AP Psychology : Motivation, Emotion, and Personality

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #121 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Which of the following is one of Cannon and Bard's counter-arguments to the James-Lange theory of emotion? 

Possible Answers:

Bodily reactions precede emotional awareness of the cause of those actions.

Emotion is the result of the very long process of evolution and is adaptive to nature. Each emotion serves to signal use to either continue or discontinue a particular action. Anger, for instance, tells us something is not right and must be fixed.

Emotions that are repressed will not actually manifest in our dreams, but in our behaviors in real life. If left untended to, emotions can manifest in mania.

One can feel an emotion, for instance fear, before one acts to avoid the stimulus causing that fear.

Emotion does not occur along a spectrum, but can only be divided into two different camps: positive and negative. The majority of emotions are negative since emotions themselves are designed to signal threats to our wellbeing.

Correct answer:

One can feel an emotion, for instance fear, before one acts to avoid the stimulus causing that fear.

Explanation:

The James-Lange theory of emotion posits that emotions reflect physiological states in the body. The James-Lange theory holds that human bodies FIRST experience physical sensations, and that humans will think, act, then feel afterwards. One of the Cannon-Bard's counter-arguments to this is that one can experience an emotion simultaneously with a physical reaction and prior to an action. For instance, I see a bear holding a knife, I feel fear (and possibly bewilderment) and my body tenses up immediately, then I run away. By the time I am running away, I have definitely already felt afraid of the knife-wielding bear.

Example Question #1 : Theories Of Emotion

What is the cognitive appraisal theory of emotion?

Possible Answers:

One's emotional experience depends on inner physiology.

One's emotional experience depends on one's cognitive energy.

One's emotional experience depends on one's interpretation of the situation.

One's emotional experience depends on one's ability to engage in metacognition.

One's emotional experience depends on one's cognitive coping strategies. 

Correct answer:

One's emotional experience depends on one's interpretation of the situation.

Explanation:

The cognitive appraisal theory holds that one's emotional experience depends on one's interpretation of the situation. This was the first theory of emotion to consider the person's appraisal of a situation, in addition to physiology and behavior.

Example Question #11 : Theories Of Emotion

According to the evolutionary theory of emotion, why were emotions developed?

Possible Answers:

To engage in prosocial relationships with peers.

To teach organisms how to maladaptively cope with stressors.

To create a replicable language.

To allow the organism to find food.

To avoid danger and facilitate survival, in order allow for reproduction.

Correct answer:

To avoid danger and facilitate survival, in order allow for reproduction.

Explanation:

The evolutionary theory of emotion believes that emotions developed in order to help facilitate human survival, in order to allow for reproduction. An evolutionary theory looks at emotions in the context of an evolutionary framework.

Example Question #121 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

Which of the following supports the idea that emotion is mediated by physical symptoms?

Possible Answers:

People who hold a pencil between their teeth begin to feel happier from activation of the "smiling" muscles.

Physical workouts are related to quality of sleep.

Books can make people feel strong emotions.

People can think of sadness and feel sad.

Correct answer:

People who hold a pencil between their teeth begin to feel happier from activation of the "smiling" muscles.

Explanation:

The physical muscles of the face are connected to perception of emotion, and placing one's face into a "smile" by biting a pencil can lead people to perceive happiness. The key to this question was understanding the terminology used in the question. In this case, the "physical symptoms" are actually positive, they are the muscles of the face being stimulated into the shape of a smile.

Example Question #12 : Theories Of Emotion

The James-Lange Theory of emotion posits that __________.

Possible Answers:

physical changes and emotions go hand in hand.

people only have two basic emotions.

bodily changes cause emotion

emotions occur before physical changes.

Correct answer:

bodily changes cause emotion

Explanation:

The James-Lange Theory is based on the idea that physical changes elicit emotion. William James and Carl Lange developed the theory independently, but formulated a cohesive theory. The James-Lange Theory, in its initial formation, held that if physical sensation were completely removed emotional response would also be removed. Modern theorists have since revised the theory to soften this stance, and hold rather that physical sensation significantly affects emotional response, but the relationship is not total. Support for this comes from studies of spinal cord injuries in which emotions are experienced less intensely.

Example Question #124 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

According to the Schachter's Two-Factor Theory, emotional response consists of __________ and ___________

Possible Answers:

physiological arousal . . . cognitive label

physiological arousal . . . physiological resolution

cognitive arousal . . . physiological markers

cognitive mapping . . . physiological arousal

Correct answer:

physiological arousal . . . cognitive label

Explanation:

In Schachter's Two-Factor Theory of emotion, the two factors are physiological arousal and cognitive label. First a person will experience a physiological sensation, and will then try to place a label on the context surrounding this response, in an effort to explain it. According to Schachter both factors are needed, and are mutually reinforcing. 

Example Question #122 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

What is the two-factor theory of emotion?

Possible Answers:

The theory that emotion can arise from either external relationships with other people or our relationship with ourselves

The theory that in order for one to experience emotion, one must be physically aroused in some manner and be able to label that arousal

None of these answers is accurate

The theory that in order for one to experience emotion, one must be intellectually stimulated in some manner and experience discomfort as a result

The theory that emotions are a product of two factors: needs that are met, and needs that are unmet

Correct answer:

The theory that in order for one to experience emotion, one must be physically aroused in some manner and be able to label that arousal

Explanation:

Schacter-Singer's two-factor theory of emotion poses that in order for an emotion to be considered as such, a person must experience physical arousal and be able to cognitively recognize and label this.

Example Question #121 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

According to Schacter and Singer, what is the essential component of emotion?

Possible Answers:

Unmet needs

Physiological arousal in the gut

Physical stimulation

Cognitive labeling

Damaged relationships

Correct answer:

Cognitive labeling

Explanation:

According to Schacter and Singer, an essential component of the way we experience emotion is the labeling of physical sensations and feelings. The way we label emotions influence how we are able to cope with them and, depending on the label, it may even prolong the emotion.

Example Question #125 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Which of the following terms or concepts is not associated with emotional display rules?

Possible Answers:

Neutralizing

Intensification

Different cultures have different display rules.

Exaggerating

Masking

Correct answer:

Exaggerating

Explanation:

"Display rules" are norms for the expression of emotion that differ from culture to culture. Examples of display rules include neutralizing (feeling an emotion but showing no emotion), masking (feeling an emotion but showing a different emotion), and intensification (feeling an emotion but showing it more intensely than it is felt). Exaggerating is not a key term associated with display rules.

Example Question #14 : Theories Of Emotion

Which of the following is true about appraisal theory in terms of emotion?

Possible Answers:

Reappraisal is an effective way of changing the emotional landscape

Appraisal involves explaining how or why an event happened the way it did

Appraisal relates to cognitive processes

All of the other answers are correct.

Appraisal affects the emotions we feel

Correct answer:

All of the other answers are correct.

Explanation:

Appraisal is how we interpret events, which affects and even determines the emotions that we feel about those events. Appraisal is a cognitive process and involves explaining and evaluating how and why an event occurred the way it did. Reappraisal involves reevaluating and re-explaining the meaning of an event and it is an effective way to change the emotions associated with the event. 

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