AP Psychology : AP Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #12 : Sense Of Self

Which of the following choices best describes Freud's equivalent term for "sense of self"?

Possible Answers:

The id

The psyche

The soul

The zodiac

Correct answer:

The psyche

Explanation:

The term “sense of self” can be used in many different ways across the theoretical spectrum. Freud would refer to it as one's psyche: the thoughts and beliefs that one has about themselves.

Example Question #1861 : Ap Psychology

Which of the following choices best describs what happens when there is incongruence between one's self image and ideal self?

Possible Answers:

Cognitive dissonance arises and two beliefs come into conflict

A person develops an inflated and inaccurate picture of themselves

A person resorts to drastic measures in order to maintain a congruity between their self image and ideal self

A person may feel dissatisfied and resort to some defense mechanisms such as denial or repression in order to maintain a comfortable image of themselves

Correct answer:

A person may feel dissatisfied and resort to some defense mechanisms such as denial or repression in order to maintain a comfortable image of themselves

Explanation:

According to Carl Rogers, incongruity occurs when one's self-image and ideal self do not match up. In other words, the traits that we consider ourselves to possess may not match up with who we truly want to be. These could be traits within our control, such as intelligence, physical fitness, etc., or not, such as a health condition or our physical appearance. In order to deal with the negative feelings they experience due to incongruence, people will either use defense mechanisms (i.e. denial or repression) or tackle it in a proactive manner.

Example Question #1862 : Ap Psychology

In which of the following age groups are adolescents least likely to be concerned with their self-understanding and identity?

Possible Answers:

Women ages 45+

Adults

Children

Men ages 60+

Correct answer:

Children

Explanation:

Adolescents are more concerned with their self-understanding than children. Erik Erikson described this period of development as "identity versus role confusion." Adolescence is the period during which we establish our identity; children do not yet think about such complex issues. Following adolescence, adults carry the identity established and continue to re-evaluate their standing and role with respect to their self-understanding.

Example Question #121 : Social Psychology

Which of the following best describes Bem's Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI)?

Possible Answers:

A measure of how often your sexual preferences fluctuate during adolescence 

A measure of how well you fit into your gender role by analyzing personality as masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated

A measure of how well you fit in with peers of your gender/sex

The age by which most adolescents have engaged in sexual activity

Correct answer:

A measure of how well you fit into your gender role by analyzing personality as masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated

Explanation:

Bem's Sex-Role Inventory (BSRI) is an antiquated system to evaluate correspondence between sex and gender, with the goal of helping to diagnose gender dysphoria or gender identity disorder. The test presents 60 personality traits, with each trait appropriated as either male or female. The individual will score himself or herself on each trait and be presented with a result of masculine, feminine, androgynous, or undifferentiated. It is important to note that the BSRI is no longer considered a valid evaluation, as our understanding of gender roles and identification has evolved.

Example Question #122 : Social Psychology

Which of the following best describes what individuals may become, want to become, and are afraid of becoming?

Possible Answers:

Self-concept

Self-esteem 

Self-understanding 

Possible self 

Correct answer:

Possible self 

Explanation:

The term that best fits the definition is the "possible self." 

Example Question #122 : Social Psychology

Which of the following is best described as a common defense mechanism employed by adolescents?

Possible Answers:

Admittance of negative characteristics

Denial of negative characteristics

Isolation from all types of people

Make lots of friends in fear of being alone

Correct answer:

Denial of negative characteristics

Explanation:

Adolescents deny their negative characteristics in order to protect themselves while on their quest for self-understanding. They do not necessarily isolate themselves from all types of people, nor do all of them make many friends just because they are afraid to be alone.

Example Question #123 : Social Psychology

Self-esteem can be described as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

The emotional evaluation of ones own worth or self-image

The evaluation of self in terms of domains like academic, athletic, physical appearance

The persona a person may present to others, while realizing that it does not represent what he or she is actually thinking and feeling

The individual's cognitive representation of self

Correct answer:

The emotional evaluation of ones own worth or self-image

Explanation:

Self-esteem is defined as the emotional evaluation of ones own worth or self-image. The other answer options refer to different concepts of self-evaluation. Self-concept is the evaluation of self in terms of domains like academic, athletic, physical appearance. Self-understanding is the individual's cognitive representation of self. False self is the persona a person may present to others, while realizing that it does not represent what he or she is actually thinking and feeling.

Example Question #124 : Social Psychology

Adolescents are most likely to show their false selves with which of the following people?

Possible Answers:

School administrators

Close friends

Romantic interests

Parents

Correct answer:

Romantic interests

Explanation:

A false self is a self that a person may present to others while realizing that it does not represent what he or she is actually thinking and feeling in order to impress them. It is like a front that adolescents put up. Adolescents are more likely to exhibit their false selves when around romantic interests most likely because they are trying to impress them. They are likely to exhibit their true selves around close friends, and usually parents.

Example Question #15 : Sense Of Self

The conglomeration of perceptions of “I” and “me” combined with the beliefs one associates with them are referred to as which of the following answer choices?

Possible Answers:

Social-concept

Ideal self

Real self

Self-concept

Correct answer:

Self-concept

Explanation:

We develop a concept of ourselves through a process of considering how others perceive us and responding to how we view ourselves. This concept can change over time, but is titled a self-concept. Although there is a social component involved in that we rely on others, in part, to show us who we are, it is not termed a social-concept. Further, it is not necessarily ideal or real. As such, self-concept is the correct response.

Example Question #125 : Social Psychology

The self 'I’d like to be' refers to which of the following choices?

Possible Answers:

Ideal self

Self-image

Private self

Social self

Correct answer:

Ideal self

Explanation:

The concept of the ideal self is as straightforward as it seems: the version of yourself that you would most like to be is your ideal self. The concept of self-image captures how you view and conceive of yourself. Your social and private selves, respectively, describe how you act in front of others versus how you tend to behave when unobserved.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors