AP Psychology : Social Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #61 : Social Psychology

In World War I, Yerkes and Terman developed the Army Alpha to evaluate intelligence in military recruits. Which of the following statements is false regarding its counterpart: the Army Beta?

Possible Answers:

The Army Beta was used to determine a soldier's potential for a leadership position

The Army Beta was a physical endurance test

The Army Beta was primarily composed of shapes and symbols

The Army Beta was followed by an extensive psychological examination. 

The Army Beta was intended for administration to illiterate and foreign language speaking soldiers

Correct answer:

The Army Beta was a physical endurance test

Explanation:

The Army Beta was a follow up exam that provided illiterate or foreign language speaking individuals an opportunity to have their intelligence evaluated. The Army Beta was normed against men in institutions for the feeble-minded. It was an intelligence test designed to determine an individual’s ability for upward mobility and capacity in the Army. The Army Beta was heavily racially weighted and created many arguments around discrimination in the US Army and it was discontinued after World War 1. 

Example Question #62 : Social Psychology

At the end of a theater performance, the audience stands up and begins clapping to show appreciation. You also stand up and clap because that is what everyone else is doing. This scenario is an example of which of the following psychological phenomena?

Possible Answers:

Social pressure

Injunctive norm

Conformity

Personal insecurity

Descriptive norms

Correct answer:

Descriptive norms

Explanation:

Descriptive norms occur because of the observance of the behavior of others around you. These norms are associated with the idea that individuals will behave according to a social pattern (e.g. standing up with a crowd for an ovation). Injunctive norms are associated with behavior that is considered to be socially acceptable or unacceptable. These behaviors include what one “ought to do” (e.g. not smoking in an elevator and driving on the right side of the road).

Example Question #63 : Social Psychology

A person walks into a library and begins to whisper because this is considered to be socially acceptable behavior. This scenario is an example of which f the following psychological phenomena?

Possible Answers:

Descriptive norm

Environmental conditioning

Behavior expectations

Social conditioning

Injunctive norm

Correct answer:

Injunctive norm

Explanation:

An injunctive norm is constructed when there is a set of expected behaviors in a designated space or place, such as whispering in a library. Injunctive norms are socially constructed behaviors of what one “ought to do.” On the other hand, descriptive norms represent behaviors that are accompanied by a pattern.

Example Question #64 : Social Psychology

Solomon Asch's conformity study is most known for making which of the following discoveries?

Possible Answers:

Young adults are less likely to conform than middle aged adults 

People rarely contradict the opinions of the group, even if that opinion is clearly wrong 

People only conform with the group if they agree with the opinions of the group

People conform only when there is some type of reward 

Correct answer:

People rarely contradict the opinions of the group, even if that opinion is clearly wrong 

Explanation:

In Asch's study, people rarely contradicted the opinions of the group, even if that opinion was clearly wrong. 70% of the people reported at least one obviously incorrect answer. Asch's study did not possess elements regarding rewards and it was not designed to study the effects of age on conformity.

Example Question #65 : Social Psychology

Which of the following terms appropriately describes a person who does not experience sexual attraction, but may be interested in romantic and/or emotional connections with others?

Possible Answers:

Homosexual

Transgender

Neutral

Polyqueer

Asexual

Correct answer:

Asexual

Explanation:

An "asexual" individual is a person who does not experience sexual attraction. Asexual people have the same emotional needs as other people, but do not feel the need to engage in sexual acts with others.

Example Question #1 : Interpersonal Perceptions And Dynamics

For which of the following emotions did Paul Ekman not find a universal facial expression?

Possible Answers:

Envy

Joy

Anger

Disgust

Fear

Correct answer:

Envy

Explanation:

Through his studies of many diverse Western and Eastern culturesincluding the isolated Fore tribes of Papua New Guinea, who could not possibly have learned these facial expressions from the media of another peopleEkman found universal facial expressions for joy, anger, fear, disgust and sadness.

Example Question #2 : Interpersonal Perceptions And Dynamics

Molly identifies as bisexual. This is an expression of Molly's __________.

Possible Answers:

sexual interest

sex role

gender identity

sexual orientation

sexual identity

Correct answer:

sexual orientation

Explanation:

A person's sexual orientation describes the kind(s) of person they find themselves romantically/sexually attracted to. People who identify as heterosexual are attracted to members of the opposite gender, while homosexuals are attracted to people of the same gender. People who identify as bisexual are attracted to both males and females, and those who identify as asexual are not attracted to anyone in that way.

Example Question #61 : Social Psychology

What is the false consensus effect?

Possible Answers:

The tendency to underestimate the extent to which others want to work with us

The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others want to work with us

The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others agree with ourselves

The tendency to underestimate the extent to which others agree with ourselves

Falsely consenting to participate in an experiment

Correct answer:

The tendency to overestimate the extent to which others agree with ourselves

Explanation:

The false consensus effect describes how most people believe that other individuals have a similar mindset as themselves. This is a popular term in social psychology, along with concepts such as groupthink and group polarization.

Example Question #62 : Social Psychology

What is the cocktail party effect?

Possible Answers:

Eating more food when presented with "cocktail party" sized silverware, as opposed to traditional silverware

Being able to manage multiple conversations at once

Developing a unique elevator pitch to multiple employers

Being able to listen to one voice amidst other voices and distractions

Rating people as more attractive in social settings

Correct answer:

Being able to listen to one voice amidst other voices and distractions

Explanation:

The cocktail party effect is being able to listen to one voice amidst other voices and distractions. This term comes from the fact that cocktail parties often involve large conversations, during which you may wish to focus on one particular person's commentary.

Example Question #4 : Interpersonal Perceptions And Dynamics

Which of the following would be used to test infant attachment?

Possible Answers:

Stanford-Binet Test

Asch's Experiment

Rorschach Inkblot Test

The Strange Situation Test

Myers-Briggs Test

Correct answer:

The Strange Situation Test

Explanation:

By Mary Ainsworth, the Strange Situation Test is used to assess the various types of attachment. In the Strange Situation Test, infants or young children are put in a room with their caregiver. Secure attachment between the caregiver and child provides the base for the child's exploration. Upon leaving the child with a stranger in the room, Mary Ainsworth could assess the attachment between the caregiver and child.  

If the child cries when the caregiver leaves and is relieved when they return, the attachment is secure. If the child cries when the caregiver leaves and continues to cry and resist the caregiver when they return, the attachment is resistant. If the child does not cry when the caregiver leaves and avoids contact when they return, the attachment is avoidant. Resistant and avoidant attachments are usually the result of an inconsistent caregiver.

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