5 Steps to a 5 AP Psychology, 2010-2011 Edition (45 page)

(A) a very low level

(B) a moderately low level

(C) a moderate level

(D) a moderately high level

(E) a very high level

5.
The James-Lange theory of emotion states that

(A) emotional awareness precedes our physiological response to a stressful event

(B) emotional expression follows awareness of our physiological response to an arousing event

(C) an arousing event simultaneously triggers both a cognitive awareness and a physiological response

(D) the level of fear we first feel when we ride a roller coaster is reduced each time we experience the same event until thrill replaces it

(E) when we are unaware of why we are feeling arousal, we take our cue from the environment

6.
Which of the following factors stimulate us to eat?

(A) stomach contractions, high levels of glucagon, and stimulation of the VMH

(B) high levels of cholecystokinin, high levels of insulin, and stimulation of the VMH

(C) lack of cholecystokinin, high levels of glucagon, and stimulation of the LH

(D) lack of cholecystokinin, high levels of insulin, and stimulation of the LH

(E) low blood sugar, stomach contractions, and stimulation of the VMH

7.
Homeostasis refers to

(A) arousal of the sympathetic nervous system

(B) a tendency for individuals to behave consistently when highly motivated

(C) a need state resulting from the physiological experience of hunger or thirst

(D) the body’s tendency to maintain a balanced internal state

(E) the second stage of Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome

8.
During junior high, the typical student is preoccupied with making friends. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, which of the following needs is he/she satisfying?

(A) fundamental needs

(B) safety needs

(C) love and belonging needs

(D) esteem needs

(E) self-actualization

9.
Adit really likes the appearance of the Chevy Blazer his friend is selling, but knows he should be more conservative with his money. What type of conflict situation is he facing?

(A) approach-approach

(B) approach-avoidance

(C) avoidance–avoidance

(D) multiple approach–avoidance

(E) no conflict because he either buys it or he doesn’t

10.
The number one tennis player on last year’s squad does not find her name on the list of students who made this year’s team. Which stage of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome is she most likely experiencing?

(A) alarm

(B) resistance

(C) denial

(D) competence

(E) exhaustion

11.
Which of the following characteristics of the Type A personality is most positively correlated with having a heart attack?

(A) competitive

(B) eating quickly

(C) impatient

(D) ambitious

(E) hostile

12.
Terrence’s parents were excited by his recent interest in reading science fiction novels. They bought him toy science fiction characters and praised him for reading the books. When they stopped giving him praise and toys, they were dismayed that he quit reading. Terrence’s behavior best illustrates

(A) the overjustification effect

(B) overlearning

(C) internal locus of control

(D) the self-fulfilling prophecy

(E) drive reduction theory

13.
Which of the following most accurately reflects our current understanding of basic facial expressions?

(A) Facial expressions are universally recognized and displayed by all cultures.

(B) Anger is easily interpreted as a facial expression by most cultures and displayed by all in similar situations.

(C) Facial expressions are universally recognized, but highly variable in how they are displayed.

(D) Cultures vary in their interpretation and display of the six most common facial expressions.

(E) Facial expressions are learned through modeling of basic facial expressions by parents.

14.
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormones (LH) are most closely associated with which of the following motivated behaviors?

(A) hunger

(B) thirst

(C) sex

(D) anxiety

(E) happiness

15.
Selection of moderately challenging tasks characterizes the behavior of people who have a

(A) fear of failing

(B) high need for achievement

(C) fear of success

(D) low need for achievement

(E) inferiority complex

1. E—
Imprinting is the tendency for the newborn of some animals, such as ducklings and goslings, to follow the first moving object they see or hear.

2. C—
Sociobiologists assume that human and animal behavior is based on a biological imperative to ensure survival of genetic material into the next generation. They believe that altruism—selfless behavior—is an instinct that serves this goal.

3. B—
Incentive theory discusses both the primary motives, such as hunger and sex, that push behavior, and the secondary motives, like achievement and money, that are pulled by incentives or rewards found in the environment.

4. B—
According to the Yerkes-Dodson inverted U graph of arousal, average tasks require a moderate level of arousal, very difficult tasks like this one require a moderately low level of arousal, and very easy tasks require a moderately high level of arousal. Very low and very high arousal levels are never optimal because we need some arousal to do well, but too high a level agitates us.

5. B—
According to the James-Lange theory, we are aware of feeling emotions after the physiological and behavioral responses occur to environmental stimuli. I see the bear, I start to run, and then I realize I am afraid.

6. D—
The lateral hypothalamus (LH) is the “on” button that initiates eating behavior when food is not in our stomachs or small intestines, which is indicated by lack of cholecystokinin and high levels of insulin.

7. D—
Homeostasis is a balanced internal state. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, the parasympathetic nervous system works to return the body to homeostasis.

8. C—
Most teens are looking to belong to groups and feel acceptance from others, which corresponds to Maslow’s third level in his hierarchy—love and belonging needs.

9. B—
Adit’s conflict situation involves only one choice, to buy or not to buy the truck, and thus is the approach-avoidance situation. There is both a positive and a negative consequence to buying the new truck.

10. A—
The alarm stage is the first part of Selye’s general adaptation syndrome. The tennis player is probably in a state of shock and her stress at not making the team will cause the sympathetic nervous system to be activated. In the second stage of resistance, her coping skills will probably lessen her stress after the initial shock.

11. E—
Three characteristics of the Type A personality have been found to be positively correlated with heart disease—anger, hostility, and cynicism.

12. A
—In the overjustification effect here, an intrinsically rewarded behavior was turned into an extrinsically rewarded behavior and, thus, when the rewards were taken away by the parents, the behavior diminished.

13. C—
Cross-cultural studies conducted by Paul Ekman and others seem to support identification of six basic facial expressions across all cultures, but different display rules, depending on the culture.

14. C—
Follicle stimulating and luteinizing hormones are associated with sexual arousal in humans.

15. B—
People with a high need for achievement want to feel successful. If they select easy tasks, they are expected to be able to do them and don’t feel very successful. If they select difficult tasks, their likelihood of success is limited. By completing challenging but achievable tasks, they feel successful.

Motive
is a need or a want that causes us to act.
Motivation
directs and maintains goal-directed behavior. Motivational theories explain the relationship between physiological changes and emotional experiences.

Theories of motivation:

Instinct theory
—physical and mental instincts such as curiosity and fearfulness cause us to act.
Instincts
are inherited automatic species-specific behaviors.

Drive reduction theory
—focuses on internal states of tension, such as hunger, that motivate us to pursue actions that reduce the tension and bring us back to
homeostasis,
which is internal balance.
Need
is a motivated state caused by a physiological deficit.
Drive
is a state of psychological tension, induced by a need, which motivates us.

Incentive theory
—beyond the primary motives of food, drink, and sex which push us toward a goal, secondary motives or external stimuli such as money, approval, and grades regulate and pull us toward a goal.

Arousal theory
—each of us has an optimal level of arousal necessary to perform tasks which varies with the person and the activity.
Arousal
is the level of alertness, wakefulness, and activation caused by activity in the central nervous system. According to the
Yerkes-Dodson law,
for easy tasks, moderately high arousal is optimal; for difficult tasks, moderately low is optimal; and for most average tasks, a moderate level of arousal is optimal.

Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
—arranges biological and social needs in priority from the lowest level of 1) basic biological needs to 2) safety and security needs to 3) belongingness and love needs to 4) self-esteem needs to 5) self-actualization needs. The need for self-actualization, the need to fulfill one’s potential, and transcendence, spiritual fulfillment, are the highest needs and can only be realized after each succeeding need below has been fulfilled. Lacks evidence to support theory.

Physiological motives
are primary motives such as hunger, thirst, pain, and sex influenced by biologic factors, environmental factors, and learned preferences and habits.

Hunger
—increases with stomach contractions, low blood sugar, high insulin levels that stimulate the lateral hypothalamus (LH); high levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine, GABA, and neuropeptide Y that stimulate the paraventricular hypothalamus (PVN); environmental factors such as the sight and smell of desired foods, and stress. Stimulation of the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) stops eating behavior.

Set point
—a preset natural body weight, determined by the number of fat cells in our body.

Anorexia nervosa
—eating disorder most common in adolescent females characterized by weight less than 85% of normal, abnormally restrictive food consumption, and an unrealistic body image.

Bulimia nervosa
—an eating disorder characterized by a pattern of eating binges involving intake of thousands of calories, followed by purging, either by vomiting or using laxatives.

Thirst
—increases with mouth dryness; shrinking of cells from loss of water and low blood volume which, stimulate the lateral hypothalamus; and sight and smell of desired fluids.

Pain
—promotes avoidance or escape behavior to eliminate causes of discomfort.

Sex
—necessary for survival of the species, but not the individual. Testosterone levels in humans seem related to sexual motivation in both sexes.
Sexual orientation
refers to the direction of an individual’s sexual interest.

•
Homosexuality
—a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another person of the same sex.

•
Bisexuality
—a tendency to direct sexual desire toward people of both sexes.

•
Heterosexuality
—a tendency to direct sexual desire toward people of the opposite sex.
Masters and Johnson described a pattern of four stages in the biological
sexual response cycle:
sexual arousal, plateau, orgasm, and resolution.

Social motives
are learned needs, such as the need for achievement and the need for affiliation, that energize behavior acquired as part of growing up in a particular society or culture.

Need for achievement
—a desire to meet some internalized standard of excellence, related to productivity and success. People with a high need for achievement choose moderately challenging tasks to satisfy their need.

Affiliation motive
—the need to be with others; is aroused when people feel threatened, anxious, or celebratory.

Intrinsic motivation
—a desire to perform an activity for its own sake.

Extrinsic motivation
—a desire to perform an activity to obtain a reward such as money, applause, or attention.

•
Overjustification effect
—where promising a reward for doing something we already like to do results in us seeing the reward as the motivation for performing the task. When the reward is taken away, the behavior tends to disappear.

Social conflict situations
involve being torn in different directions by opposing motives that block us from attaining a goal, leaving us feeling frustrated and stressed.

Approach-approach conflicts
—situations involving two positive options, only one of which we can have.