AP Psychology : Theories of Motivation

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #101 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

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:

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

Work towards becoming a doctor, which is his dream job

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 #22 : Motivation And Emotion

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

Possible Answers:

None of these

Intrinsic reward

Ego

Extrinsic reward

Visual stimuli

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 #105 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

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:

self-actualization. . . physiological

safety. . . self-actualization

belonging. . . safety

physiological. . . self-actualization

esteem. . . safety

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 #21 : Theories Of Motivation

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:

Sigmund Freud

Charles Darwin

Carl Rogers

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 #22 : Theories Of Motivation

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

Depletion

Alarm

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.

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