AP Psychology : Dimensions of Psychological Development

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #909 : Ap Psychology

It was originally believed that the origins of attachment for the infant-parent bond were associated solely on nourishment. It was theorized that the infant would become attached to those who satisfied its nourishment needs; however, Harlow's 1950s monkey experiment disproved the idea that nourishment alone formed the foundation of infant-parent attachment. In this experiment, monkeys were placed in cages with two artificial mothers. One was fashioned using a bare wire cylinder and a woodenhead and another consisted of a cylinder wrapped with terry cloth.

Which of the following best describes the observation collected during this experiment that helped disprove the idea of nourishment based attachment?

Possible Answers:

Both mothers were equally appealing

The wire mother was more appealing

The mother with food was more appealing

Neither one of the mothers were appealing 

The soft mother was more appealing

Correct answer:

The soft mother was more appealing

Explanation:

In this experiment, Harry and Margaret Harlow used a cylinder wire “mother” that had a feeding bottle attached to it and a terry cloth “mother” had no feeding source. The dominating theory of the time hypothesized that infants were attached to those that provided nourishment. If this were true, then the monkey would have been expected to cling to the wire cylinder “mother” with the feeding source. The test monkeys were observed and it was noted that they possessed a tendency to cling to the terry cloth surrogate mothers. They not only showed an overwhelming preference for this surrogate but also were visibly distressed when separated from the terry cloth figure. Researchers noticed that the baby monkeys would cling to the soft mother in times of distress or anxiety. Similarly, human children have been observed to use their parents as secure bases when exploring new environments. This experiment led researchers to realize that it was body contact and touch as opposed to nourishment that created the grounds for attachment.

Example Question #501 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Thirty-year-old Jamie feels as though her life is not going the way she expected. Although she has started her career, she is anxious about finding the right mate to marry and having children. Jamie’s off-track feelings reflect which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Mentorship 

None of these

Career consolidation 

Social/biological clock  

Correct answer:

Social/biological clock  

Explanation:

The developmental factor described in the scenario is the social/biological clock (i.e. the invisible time-bound expectation that young adults have regarding the order in which life events such as career, marriage, and parenthood must occur). When they begin to have these transitions out of order or these transitions are delayed, it may cause distress in certain individuals. 

Example Question #502 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

While Shelly and Brendan are both college-educated, Brendan works full-time and financially supports the family, and Shelly primarily takes care of their children and home life. Which of the following types of marriage are Shelly and Brendan exhibiting? 

Possible Answers:

Traditional

Authoritarian

Egalitarian

Matriarchal

Correct answer:

Traditional

Explanation:

Traditional marriages include men and women assuming typical gender roles where the husband is the "breadwinner" and the wife is the "homemaker." On the other hand, egalitarian marriages involve men and women taking on and balancing roles and responsibilities within the family and at work.

Example Question #503 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

During early and middle adulthood, individuals often take care of their own children, but they also begin to take care of their older parents. Which of the following terms best describes this shift? 

Possible Answers:

Empty-nest syndrome 

Sandwich generation 

Biological clock 

Emerging adulthood

Correct answer:

Sandwich generation 

Explanation:

As the adult child, an individual often fulfills the role of parent and caretaker for two generations, which is called the "sandwich generation." The remaining choices are distractors. 

Example Question #504 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

According to Kubler-Ross, when a person is diagnosed with a terminal illness he is most likely to experience the stages of grief in which of the following orders?

Possible Answers:

Denial, anxiety, bargaining, depression, acceptance

Depression, bargaining, anger, denial, acceptance

Denial, anger, bargaining, shame, acceptance

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

Depression, bargaining, anger, denial, acceptance

Correct answer:

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

Explanation:

Kubler-Ross developed an explanation for the series of stages people go through when faced with their own death. According to this model, most people experience the stages in the following order: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. One way to remember this is by the acronym DABDA. Note that shame and anxiety are not stages in this model. 

Example Question #505 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Jane's parents can be both demanding and responsive. They set high expectations for her, but are supportive and loving when she falls short. They also often involve Jane in creating household rules. What type of parenting style best describes Jane's parents?

Possible Answers:

Authoritarian

Permissive

Authoritative

Ambivalent

Secure

Correct answer:

Authoritative

Explanation:

Jane's parents are authoritative, meaning they set high standards for their children but are also flexible and reasonable. Authoritarian parents tend to set high standards, but are not warm or responsive. They expect obedience and leave little room for negotiation. Permissive parents can be warm and responsive, but have few rules for their children. Secure is not a term used to describe parenting style. Rather, it describes attachment. Securely attached children are distressed when their parents leave the room but welcome them on their return. Authoritative parents often raise secure children. Ambivalent children are distressed when their parents leave but are not welcoming when they return. 

Example Question #71 : Dimensions Of Psychological Development

Which of the following stages of play involves an organized activity in which all participants are to abide by clear roles?

Possible Answers:

Parallel play

Onlooker play

Solitary play

Cooperative play

Unoccupied play

Correct answer:

Cooperative play

Explanation:

Cooperative play is the most advanced stage of play in which a child is interested in both other children and the play activity. Some examples of cooperative play include "freeze tag" and "red rover." 

Example Question #506 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

According to Erik Erikson, which stage of life involves addressing our identity and social roles?

Possible Answers:

Adolescence

Old age

Middle childhood

Middle adulthood

Infancy

Correct answer:

Adolescence

Explanation:

According to Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages, adolescents are faced with how they appear to others (especially same-age peers) and take this time to "try on" different roles to see how others react. This stage is completed when the individual has adopted a comprehensive identity. 

Example Question #1 : Moral Development

Which one of the following children is displaying preconventional thought?

Possible Answers:

Francine thinks that big corporations should be responsible for paying taxes, just as everyone else is

Natasha does not skip school because she worries about what her friends will say

Kevin decides not to skip class because he will get in trouble with the principal

Mark refuses to obey a law that treats certain people as second-class citizens

Amy disagrees with her school's policy on graduating early, but she would never publicly protest it without her school's permission

Correct answer:

Kevin decides not to skip class because he will get in trouble with the principal

Explanation:

Lawrence Kohlberg developed three levels of morality to describe people: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional thought. Pre-conventional thought is the most elementary of the three levels, in which actions are thought to be good or bad based on the rewards or punishments that stem from said action. 

Example Question #2 : Moral Development

Who developed the theory that the concept of morality is established in three stages? 

Possible Answers:

B.F. Skinner 

Erik Erikson

Ivan Pavlov 

Jean Piaget 

Lawrence Kohlberg

Correct answer:

Lawrence Kohlberg

Explanation:

Lawrence Kohlberg was the theorist who developed the concept that morality comes in three stages: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional.

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