AP Psychology : Motivation and Emotion

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #514 : Ap Psychology

Jacob currently lives in a very unsafe neighborhood with lots of violent burglaries. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which of the following would Jacob be most motivated to achieve?

Possible Answers:

Work towards becoming a doctor, which is his dream job

Fix the lock on his front door, which is clearly broken

Seek out a romantic partner

Write an award-winning memoir on living in poverty

Correct answer:

Fix the lock on his front door, which is clearly broken

Explanation:

Abraham Maslow believed that people are driven to fulfill their needs in a certain order. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs is the progression through which needs are fulfilled—often represented by a pyramid. The hierarchy, from most basic onwards, is: physiological; safety; belongingness (love / companionship); esteem; and self-actualization. Since Jacob’s neighborhood is already unsafe, his safety is threatened by his front door’s broken lock—he has not fulfilled his need for safety. According to Maslow, this need will feel more urgent than belongingness (e.g. finding a partner), esteem (e.g. being praised for a memoir), and self-actualization (e.g. finding purpose via getting dream job).

Example Question #515 : Ap Psychology

Researchers suspect that creative people are more motivated by which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Intrinsic reward

Visual stimuli

None of these

Ego

Extrinsic reward

Correct answer:

Intrinsic reward

Explanation:

Research has consistently found that highly creative people are motivated by the intrinsic reward of the process itself. Those who are more motivated by external success and status are those who also tend to be invested in the existing order of things. Highly creative people are attracted to what is different and derive pleasure from their own creative endeavors as opposed to what they may have to gain. In short, they are "intrinsically motivated" as opposed to "extrinsically motivated.” Although creative people may enjoy "visual stimuli," there are other forms of art that involve different forms of stimulus.

Example Question #101 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, is well known for creating the Maslow's hierarchy of needs. In his hierarchy, he writes that the bottom stage is __________ and that each stage needs to be completed before one can progress to the last stage, or __________. What are the bottom and top stages of Maslow's hierarchy, respectively?

Possible Answers:

esteem. . . safety

safety. . . self-actualization

physiological. . . self-actualization

belonging. . . safety

self-actualization. . . physiological

Correct answer:

physiological. . . self-actualization

Explanation:

Maslow establishes his heirarchy as follows: physiological needs, safety, belonging, esteem, and self actualization. In this case, physiological needs are at the bottom, and one needs to proceed through each stage before reaching the top: self-actualization. 

Example Question #516 : Ap Psychology

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

Carl Rogers

Sigmund Freud

Abraham Maslow

Aaron Beck

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 #517 : Ap Psychology

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:

Alarm

Depletion

Exhaustion

Resistance

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

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

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

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

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 #21 : Motivation And 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:

Cannon-Bard Theory

Social Learning Theory

Schachter-Singer Theory (Two-Factor Theory)

James-Lange Theory

Darwinian 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 #1 : Theories Of Emotion

What is achievement motivation?

Possible Answers:

When we are driven to achieve goals to avoid punishment

When we are driven to achieve goals for an external award

When we are driven to achieve complex tasks and reach goals

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

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 #1 : Theories Of Emotion

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

Possible Answers:

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

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 before a stimulus occurs.

The cognitive awareness preceeds the physiological state 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 #1 : Theories Of Emotion

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

Possible Answers:

Schachter-Singer theory of emotion

Carter-DiHarto theory of emotion

Cannon-Bard theory of emotion

Henn-Berini theory of emotion

James-Lange 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.

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