AP Psychology : Individual Psychology and Behavior

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #111 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Which theorist would most likely make the following statement: "A person without food and shelter cannot feel a sense of belonging and esteem"? 

Possible Answers:

Charles Darwin

Sigmund Freud

Aaron Beck

Abraham Maslow

Carl Rogers

Correct answer:

Abraham Maslow

Explanation:

Maslow was a part of the humanistic movement. He developed a hierarchy of needs, which includes physiological needs (i.e. food, water, shelter), safety, belonging and love, esteem, and self-actualization. According to Maslow, a person cannot experience upper level needs without satisfying the needs below it. Therefore, a person could not experience belonging and esteem without his or her physiological needs being met. Freud is considered the father of psychoanalysis and focused on the role of the unconscious. Beck is the father of cognitive therapy, which addresses the role of thoughts and beliefs in influencing emotions. Darwin was an evolutionist who developed the theory of natural selection. Carl Rogers was also a part of humanism, but he believed that all humans have the potential for reaching higher level needs like self-actualization. He did not believe that lower level needs must also be satisfied. 

Example Question #112 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

After many months of being the only caregiver for her sick mother, Angela feels tired all the time and regularly catches colds. According to Seyle’s theory on stress, what stage of the general adaptation syndrome is Angela currently experiencing?

Possible Answers:

Exhaustion

Alarm

Resistance

Depletion

Correct answer:

Exhaustion

Explanation:

The three stages of Seyle’s general adaptation syndrome are, in order, alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. These stages reflect the predictable series of changes that humans experience when subjected to significant stress. In the initial "alarm stage," adrenaline release causes an increase in energy levels, blood flow to muscles, and other changes intended by the body to help the person cope with the stress; however, the body cannot maintain this state indefinitely (i.e. if the stressor persists long enough, then the person moves into the resistance stage). In the "resistance stage," the parasympathetic system takes action to return the body to a more normal state. Since the stressor is still an issue, the body must expend resources to try and handle it. As you can imagine, over time the body’s resources become depleted, and the lack of downtime to recover from the stress response can take a serious toll on a person’s body and psyche. This stage is called "exhaustion" and Angela is likely in this stage.

Example Question #1 : Theories Of Emotion

The James-Lange theory refers to which of the following?

Possible Answers:

The instinct to satisfy "deficiency needs" in order to avoid unpleasant feelings or outcomes

The many different archetypes that represents a person during the process of individuation

The hypothesis that in response to environmental changes, a physiological change happens first, which then prompts an emotion

A type of learning that occurs when a subject continually experiences a stimuli and corresponding response, and thus begins to associate the two together

The development of an "ego identity" through one's life

Correct answer:

The hypothesis that in response to environmental changes, a physiological change happens first, which then prompts an emotion

Explanation:

A theory developed by William James and Carl Lange in the 19th century, this hypothesis explores the idea that emotion does NOT precede physiological changes. Instead, a person experiences an event, has an instinctual physiological response to the event, and the brain, sensing the physiological change through the nervous system, prompts an emotion.

For example: A person sees a bear. Their heart rate rises, their perspiration increases, and their mouth becomes dry. Based on these responses, the brain decides fear is an appropriate emotion for the environmental stimuli.

The reasoning behind this theory is that emotions help a person figure out the best course of action. In this example, the brain picks fear as the emotion, and the person picks "flight" as course of action in order to get away from the source of fear. 

Example Question #2 : Theories Of Emotion

Which theory of emotion states that phsyiological arousal towards a stimulus happens first, and then the person must cognitively interpret the reason behind the arousal and assign an emotion to it?

Possible Answers:

Darwinian Theory

Social Learning Theory

Cannon-Bard Theory

Schachter-Singer Theory (Two-Factor Theory)

James-Lange Theory

Correct answer:

Schachter-Singer Theory (Two-Factor Theory)

Explanation:

The Schachter-Singer Theory, also known as the Two-Factor Theory, is a cognitive theory of emotion. It states that physiological arousal occurs, and then one must appraise the reason for that arousal and assign an emotion to it.

Example Question #113 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

What is achievement motivation?

