AP Psychology : Motivation, Emotion, and Personality

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #84 : Motivation And Emotion

Is it accurate to say that emotions are a product of both met and unmet needs?

Possible Answers:

Yes, with no exceptions, we will only experience an emotion if our needs are not met or if they get met. This includes reactions like surprise and shock, our physical display of these emotions are designed as signals to those around us.  

No, emotions are often just a product of our own subjective beliefs about the world. Emotions occur when these beliefs are proved wrong by the reality of the world.

None of these are appropriate responses.

Generally speaking yes. Emotions can act as a signal that needs have been met or not met, though certain emotions are purely reactionary and do not have an easily identifiable need driving them.

No, emotions are purely physiological in nature. Things that happen in our body create different emotions.

Correct answer:

Generally speaking yes. Emotions can act as a signal that needs have been met or not met, though certain emotions are purely reactionary and do not have an easily identifiable need driving them.

Explanation:

Emotions play a major role in signaling whether or not needs are being met. For instance, if we feel sad, this could be a signal that emotional, or even physical, needs are not being met. If we feel happy, this is a sign we've done something right that has fulfilled one need or another. There are other emotions, however, that are more complex. Things like surprise can be purely reactionary and unrelated to our needs, where our body is preparing itself to ascertain more information about the event (I.E. widening of the eyes to see more, opening the mouth for more respiration).

Example Question #6 : Other Emotion Concepts

Men are less likely to express emotion than women. Is this statement true?

Possible Answers:

No, women are just as likely to express anger towards strangers

Yes, but only in female-dominated cultures

No, men are more likely to express sadness

Yes, in all cultures this is the pattern

This statement is not specific enough in scope to be a valid psychological statement or principle

Correct answer:

This statement is not specific enough in scope to be a valid psychological statement or principle

Explanation:

The statement used in the example is an example of a statement that, while discussing a psychological topic, is too general in nature to accurately reflect a valid psychological principle. Also, the statement offers no proof of its assertion, and does not mention any research in support of its assertion. Even if a statement seems intuitively accurate, in order for it to be a valid statement it must be specific, and supported by evidence.

Example Question #2 : Other Emotion Concepts

What is the facial-feedback hypothesis?

Possible Answers:

That our mirror neurons in our brain allow us to feel more intensely the emotion we are witnessing in another person

The idea that using the muscles involved in a certain emotion will make you feel sad over time, since you are only superficially creating an emotion rather than feeling it

That our mirror neurons in our brain allow us to see a face and feel that emotion

The idea that using the muscles involved in a facially expressing a certain emotion will intensify the feeling

None of these

Correct answer:

The idea that using the muscles involved in a facially expressing a certain emotion will intensify the feeling

Explanation:

The facial-feedback hypothesis is the idea that using the muscles involved in a certain emotion will make you feel that emotion. By expressing emotions with one's face, that emotion is intensified by the feedback loop created by this process.

Example Question #581 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following emotions is commonly associated with a Type A personality?

Possible Answers:

Lethargy

Depression

Happiness

Hostility

Sadness

Correct answer:

Hostility

Explanation:

Type A personalities are characterized as being very competitive, goal-driven, and impatient. Additionally, Type A personalities are most likely to exhibit high levels of anger, hostility, and cynicism. While all humans will, at some point, experience lethargy, sadness, happiness, and depression these are, specifically, not characteristic of a Type A personality.

Example Question #171 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

With regards to psychoanalysis, what does catharsis mean?

Possible Answers:

None of these answers is accurate

A state of depression which is prolonged by negative thoughts

The reach of a climax in a relationship or career

The release of strong emotions such as feelings of aggression

A level of balance in one's life that may lead a person to feel aimless

Correct answer:

The release of strong emotions such as feelings of aggression

Explanation:

Catharsis, when being used in the context of psychoanalysis, most often refers to a release of pent up, repressed, or strong emotions. These are often negative in nature, such as sadness or anger. In Western societies, it is most often aggression, due to the fact that aggression is a socially unacceptable emotion to display in public. 

Example Question #12 : Other Emotion Concepts

Which of the following scenarios is an example of facial feedback hypothesis?

Possible Answers:

Thomas feels happy and then he smiles

Thomas smiles and then he feels happier

Thomas smiles but then feels sadder 

Thomas frowns because he is sad 

Thomas smiles while he is happy

Correct answer:

Thomas smiles and then he feels happier

Explanation:

The facial feedback hypothesis states that facial expressions can actually trigger the appropriate emotion, rather than just being a reflection of that emotion. Therefore, a scenario that exemplifies that concept is that Thomas smiling (expression) made him feel happier (emotion). 

Example Question #172 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Which of the following might happen to someone who has Capgras syndrome?

Possible Answers:

John believes his wife is an imposter.

John needs everything at his desk to be at a 90 degree angle or else he fears he will crash his car on the way back home from work.

John has stereotyped movements.

John isn't good at reading facial expressions.

John has flashbacks to the war in which he fought.

Correct answer:

John believes his wife is an imposter.

Explanation:

Capgras syndrome is when someone believes that a family member, friend, or pet is an imposter and can't be convinced otherwise. Capgras syndrome often occurs after a coma or head injury.

Difficulty reading facial expressions and repetitive, stereotyped movements are associated with autism, flashbacks with PTSD, and compulsive order with OCD. 

Example Question #173 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

The term "affect" refers to which of the following?

Possible Answers:

The degree to which an experience is positive or negative

The experience of sympathetic autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses

The experience of an emotion

The strength of a stimulus’ effect on attention

Correct answer:

The experience of an emotion

Explanation:

“Affect” refers to the experience of having an emotion. The “degree to which an experience is positive or negative” and “the experience of sympathetic autonomic nervous system responses” are the definitions of valence and arousal, respectively. These are both components of emotion, but do not encompass the entirety of affect. Last, the “strength of a stimulus’ effect on attention” is the definition of salience.

Example Question #15 : Other Emotion Concepts

Jenny speaks in the same tone of voice and shows little variation in facial expression or emotion when speaking. Jenny most likely demonstrates which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Consistent mood 

Liable affect

Inappropriate affect

Consistent emotion 

Flat affect 

Correct answer:

Flat affect 

Explanation:

Jenny's unwavering tone of voice and little variation of facial expression or emotion when speaking demonstrate the flat affect. The flat affect refers to a lack of (or diminished) emotional expression. This can be observed through robot-like speaking and lack of facial expression. On the other hand, the inappropriate affect and liable affect are the opposite of flat affect. Inappropriate affect refers to emotions are are inappropriate to the situation. Liable affect refers to rapid and inappropriate changes in mood. Jenny clearly demonstrates the flat affect.

Example Question #16 : Other Emotion Concepts

Tracey gets teased by the girls at school. When she gets home, she teases her little brother. 

This scenario is an example of which defense mechanism? 

Possible Answers:

Projection

Sublimation

Regression

Repression

Displacement

Correct answer:

Displacement

Explanation:

"Displacement" is a defense mechanism in which a person directs an unwanted desire or aggression toward something more acceptable than the root of the desire. In this case, Tracey displaces her aggression onto her little brother by teasing him instead of the girls who had teased her. 

The other answers are incorrect. "Repression" is defined as pushing desires out of our consciousness, while "regression" is defined as reverting back to old habits (often from childhood) during stressful situations. "Projection" is described as projecting negative desires onto other people. For example, Tiffany is hurt when Kim does not call her back and she says, "Kim is such a mean person. She doesn't care or like anyone but herself." Projection is sometimes confused with displacement. Last, "sublimation" is defined as changing unwanted desires into something socially valued.

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