AP Psychology : Culture, Norms, and Conformity

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

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Example Question #58 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following is not considered to be a "universal standard of beauty"?

Possible Answers:

Mature facial features in women

Inverted triangle figure for men

Hourglass figure for women

Mature facial features in men

Symmetrical facial structure for men and women

Correct answer:

Mature facial features in women

Explanation:

Although standards of beauty change from culture to culture, there are some standards that are considered universal due to evolutionary factors. These standards include the following: symmetrical facial features for both sexes (indicators of health); hourglass figures for women and inverted triangle figures for men (indicator of sexual maturity); and mature facial features for men and immature facial features for women (indicators of physical abilities in both sexes).

Example Question #61 : Social Psychology

In World War I, Yerkes and Terman developed the Army Alpha to evaluate intelligence in military recruits. Which of the following statements is false regarding its counterpart: the Army Beta?

Possible Answers:

The Army Beta was used to determine a soldier's potential for a leadership position

The Army Beta was a physical endurance test

The Army Beta was primarily composed of shapes and symbols

The Army Beta was followed by an extensive psychological examination. 

The Army Beta was intended for administration to illiterate and foreign language speaking soldiers

Correct answer:

The Army Beta was a physical endurance test

Explanation:

The Army Beta was a follow up exam that provided illiterate or foreign language speaking individuals an opportunity to have their intelligence evaluated. The Army Beta was normed against men in institutions for the feeble-minded. It was an intelligence test designed to determine an individual’s ability for upward mobility and capacity in the Army. The Army Beta was heavily racially weighted and created many arguments around discrimination in the US Army and it was discontinued after World War 1. 

Example Question #62 : Social Psychology

At the end of a theater performance, the audience stands up and begins clapping to show appreciation. You also stand up and clap because that is what everyone else is doing. This scenario is an example of which of the following psychological phenomena?

Possible Answers:

Social pressure

Injunctive norm

Conformity

Personal insecurity

Descriptive norms

Correct answer:

Descriptive norms

Explanation:

Descriptive norms occur because of the observance of the behavior of others around you. These norms are associated with the idea that individuals will behave according to a social pattern (e.g. standing up with a crowd for an ovation). Injunctive norms are associated with behavior that is considered to be socially acceptable or unacceptable. These behaviors include what one “ought to do” (e.g. not smoking in an elevator and driving on the right side of the road).

Example Question #63 : Social Psychology

A person walks into a library and begins to whisper because this is considered to be socially acceptable behavior. This scenario is an example of which f the following psychological phenomena?

Possible Answers:

Descriptive norm

Environmental conditioning

Behavior expectations

Social conditioning

Injunctive norm

Correct answer:

Injunctive norm

Explanation:

An injunctive norm is constructed when there is a set of expected behaviors in a designated space or place, such as whispering in a library. Injunctive norms are socially constructed behaviors of what one “ought to do.” On the other hand, descriptive norms represent behaviors that are accompanied by a pattern.

Example Question #64 : Social Psychology

Solomon Asch's conformity study is most known for making which of the following discoveries?

Possible Answers:

Young adults are less likely to conform than middle aged adults 

People rarely contradict the opinions of the group, even if that opinion is clearly wrong 

People only conform with the group if they agree with the opinions of the group

People conform only when there is some type of reward 

Correct answer:

People rarely contradict the opinions of the group, even if that opinion is clearly wrong 

Explanation:

In Asch's study, people rarely contradicted the opinions of the group, even if that opinion was clearly wrong. 70% of the people reported at least one obviously incorrect answer. Asch's study did not possess elements regarding rewards and it was not designed to study the effects of age on conformity.

Example Question #65 : Social Psychology

Which of the following terms appropriately describes a person who does not experience sexual attraction, but may be interested in romantic and/or emotional connections with others?

Possible Answers:

Homosexual

Transgender

Neutral

Polyqueer

Asexual

Correct answer:

Asexual

Explanation:

An "asexual" individual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction. Asexual people have the same emotional needs as other people, but do not feel the need to engage in sexual acts with others.

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