AP Psychology : AP Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #271 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following is not a common symptom of depression?

Possible Answers:

Impaired concentration

Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities

Sleep problems (hypersomnia or insomnia) 

Recurrent thoughts of death

Increased energy levels

Correct answer:

Increased energy levels

Explanation:

When a person suffers from major depression, it can be very difficult for the individual to maintain normal levels of functioning in school, work, and at home. Major depression is associated with decreased energy levels and fatigue, not "increased energy levels." All of the other answer choices are common symptoms that are indicative of depression.

Example Question #61 : Defining Abnormalities And Disorders

Which of the following is a mood disorder?

Possible Answers:

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Major depressive disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Schizophrenia

Correct answer:

Major depressive disorder

Explanation:

Mood disorders are a class of disorders that involve gross changes in mood such as major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder, OCD and PTSD are also not mood disorders.

Example Question #272 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following psychological disorders are affective disorders?

Possible Answers:

Schizophrenia, sociopathy, and obsessive compulsive disorder

Narcisssistic, histrionic, and dependent disorders

Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders

Depression, schizophrenia, and obsessive compulsive disorder

None of these

Correct answer:

Depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorders

Explanation:

Affective disorders are defined by heightened and prolonged emotional states. In the instance of anxiety, which can manifest in many forms, one experiences a consistent state of fear that may or may not have a specific set of triggers. Depression is a prolonged state of sadness and apathy, which often involves a general lack of motivation or pleasant emotions, irritability, difficulty focusing, and, in extreme cases, suicidal thoughts. Bipolar disorder includes this kind of depressive state, yet also a manic one. During the manic state, there is a general feeling of euphoria, an "on top of the world" kind of feeling that may invite impulsive decision-making and an inflated sense of self-importance.

Psychological disorders that are not affective have to do with delusional thinking patterns, personality, attention deficits, addictions, psychosexuality, or developmental problems. While they may share commonalities and even intersect, affective disorders have distinctly to do with prolonged and extreme emotional states, which can be caused by biological or environmental factors.

Example Question #273 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following is not true about dysthymic disorder?

Possible Answers:

Dysthymic disorder is a shorter form of major depressive disorder; it typically lasts less than one month

Dysthymic disorder is a longer version of major depressive disorder; it is diagnosed when a person has been experiencing depressive-like symptoms for more than two years

None of the other answers

Dysthymic disorder is one of the possible patterns of unipolar depression

Dysthymic disorder is a less-disabling form of major depressive disorder

Correct answer:

Dysthymic disorder is a longer version of major depressive disorder; it is diagnosed when a person has been experiencing depressive-like symptoms for more than two years

Explanation:

Dysthymic disorder is a mood disorder that is similar to, but longer-lasting and less disabling, than major depressive disorder. It is diagnosed after at least two years of on-going, mild symptoms of unipolar depression.

Example Question #1 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Which of the following is not a common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Possible Answers:

A fear of contamination

Anxiety stemming from a traumatic injury

Avoidance of situations that may trigger obsessions

Compulsions to reduce anxiety

Intense stress when objects are not in order

Correct answer:

Anxiety stemming from a traumatic injury

Explanation:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a psychiatric illness characterized by excessive thoughts (obsessions) that lead to repetitive, maladaptive behaviors (compulsions). Common obsessions include a fear of contamination and/or a need to keep things orderly. Common compulsions include obsessive handwashing and counting in certain patterns.

OCD does not arise from a traumatic injury; it results from a combination of psychological and biological factors.

Example Question #2 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

When John leaves his house in morning, he always has to check multiple times to make sure that he has locked his front door. If John tries to leave his house without checking his door, or after only checking it once, he is filled with such anxiety and dread that he must abandon whatever else he is doing to return home and check his front door again. John is most likely struggling with a(n) __________.

Possible Answers:

obsession

mania

compulsion

ethical dilemma

stigma

Correct answer:

compulsion

Explanation:

A compulsion is a behavior that one feels driven to perform repeatedly, aiming to reduce stress or prevent the occurrence of something horrible. These compulsive behaviors are quite often linked to obsessive thoughts in cases of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Example Question #3 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Joanna feels that she needs to run up and down the stairs exactly 12 times before she leaves for school or else someone she loves will get hurt. What is the name for this type of intrusive, irrational thought?

Possible Answers:

a fear

a disturbance

a compulsion

an obsession 

a heritability

Correct answer:

an obsession 

Explanation:

The two parts of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) are the obsessions and the compulsions. Obsessions are the irrational, intrusive thoughts that distress the person with OCD, and compulsions are the actions that the person takes to try to alleviate the distress of the obsession. In Joanna's case, the fear of someone getting hurt is the obsession and the running up and down the stairs is the compulsion.

Example Question #2 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

What is OCD?

Possible Answers:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Obtuse-carotene disorder

Obsessive-chaotic disorder

Organized-compulsive disorder

Other non-categorized disorder

Correct answer:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder

Explanation:

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder characterized by obsessions (intrusive thououghts) and compulsions (intense needs to fulfill specific actions). A common obession is cleanliness, which can lend itself to compulsive hand washing or scrubbing.

Example Question #3 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Which of the following is the best example of a compulsion?

Possible Answers:

Refusing to eat

Difficulty counting

Excessive handwashing

Fear of stealing things

Intrusive preoccupation over one's appearance

Correct answer:

Excessive handwashing

Explanation:

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that are undertaken to reduce anxiety. Some of the most common compulsions in those with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) are counting, handwashing, collecting, and organizing at a clinically problematic level. 

Example Question #3 : Obsessive Compulsive Disorders

Which of the following is not true of obsessions, as listed in the DSM definition of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

Possible Answers:

OCD patient recognizes that obsessions are products of his/her own mind

All of these are true of obsessions

Can take form of thoughts or mental images

Persistent and recurring

Used to reduce distress or prevent disasters

Correct answer:

Used to reduce distress or prevent disasters

Explanation:

Unlike compulsions, which are behaviors that OCD patients feel they must do to prevent disaster or just to reduce their distress, obsessions are unwelcome, unhelpful thoughts that OCD patients actively attempt to ignore or suppress.

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