AP Psychology : AP Psychology

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Social Development

While Shelly and Brendan are both college-educated, Brendan works full-time and financially supports the family, and Shelly primarily takes care of their children and home life. Which of the following types of marriage are Shelly and Brendan exhibiting? 

Possible Answers:

Matriarchal

Traditional

Egalitarian

Authoritarian

Correct answer:

Traditional

Explanation:

Traditional marriages include men and women assuming typical gender roles where the husband is the "breadwinner" and the wife is the "homemaker." On the other hand, egalitarian marriages involve men and women taking on and balancing roles and responsibilities within the family and at work.

Example Question #71 : Dimensions Of Psychological Development

During early and middle adulthood, individuals often take care of their own children, but they also begin to take care of their older parents. Which of the following terms best describes this shift? 

Possible Answers:

Empty-nest syndrome 

Sandwich generation 

Emerging adulthood

Biological clock 

Correct answer:

Sandwich generation 

Explanation:

As the adult child, an individual often fulfills the role of parent and caretaker for two generations, which is called the "sandwich generation." The remaining choices are distractors. 

Example Question #31 : Social Development

According to Kubler-Ross, when a person is diagnosed with a terminal illness he is most likely to experience the stages of grief in which of the following orders?

Possible Answers:

Denial, anxiety, bargaining, depression, acceptance

Depression, bargaining, anger, denial, acceptance

Denial, anger, bargaining, shame, acceptance

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

Depression, bargaining, anger, denial, acceptance

Correct answer:

Denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance

Explanation:

Kubler-Ross developed an explanation for the series of stages people go through when faced with their own death. According to this model, most people experience the stages in the following order: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. One way to remember this is by the acronym DABDA. Note that shame and anxiety are not stages in this model. 

Example Question #32 : Social Development

Jane's parents can be both demanding and responsive. They set high expectations for her, but are supportive and loving when she falls short. They also often involve Jane in creating household rules. What type of parenting style best describes Jane's parents?

Possible Answers:

Authoritative

Authoritarian

Secure

Ambivalent

Permissive

Correct answer:

Authoritative

Explanation:

Jane's parents are authoritative, meaning they set high standards for their children but are also flexible and reasonable. Authoritarian parents tend to set high standards, but are not warm or responsive. They expect obedience and leave little room for negotiation. Permissive parents can be warm and responsive, but have few rules for their children. Secure is not a term used to describe parenting style. Rather, it describes attachment. Securely attached children are distressed when their parents leave the room but welcome them on their return. Authoritative parents often raise secure children. Ambivalent children are distressed when their parents leave but are not welcoming when they return. 

Example Question #33 : Social Development

Which of the following stages of play involves an organized activity in which all participants are to abide by clear roles?

Possible Answers:

Cooperative play

Onlooker play

Parallel play

Unoccupied play

Solitary play

Correct answer:

Cooperative play

Explanation:

Cooperative play is the most advanced stage of play in which a child is interested in both other children and the play activity. Some examples of cooperative play include "freeze tag" and "red rover." 

Example Question #32 : Social Development

According to Erik Erikson, which stage of life involves addressing our identity and social roles?

Possible Answers:

Adolescence

Middle childhood

Middle adulthood

Infancy

Old age

Correct answer:

Adolescence

Explanation:

According to Erik Erikson's psychosocial stages, adolescents are faced with how they appear to others (especially same-age peers) and take this time to "try on" different roles to see how others react. This stage is completed when the individual has adopted a comprehensive identity. 

Example Question #1 : Moral Development

Which one of the following children is displaying preconventional thought?

Possible Answers:

Mark refuses to obey a law that treats certain people as second-class citizens

Francine thinks that big corporations should be responsible for paying taxes, just as everyone else is

Natasha does not skip school because she worries about what her friends will say

Kevin decides not to skip class because he will get in trouble with the principal

Amy disagrees with her school's policy on graduating early, but she would never publicly protest it without her school's permission

Correct answer:

Kevin decides not to skip class because he will get in trouble with the principal

Explanation:

Lawrence Kohlberg developed three levels of morality to describe people: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional thought. Pre-conventional thought is the most elementary of the three levels, in which actions are thought to be good or bad based on the rewards or punishments that stem from said action. 

Example Question #2 : Moral Development

Who developed the theory that the concept of morality is established in three stages? 

Possible Answers:

Jean Piaget 

Ivan Pavlov 

B.F. Skinner 

Erik Erikson

Lawrence Kohlberg

Correct answer:

Lawrence Kohlberg

Explanation:

Lawrence Kohlberg was the theorist who developed the concept that morality comes in three stages: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional.

Example Question #1 : Moral Development

Cody is 9 years old. He hit his brother while they were playing a game and his brother started crying. His mom asked him why hitting is brother is wrong, and he told her that it's wrong because he knows that "people aren't supposed to hit other people."

Cody is most likely in which of Kohlberg's stages of moral development?

Possible Answers:

Formal operational

Preconventional

Conventional

Postconventional

Concrete operational

Correct answer:

Conventional

Explanation:

In the conventional stage of moral development, right vs. wrong is based upon societal conventions and expectations. Since Cody stated something that is a social convention, rather than a personal ethical belief, he is demonstrating features of the conventional stage of devlopment.

Example Question #3 : Moral Development

What is the third stage of Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development?

Possible Answers:

Individuals begin to see their perspective as distinct from that of society's, and may or may not agree with cultural norms and ethics

Individuals are only concerned with actions that will directly benefit them

Individuals are receptive to societal approval or disapproval of their behavior

Individuals reject any societal views of their behavior

Correct answer:

Individuals are receptive to societal approval or disapproval of their behavior

Explanation:

At stage three of Kohlberg's theory, which usually begins in adolescence or adulthood, people become conscious of how the society at large views their behavior. Thus, they are not necessarily concerned with gaining a direct reward or avoiding punishments, but rather focus on cultivating behaviors like appreciation and good manners that will make them well-liked by society. This stage is defined by conformity to societal expectations of behavior.  

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors