AP Psychology : Motivation and Emotion
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Example Questions
Example Question #172 : Individual Psychology And Behavior
The term "affect" refers to which of the following?
The experience of an emotion
The experience of sympathetic autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses
The strength of a stimulus’ effect on attention
The degree to which an experience is positive or negative
The experience of an emotion
“Affect” refers to the experience of having an emotion. The “degree to which an experience is positive or negative” and “the experience of sympathetic autonomic nervous system responses” are the definitions of valence and arousal, respectively. These are both components of emotion, but do not encompass the entirety of affect. Last, the “strength of a stimulus’ effect on attention” is the definition of salience.
Example Question #12 : Other Emotion Concepts
Jenny speaks in the same tone of voice and shows little variation in facial expression or emotion when speaking. Jenny most likely demonstrates which of the following?
Flat affect
Consistent emotion
Consistent mood
Liable affect
Inappropriate affect
Flat affect
Jenny's unwavering tone of voice and little variation of facial expression or emotion when speaking demonstrate the flat affect. The flat affect refers to a lack of (or diminished) emotional expression. This can be observed through robot-like speaking and lack of facial expression. On the other hand, the inappropriate affect and liable affect are the opposite of flat affect. Inappropriate affect refers to emotions are are inappropriate to the situation. Liable affect refers to rapid and inappropriate changes in mood. Jenny clearly demonstrates the flat affect.
Example Question #13 : Other Emotion Concepts
Tracey gets teased by the girls at school. When she gets home, she teases her little brother.
This scenario is an example of which defense mechanism?
Regression
Displacement
Projection
Sublimation
Repression
Displacement
"Displacement" is a defense mechanism in which a person directs an unwanted desire or aggression toward something more acceptable than the root of the desire. In this case, Tracey displaces her aggression onto her little brother by teasing him instead of the girls who had teased her.
The other answers are incorrect. "Repression" is defined as pushing desires out of our consciousness, while "regression" is defined as reverting back to old habits (often from childhood) during stressful situations. "Projection" is described as projecting negative desires onto other people. For example, Tiffany is hurt when Kim does not call her back and she says, "Kim is such a mean person. She doesn't care or like anyone but herself." Projection is sometimes confused with displacement. Last, "sublimation" is defined as changing unwanted desires into something socially valued.
Example Question #14 : Other Emotion Concepts
Which of the following is more indicative of a type B personality, rather than a type A personality?
Feelings of anger and hostility
Sense of time urgency
Easy-going attitude
Higher risk of stress-related diseases
Competitiveness
Easy-going attitude
Type A personalities are characterized by high competition, a sense of time urgency, and negative feelings including anger, stress, and hostility. Type B personalities are characterized by low competition and an overall easy-going attitude. People with type A personalities tend to become easily stressed and have more difficulty coping with stress than type B personalities. Studies on the differences between type A and B personalities have revealed that type A personalities are also at higher risk of stress-related diseases.
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