Title: Chapter 11
Course: Exploring Psychology and Christian Faith Test Bank

Q: Outline at least three of the key historic, religious, and/or psychological ideas that have led to negative views about emotions.

Q: Provide two or three reasons—drawing from case studies and psychological theories—why the authors feel that emotions serve a very important role. Summarize by describing what the authors feel that role is.

Q: Summarize the conclusions the authors reach about a biblical understanding of emotions.

Q: Summarize what the authors conclude about “problem emotions” (e.g., anger, anxiety) as they are described in Scripture.

Q: Summarize at least three practical concepts outlined by the authors about how to best respond to or manage our emotional life.

Q: Throughout the history of society and the church—as well as more recent psychological ideas—which group or individual has had the most positive view of emotions?
- The Greeks
- Freud
- René Descartes
- Humanistic psychologists
A: Humanistic psychologists

Q: According to Moes and Tellinghuisen, what is a good way to help overcome problems with anger?
- Deal with this on your own, even if it’s a serious problem for you; God never gives us any personal problem that we cannot overcome on our own.
- Express your anger openly to the person making you angry, because expressing anger always makes you feel less angry in the future.
- Transcend your anger with meditation and prayer, because anger is part of our sinful nature and not part of our embodied nature.
- “Reframe” your priorities, evaluate what you are angry about, and determine whether or not the anger is truly justified in that situation.
A: “Reframe” your priorities, evaluate what you are angry about, and determine whether or not the anger is truly justified in that situation.

Q: Based on brain damage cases such as that of Elliot, neurologist Antonio Damasio suggested that feelings . . .
- are luxuries we could easily do without.
- serve as internal guides and help us communicate to others.
- almost always cause us to act irrationally and make bad decisions.
- should be “released” so that we can clear the unconscious mind.
A: serve as internal guides and help us communicate to others.

Q: According to Moes and Tellinghuisen, why do we have the emotion called mirth?
- It provides an internal signal that the activity is valuable.
- It was generated from cultural values that grew out of our sinful tendency to ridicule others.
- There is no known explanation for mirth—which is one example of why emotions are so hard to understand.
- It improves respiration and lung capacity.
A: It provides an internal signal that the activity is valuable.

Q: Neurologist Antonio Damasio described the case of Elliot, who had damage to the middle part of his frontal lobes. Elliot’s primary problem was that he . . .
- could no longer access or appreciate his internal emotional state.
- dropped several IQ points.
- was constantly angry because he did not let it out in safe ways.
- could not remember why he was happy or angry in the past.
A: could no longer access or appreciate his internal emotional state.

Q: Temple Grandin, who is diagnosed as having autism, has difficulty doing what?
- Designing complex equipment.
- Controlling her romantic impulses and falling “out of” love.
- Reading words.
- Experiencing deep and meaningful relationships.
A: Experiencing deep and meaningful relationships.

Q: What does psychologist Warren Brown suggest about the fate of individuals with autism or some form of emotional dysfunction?
- They need to “transcend” their bodily problem and find a way to relate to God.
- God can still maintain a relationship with them even if they struggle relating to God.
- They don’t need to worry about it because our rational mind/soul is what really counts.
- These individuals are actually closer to God because they don’t have to worry that they will experience sinful emotions.
A: God can still maintain a relationship with them even if they struggle relating to God.

Q: According to Moes and Tellinghuisen, how should we think about emotions such as anger, envy, and anxiety?
- These emotions are inherently sinful, and we should always avoid them.
- The problem comes from the way we us these emotions, not with the emotions themselves.
- Since we are created as emotional beings, we should be allowed to express these emotions freely and “get them out of our system.”
- Even though God shows these emotions, Scripture clearly teaches that we should not.
A: The problem comes from the way we us these emotions, not with the emotions themselves.

Q: What does the majority of current therapists suggest about emotions?
- Unregulated emotions can be destructive, and we need to manage them.
- The release of emotions through catharsis is almost always a good thing.
- Emotions should be accepted for what they are and not considered to be good or bad.
- We should learn to repress emotions as much as possible.
A: Unregulated emotions can be destructive, and we need to manage them.

Q: After a reviewing several studies about negative moods (e.g., sadness), what did psychologist Joseph Forgas suggest about such moods?
- It is very clear that such states are so destructive that therapists should help clients overcome them as much as possible.
- Negative mood states (mostly sadness) have many positive effects on people.
- Sadness was associated with severe memory problems.
- Negative mood states make people much less fair in social situations.
A: Negative mood states (mostly sadness) have many positive effects on people.