Possible Answers:

When we are driven to achieve goals because they fulfill us in some way

When we are driven to achieve complex tasks and reach goals

When we are driven to achieve goals for an external award

When we are driven to achieve goals to avoid punishment

Correct answer:

When we are driven to achieve complex tasks and reach goals

Explanation:

Achievement motivation is a social motivation wherein we are driven to achieve complex goals and attain knowledge or skils. This need to achieve varies and is inconsistent amongst people. 

Example Question #3 : Theories Of Emotion

Which of the following describes the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion?

Possible Answers:

The cognitive awareness preceeds the physiological state in reaction to a stimulus.

The specific physiological state and cognitive awareness occur simultaneously and independently before a stimulus occurs.

The general physiological state and cognitive awareness occur simultaneously and independently in reaction to a stimulus. 

The specific physiological state and cognitive awareness occur simultaneously and independently in reaction to a stimulus. 

The physiological state preceeds the cognitive awareness in reaction to a stimulus.

Correct answer:

The specific physiological state and cognitive awareness occur simultaneously and independently in reaction to a stimulus. 

Explanation:

Unlike the James-Lange theory of emotion, the Cannon-Bard theory indicates that a specific physiological state and cognitive awareness occur simultaneously.

Example Question #114 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

Which theory of emotion suggests that emotions directly stem from our awareness of our physiological responses?

Possible Answers:

Carter-DiHarto theory of emotion

Schachter-Singer theory of emotion

Henn-Berini theory of emotion

James-Lange theory of emotion

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

Correct answer:

James-Lange theory of emotion

Explanation:

The James-Lange theory of emotion suggests that our emotional experiences occur because we are aware of our physiological responses to emotionally-charged stimuli. For example, if we witness an emotional moment in a movie and begin to feel our eyes tear up and our cheeks get hot, our brain processes this physiological state and determines that we are feeling sad.

Example Question #521 : Ap Psychology

According to Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), what is the order of the stages of stress?

Possible Answers:

Resistance, exhaustion, alarm reaction

Alarm reaction, exhaustion, resistance

Alarm reaction, resistance, exhaustion

Resistance, alarm reaction, exhaustion

Exhaustion, alarm reaction, resistance

Correct answer:

Alarm reaction, resistance, exhaustion

Explanation:

Selye's outline of the GAS holds that the first stage is alarm reaction, in which the body readies itself by activating the sympathetic nervous system. The second stage is resistance, in which the body remains in a state of readiness, but gradually becomes weaker. The third, and final, stage is exhaustion, in which the parasympathetic nervous system returns the body to a normal state.

Example Question #5 : Theories Of Emotion

Which of the following theorists proposed the theory that emotion held evolved adaptive value?

Possible Answers:

Charles Darwin

William James

Sigmund Freud

Carl Lange

Victor Frankl

Correct answer:

Charles Darwin

Explanation:

Charles Darwin posited that emotions evolved because they had an adaptive value to the human species. For instance, fear allows us to act in ways that avoids a potential danger, which makes it a very useful emotion for our basic survival. This core idea is generally accepted by evolutionary psychologists who have since expanded the tenets of this claim.

Example Question #31 : Motivation And Emotion

Which core emotions do evolutionary psychologists generally accept as universal to all human beings?

Possible Answers:

Contempt, happiness, anger, hunger, pain, and ecstasy

Anger, rage, happiness, joy, confusion, sadness, self-satisfaction

Contempt, happiness, anger, surprise, sadness, disgust, and fear

Confusion, contempt, happiness, anger, surprise, sadness, disgust, and fear

Enthusiasm, happiness, anger, surprise, and sadness

Correct answer:

Contempt, happiness, anger, surprise, sadness, disgust, and fear

Explanation:

Amongst evolutionary psychologists who have expanded on Charles Darwin's theory of natural selection, it is generally accepted there are seven core emotions that have evolved due to their adaptive value. These are contempt, happiness, anger, surprise, sadness, disgust, and fear. They argue that any other emotion is a blend of these core emotions, or a variation of intensity within these emotions basic emotions (for example, feeling ecstatic would not be another basic emotion, but rather a variation in the intensity of happiness).

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