AP Psychology : Individual Psychology and Behavior

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #21 : Developmental Psychology

As an alternative to Jean Piaget's theory of 4 stages of cognitive development, the Information-Processing Theory proposes that __________

Possible Answers:

human mental capacities to memorize, interpret, and perceive develop gradually rather than in stages

None of these answers

it is impossible to have a universal theory of cognitive development because of the subjective nature of how humans process information

there are six distinct stages of cognitive development rather than only four

higher cognitive processes such as logical thinking and abstract reasoning are instinctual rather learned

Correct answer:

human mental capacities to memorize, interpret, and perceive develop gradually rather than in stages

Explanation:

In contrast to Jean Piaget's 4 stages, the Information-Processing Model suggests continuous, gradual development, the rate of which depends on the individual and the information presented to them. This model also tends to draw illustrative examples of human cognition and information processing from the way computers process information.

Example Question #23 : Developmental Psychology

Which of the following is not one of Erik Erikson's 8 stages of psychosocial development?

Possible Answers:

Nature vs. Nurture

Trust vs. Mistrust

Industry vs. Inferiority

Intimacy vs. Isolation

Generativity vs. Stagnation

Correct answer:

Nature vs. Nurture

Explanation:

Nature vs. nurture refers to the debate over which of the two aspects has greater influence on human behavior. Erik Erikson developed a psychosocial theory which proposed 8 stages throughout life: trust vs. mistrust, autonomy vs. shame, initiative vs. guilt, industry vs. inferiority, identity vs. role confusion, intimacy vs. isolation, generativity vs. stagnation, and lastly integrity vs. despair.

Example Question #23 : Developmental Psychology

Who did NOT come up with a theory of development that involved stages?

Possible Answers:

Piaget

Skinner

Kohlberg

Erik Erikson

Freud

Correct answer:

Skinner

Explanation:

Freud, Erik Erikson, Piaget, and Kohlberg all developed theories of development that involved stages, whereas Skinner focused on classical conditioning. 

Freud came up with the psychosexual stages of development: oral, anal, phallic, latency, and genital. Erik Erikson came up with eight stages of social development (ex: trust vs. mistrust). Piaget came up with the stages of cognitive development: sensorimotor, preoperational, concrete operational, and formal operational. Kohlberg came up with the stages of moral development: preconventional, conventional, and postconventional. 

Example Question #21 : Developmental Psychology

According to Erikson, the second stage of psychosocial development poses the developmental task of which of the following choices?

Possible Answers:

Industry vs. inferiority

Autonomy vs. shame

Initiative vs. guilt

Trust vs. mistrust

Correct answer:

Autonomy vs. shame

Explanation:

Resolving the conflict of autonomy vs. shame is the developmental task of the second stage of Erik Erikson's 8-stage model of psychosocial development. Typically, it is during this stage that a developing child learns to toilet train and to get dressed. Erikson described this stage as the time in which a sense of personal control over physical tasks was developed. If conquered successfully, the fruits of this stage are feelings of autonomy. The other answers are all stages in Erikson's model, but not his second stage.

Example Question #22 : Developmental Psychology

According to Maslow, self-actualization is best described as which of the following choices?

Possible Answers:

A lifelong process that is rarely fully completed

Rarely achieved until young adulthood

Usually attained in Western but not Eastern societies

More commonly achieved among children than adults

Correct answer:

A lifelong process that is rarely fully completed

Explanation:

In Maslow's proposed a hierarchy of needs, the need to become self-actualized was at the pinnacle of the hierarchy. Self-actualization can be defined as the state in which a person has reached his personal highest level of psychological health and ability. Another way of stating this is reaching one's full growth potential.  Maslow made new distinctions between Eastern and Western cultures, but did imply that those of the more elite classes would be more likely to attain this status but only fleetingly.

Example Question #23 : Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychologists are observing toddlers and their primary care-givers in a lab. One toddler does not explore the lab, is very distressed when the parent leaves the room, and is not easily comforted when the parent returns. These behaviors indicate a(n) ___________ attachment.

Possible Answers:

avoidant

secure

disorganized

ambivalent

Correct answer:

ambivalent

Explanation:

The characteristics of ambivalent attachment in young children include not exploring new places, are distressed when separated from the primary care giver, are not comforted or seem angry when they are reunited with the parent, and are clingy.

Example Question #24 : Studying Developmental Psychology

Developmental psychologists are observing toddlers and their primary care-givers in a lab. One toddler is not very responsive to the primary caregiver, is more friendly to strangers in the lab, and in unaffected by the parent leaving and returning to the room. These behaviors indicate a(n) __________ attachment.

Possible Answers:

avoidant

disorganized

ambivalent

secure

Correct answer:

avoidant

Explanation:

The characteristics of avoidant attachment in young children include being unresponsive to a parent when they try to interact, they may react positively to strangers instead of having separation anxiety, they are slow to acknowledge their parent when they leave and return, and they do not cling to the parent when they are being held.

Example Question #367 : Individual Psychology And Behavior

Developmental psychologists are observing toddlers and their primary care-givers in a lab. One toddler has separation anxiety, prefers their parent to a stranger, and is immediately comforted when their parent returns to the room. These behaviors indicate a(n) __________ attachment.

Possible Answers:

secure

ambivalent 

avoidant 

disorganized 

Correct answer:

secure

Explanation:

The characteristics of secure attachment in young children include exploring new places but using their parent as a secure base, having separation anxiety, having stranger anxiety, and being comforted by their parent’s return.

Example Question #31 : Developmental Psychology

Dr. Jones studies how a person’s learning styles change over time. Given this information, Dr. Jones is most likely what kind of psychologist? 

Possible Answers:

Health

Developmental 

Evolutionary

Clinical

Correct answer:

Developmental 

Explanation:

Developmental psychology studies changes throughout a person’s entire lifespan. This includes the physical, social, and cognitive developments and changes observed in a person. 

Example Question #771 : Ap Psychology

A 10-month-old child is brought to a family gathering by his parents. The child cries when he first meets his extended relatives and clings to his parents as they try to introduce him to the new people. Which of the following developmental behaviors is this child exhibiting?

Possible Answers:

Separation anxiety 

Stranger anxiety

Generalized anxiety

Disorganized attachment 

Correct answer:

Stranger anxiety

Explanation:

Stranger anxiety is a characteristic of secure attachment and usually begins around 8 months of age. It is more commonly described as a fear of strangers.

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors