All AP Psychology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #21 : Interpersonal Perceptions And Dynamics
Which of the following social psychology concepts explains why someone might choose to date a person they have known for ten years rather than someone they just met?
Mere exposure effect
Equity theory
Social exchange theory
Comparison for alternatives
The halo effect
Mere exposure effect
Mere exposure effect is the idea that people tend to like things or people they are familiar with/exposed to more often (e.g. a 10 year partner) rather than things they have only been exposed to a few times (e.g. a partner someone just met).
While intriguing, the other choices are incorrect. Social exchange theory is the idea that social relationships are an exchange in which a participant tries to maximize benefits and minimize costs; if the costs get too high or the benefits too low, they will end the relationship. Comparison level for alternatives is the idea that people tend to stay in a relationship if they perceive that their relational outcomes would not be better in a different relationship and leave if they believe that their outcomes would be. Equity theory is the idea that people are happier in relationships where there is fair give and take by both people in the relationship. The halo effect is the idea that people tend to overgeneralize one character trait; for example, if someone is handsome, other people might overgeneralize that positive attribute and assume he's also funny and hardworking.
Example Question #86 : Social Psychology
George is going on an interview for a job. The job interviewer finds George to be attractive; therefore, he assumes that George must also be intelligent. The interviewer is most likely being influenced by which of the following psychological phenomena?
Barnum effect
Groupthink
Cognitive dissonance
Halo effect
Job interview bias
Halo effect
The halo effect occurs when a person is influenced by global impressions (e.g. physical attractiveness) and then judges an individual’s specific traits (e.g. level of intelligence). The halo effect can be either positive or negative. In this example the interviewer finds George to be attractive, which impacts the interviewer's impression of his intelligence positively. On the other hand, groupthink occurs when the members of a cohesive group suspend their critical thinking skills in order to remain unanimous. The Barnum effect occurs when people accept vague or general descriptions of themselves, which is common when reading horoscopes. Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person experiences discomfort due to holding two conflicting attitudes. The job interview bias is not a term used in social psychology.
Example Question #87 : Ap Psychology
A school psychologist is asked to help decrease the conflict between two classrooms of children. Which of the following is considered to be the most effective technique to use?
Give the children rewards for cooperating
Bring in a third classroom to be a common enemy
Create superordinate goals
Restructure the social hierarchy of each classroom
Increase competition between the classrooms
Create superordinate goals
Muzafer Sherif studied intergroup conflict during the 1950’s in the Robbers Cave study. Sherif studied two groups of children at a boy's summer camp, and found that the most effective way to reduce conflict was to introduce a mutual goal that required the groups to work together cooperatively to achieve. The other choices have not been found to decrease intergroup conflict.
Example Question #88 : Social Psychology
Anna, an infant, is carried by her mother into an unfamiliar play room at a relative’s house. When her mother steps out of the room for a moment, Anna does not explore it at all and responds only a little to the cooing of her cousin, who she has not met before. When Anna’s mother returns, Anna does not acknowledge her much, either, and still does not move around to see the new toys. Anna is demonstrating which of the following?
Secure attachment
Ambivalent (resistant) attachment
Disorganized attachment
Avoidant attachment
Avoidant attachment
According to Ainsworth’s attachment theory, an infant’s response to a caregiver’s presence of absence in an unfamiliar environment (a so-called “strange situation”) can be used to characterize the infant’s attachment style. Attachment style is based on an infant’s exploratory behaviors, response to the caregiver’s leaving, and response to the caregiver’s return. The four most recognized attachment styles are summarized in the table below (where “CG” is an abbreviation for “caregiver”). As we can see from comparing the question to the chart, Anna explored very little, seemed apathetic to her mother’s absence and her return, and appeared just as comfortable with strangers (the cousin) as with her mother: avoidant attachment.
Example Question #88 : Ap Psychology
Imagine that you are at a party and meet someone new. Which of the following factors is most likely to increase the probability of you employing the "halo effect" in evaluating this new person?
Intelligence
Kindness
Physical attractiveness
Agility
Strength
Physical attractiveness
The halo effect can be defined as the tendency to use global evaluations to make judgments about specific traits. The preponderance of research clearly demonstrates that we are more likely to believe that physically attractive people are automatically better at other things (e.g., baking, playing sports) than less attractive people.
Example Question #91 : Social Psychology
Ms. L recently began teaching a college course on psychology. Her students perceive her to be down to earth and likable. What type of authority does Ms. L have over her students?
Coercive power
Legitimate power
Expert power
Psychological power
Referent power
Referent power
French and Raven are social psychologists that described different types of power that leaders may possess. Ms. L is described as possessing positive personality traits. This is an example of referent power because she is seen as likable. Expert power comes from having advanced knowledge or expertise in a subject. Coercive power comes from the ability to punish others. Police officers hold coercive power. Legitimate power is power based on a person's position or status. Ms. L would have legitimate power if she was respected by her students simply because she was a professor. Note that psychological power is not one of the types of power described by French and Raven.