior now takes almost no mental effort. what has developed?

a. implementation intentions b. negative reinforcement c. automaticity

Explanation:

1. Positive reinforcement strengthens behavior via pleasant consequences (energy/pride here).
2. The ping is a cue that triggers the automatic social media behavior in the habit loop.
3. Implementation intentions use "if-then" plans to link cues to actions (7 PM → start homework).
4. Mastery experiences (success in running a mile) boost belief in achieving larger goals.
5. The song is a reward that reinforces the preceding study behavior.
6. Physiological states (stomach tightness, shaking hands) influence self-efficacy perceptions.
7. Decision fatigue weakens self-control after prolonged decision-making (all-day choices here).
8. Verbal persuasion (teacher’s encouragement) increases the student’s confidence.
9. The water bottle is a cue triggering the goal behavior (drinking more water).
10. Automaticity refers to a behavior becoming routine with minimal mental effort after practice.

Answer:

1. A. Positive reinforcement
2. B. Cue
3. A. Implementation intentions
4. A. Mastery experiences
5. A. Reward
6. B. Physiological states
7. B. Decision fatigue
8. C. Verbal persuasion
9. A. Cue
10. C. Automaticity