AP Psychology : Motivation, Emotion, and Personality

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #3 : Motivation And Emotion

Billy calls Ed a bad name, so Ed punches him in the face out of anger. Ed's actions are an example of __________.

Possible Answers:

hostile aggression

instrumental aggression

None of the other answer choices is correct.

relational aggression

passive aggression

Correct answer:

hostile aggression

Explanation:

Ed's action was impulsive, motivated solely by emotion to directly attack the source of his anger and cause him pain. Instrumental aggression is motivated by the prospect of some reward for such behavior, while passive aggression and relational aggression involve indirect attacks against a target's social standing or possessions (e.g. sabotage, humiliation).

Example Question #2 : Motivation And Emotion

According to Maslow's hierarchy of needs, the ability of a person to achieve everything that they are capable of is termed __________.

Possible Answers:

love

self-esteem

belonging

self-actualization

self-respect

Correct answer:

self-actualization

Explanation:

Maslow believed that the ultimate destiny of mankind was self-actualization, or a tendency to become everything that one is capable of becoming. Maslow theorized that human existance is based on needs that arise in hierarchical order: basic physiological needs such as food; safey needs; love and belonging needs; self-respect and self-esteem needs; and self-actualization.

Example Question #91 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

What is the highest level of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Possible Answers:

Self-esteem

Social needs and sense of belonging

Physiological needs

Self-actualization

Safety

Correct answer:

Self-actualization

Explanation:

In order, Maslow's hierarchy of needs are physiological, safety, social/belonging, self-esteem, and self-actualization. Physiological needs include water and food, safety needs include financial security and health, social/belonging needs include friendship and family, self-esteem needs include confidence and respect from others, self-actualization needs include the need to accomplish everything that a person feels he/she is capable of doing. 

Maslow believed that all of the lower levels of the hierarchy needed to be met in order for someone to achieve the highest level: self-actualization.

Example Question #3 : Theories Of Motivation

Mr. Robinson promises to let his class out early on Friday if their average on today's quiz is above an 85% percent.

Mr. Robinson is trying to motivate his students with a __________.

Possible Answers:

catch-22

negative punishment

negative reward

positive punishment

positive reward

Correct answer:

negative reward

Explanation:

A reward is something good for the students, while a punishment is something bad for them. A positive reward/punishment introduces something new into their environment (i.e. the classroom), while a negative reward/punishment removes something from their environment. Getting to leave class early is a good thing for the students that removes something unpleasant (here, the extra time spent in class) from their environment, so it is a negative reward.

Example Question #8 : Motivation And Emotion

Which of the following is NOT one of the needs in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs?

Possible Answers:

self-actualization needs

These are all needs in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

esteem needs

safety needs

physiological needs

Correct answer:

These are all needs in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Explanation:

These are four of Abraham Maslow's five needs. His theory regarding human motivation consists of a pyramid-like hierarchy of needs: physiological needs (hunger, thirst, health, sex, etc.), safety needs, belonging and love needs, esteem needs (approval and recognition), and self-acutalization needs (living up to one's own potential).

Example Question #1 : Motivation And Emotion

Which theory of motivation proposes as its core the idea that humans are motivated by stimuli which they associate with rewards or punishments?

Possible Answers:

Drive-Reduction Theory

Incentive Theory

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

Arousal Theory

Instinct Theory

Correct answer:

Incentive Theory

Explanation:

According to the Incentive Theory, motivation is based on positive and negative associations with stimuli. So, one is motivated to do something because of an associated reward or motivated to not do something because of an associated punishment.

Example Question #502 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following best describes the Drive-Reduction Theory of motivation?

Possible Answers:

human behavior is unlearned and passed on instinctually throughout the species

humans are motivated to attain an optimum level of arousal or excitement

human behavior is motivated by associations between certain stimuli with rewards and other stimuli with punishments

human behavior is motivated by various drives to satisfy biological needs

Correct answer:

human behavior is motivated by various drives to satisfy biological needs

Explanation:

The concept of the theory is in its name. The Drive-Reduction Theory reduces motivation to satisfying drives caused by biological needs. On a side-note, because of this simplification, many critics have argued that it fails to account for pleasure-seeking activities.

Example Question #11 : Theories Of Motivation

Evan hates to do household chores, yet he makes sure to do them because his parents give him $20 every Sunday if he completes all of his weekly chores. This scenario represents which theory of motivation?

Possible Answers:

Instinct Theory

Drive-Reduction Theory

Arousal Theory

Opponent-Process Theory

Incentive Theory

Correct answer:

Incentive Theory

Explanation:

The Incentive Theory states that human behavior is motivated by rewards or punishments associated with stimuli.

Example Question #11 : Motivation And Emotion

Which of the following is not considered to be a type of motivation?

Possible Answers:

Inherent

Conscious

Intrinsic

Extrinsic

Avoidance

Correct answer:

Inherent

Explanation:

There are many types of psychological motivation, including intrinsic and extrinsic, conscious and unconscious, and approach and avoidance. Intrinsic motivation occurs when the action itself is beneficial, whereas extrinsic motivation occurs when the action can lead to a benefit. Conscious motivation is motivation that we are aware of, whereas unconscious motivation is motivation that affects us without our knowledge. Avoidance motivation is staying clear of negative things, whereas approach motivation is seeking positive things. Inherent motivation is not a key term used in psychology.

Example Question #12 : Theories Of Motivation

Which of the following scenarios contradicts the order of Maslow's hierarchy of needs?

Possible Answers:

Thomas making sure he has food for the night before seeking shelter

Thomas seeking companionship before he tries to figure out his life's purpose

Thomas sacrificing food for the night to buy flowers for the girl he loves

Thomas making sure he has water to drink before trying to find a romantic partner

Thomas making sure he has a roof to sleep under before seeking companionship

Correct answer:

Thomas sacrificing food for the night to buy flowers for the girl he loves

Explanation:

The order of Maslow's hierarchy of needs is as follows: physical needs, security needs, belongingness, self-esteem, and self-actualization. All of the scenarios in the answer choices follow that order besides "Thomas sacrificing food for the night to buy flowers for the girl he loves" because he is putting a physical need before the need for belongingness/companionship.

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