AP Psychology : Fundamental Psychological Theories

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #11 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

Anna is a bright student. She studies nightly and can explain all of the concepts discussed in class. On test day Anna feels anxious and stressed out. She feels like her heart is racing and it's hard to breathe. This high level of emotional arousal keeps her from adequately answering the questions on the test. By looking at her physical symptoms to explain her testing behavior what psychology perspective is being utilized?

Possible Answers:

Biological

Psychoanalytic

Cognitive

Evolutionary

Correct answer:

Biological

Explanation:

Biological perspective explains behavior by looking at genetics, structures, and biological processes. In this case, Karen's biological processes (heart beat, breathing) are examined in order to explain the behavior that results from them. A psychoanalytic perspective would, in all likelihood, look for underlying reasons, possibly from the past, that would explain Karen's manifestation of these emotions in a physical manner.

Example Question #12 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

The first field of psychology, structuralism, was also one of its most short lived fields. Why did the field of structuralism fall out of favor?

Possible Answers:

It relied too much on introspection

It was preposed by a woman

It did not have early support

It was too objective

Correct answer:

It relied too much on introspection

Explanation:

Due to structuralism's heavy reliance of introspection it was not able to make truly objective insight. Introspection relies too much on interpretation and is not uniformed for anyone, and is thus highly subjective, which makes it difficult to consolidate data and draw conclusions. Structuralism was proposed in part by Wilhelm Wundt, a male psychologist, and indeed had early support.

Example Question #12 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

How does humanistic psychology differ from behaviorism and psychoanalysis?

Possible Answers:

It does not include aspects of free will

It emphasizes the conscious experiences

It relies solely on experimentation

None of these

Correct answer:

It emphasizes the conscious experiences

Explanation:

Humanistic psychology follows a conscious experience and focuses the individual potential of each person. It strongly focuses on free will, does not rely on experimentation and emphasizes psychological growth.

Example Question #13 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

What are the three forces of psychology?

Possible Answers:

Structuralism, functionalism, biology

Psychodynamics, physiology, behaviorism

Behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism

Behaviorism, psychoanalysis, functionalism

Correct answer:

Behaviorism, psychoanalysis, humanism

Explanation:

The three forces of psychology are behaviorism, humanism, and psychoanalysis which are the schools of thought that are still in use today. Functionalism and structuralism are not widely used today and physiology is a separate field from psychology. Behaviorism focuses on individual behaviors, humanism emphasizes the importance of the human experience, and psychoanalysis is a set of theories developed largely by Sigmund Freud that is stemmed from clinical research. 

Example Question #93 : History And Principles Of Psychology

How does psychoanalysis different from the preceding schools of thought?

Possible Answers:

It focuses on the unconscious

The field was founded by an African American psychologist

It did not reference scientific principles

It heavily uses introspection

Correct answer:

It focuses on the unconscious

Explanation:

Both functionalism and structuralism focused on conscious experience while psychoanalysis focused on the unconscious. It did not focus on introspection, used scientific principles and Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, was not African American.

Example Question #94 : History And Principles Of Psychology

Which scientist most directly influenced William James?

Possible Answers:

Archimedes

Galileo

Charles Darwin

Issac Newton

Correct answer:

Charles Darwin

Explanation:

The functionalism school of thought is influenced by natural selection which was described by Charles Darwin in his work "On the Origin of Species." Williams incorporated aspects of survival in his idea of biological and intellectual fitness. The other scientists did not directly influence the theories of William James.

Example Question #12 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

What is the earliest major school of thought in the field of psychology?

Possible Answers:

Functionalism

Humanistic psychology

Structuralism

Transcendentalism

Correct answer:

Structuralism

Explanation:

Structuralism was founded in 1892. Functionalism was founded in the nineteenth century. Humanistic psychology came about in the mid twentieth century. Transcendentalism was introduced by Ralph Waldo Emerson in the 1830's, but it is not a major psychological school of thought, rather, it is a philosophical movement.

Example Question #12 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

Which of the following correctly lists, in chronological order, the five psychosexual stages of Freud's theory of childhood development?

Possible Answers:

Oral, anal, genital, latency, phallic

Anal, oral, latency, phallic, genital

Genital, oral, latency, phallic, anal

Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

Correct answer:

Oral, anal, phallic, latency, genital

Explanation:

During each of these stages, lasting from months to years, Freud theorized the id sought pleasure from a distinct set of bodily sensations and accompanying psychosexual schemas.

Example Question #14 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

George is always punctual to appointments, attempts to never rely on others for emotional or financial support, and believes in an objective good and evil. Which of the unconscious impulses does George likely follow most closely?

Possible Answers:

None of these

Superego

Id

Ego

Correct answer:

Superego

Explanation:

In psychoanalytic theory, the superego is the seat of objective internalized ideals and judgments, which provides a reference for comparison to actualized words and deeds in the exterior conscious self. People who follow the superego too closely may develop fixations or neuroses when the world (and they themselves) fail to live up to their extreme expectations.

Example Question #11 : Fundamental Psychological Theories

Which of the following is the best example of the displacement defense mechanism?

Possible Answers:

Luanne, overwhelmed by stresses at school and at home, begins softly singing and muttering to herself when she is alone.

Susan is reprimanded at work for a mistake that wasn't hers. When she arrives home, she finds an unwashed dish and angrily lectures her husband for half an hour.

Sylvester feels guilty about overeating, so he lectures his overweight friend about the dangers of obesity.

James is attracted to a coworker but is forbidden from fraternization, so he instead mistreats the coworker in an attempt to drive them away.

Correct answer:

Susan is reprimanded at work for a mistake that wasn't hers. When she arrives home, she finds an unwashed dish and angrily lectures her husband for half an hour.

Explanation:

Displacement occurs when an individual redirects socially or personally unacceptable behaviors and thoughts by shifting those behaviors and thoughts onto a more acceptable target. The redirection of energy may be to a less threatening target or merely to a more socially acceptable one.

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