AP Psychology : Motivation, Emotion, and Personality

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #2 : Personality Changes And Growth

Which of the following is true about the id, ego, and superego?

Possible Answers:

The id acts as a mediator between the ego and the superego

The superego always overrides the id and ego.

None of the other answers

The superego acts as a mediator between the id and the ego

The ego acts as a mediator between the id and the superego

Correct answer:

The ego acts as a mediator between the id and the superego

Explanation:

The id desires immediate gratification. The superego accounts for the moral component of a person's personality makeup. The ego mediates between the id and superego.

Example Question #72 : Personality

Which two personality traits on the Big Five make a person more likely to experience post-traumatic growth? 

Possible Answers:

Neuroticism and extroversion 

Extraversion and introversion 

Introversion and openness to new experience 

Extraversion and openness to new experience 

Correct answer:

Extraversion and openness to new experience 

Explanation:

Extraversion and openness to new experience are personality traits that are often associated with one's ability to achieve post-traumatic growth. Extraversion would theoretically lead someone to seek social support to construct a meaning from their experiences. The openness to new experience disposes someone to accept and embrace change, and while this doesn't necessarily help in negative situations, it allows a person the flexibility to deal with unexpected events.  

Example Question #72 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

Which of the following is a proper definition for post-traumatic growth? 

Possible Answers:

The term refers to Victor Frankl's theory on finding meaning from suffering even in the most extreme circumstances.

The term refers to one's ability to not only endure a traumatic event but find the benefits from having gone through it.

The term refers to the innovation that can be found in misery.

The term refers to a disorder that results from going through a severely traumatic event whose symptoms can be panic attacks and depressive episodes.

Correct answer:

The term refers to one's ability to not only endure a traumatic event but find the benefits from having gone through it.

Explanation:

Post-traumatic growth is a term that grew from the field of positive psychology. It differs from resilience, which refers to the ability to endure traumatic events and recover, in the sense that the traumatic event can make the person grow in a significant manner. In other words, the person grows and gains from the experience as opposed to simply recuperating. 

Example Question #73 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

What is the nomothetic view of personalities?

Possible Answers:

None of these 

That individuals are unique past the point of comparison and possess certain traits that others will not

That individual personalities can be compared to one another according to certain traits

That personalities are fully developed and do not change past the age of thirty

Correct answer:

That individual personalities can be compared to one another according to certain traits

Explanation:

The nomothetic view of personalities asserts that people's personalities are highly comparable. The most popular and commonly known extension of this view is the "Big Five" which claims people's personalities are a composite of five different traits measured along a continuum. This view starkly contrasts the idiographic view, which claims that no one individual's personality can truly be compared to the other.

Those who support the nomothetic view often do self-report surveys to collect their data.

Example Question #71 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

Do people change or stay the same throughout the different developmental stages of life? 

Possible Answers:

Their beliefs stay the same throughout life but everything else changes 

They change radically throughout every stage, including those in late adulthood 

Their personalities and habits stay the same 

They change, though their most basic dispositions do not change 

Correct answer:

They change, though their most basic dispositions do not change 

Explanation:

As humans, we are constantly trying to adapt to our circumstances which disposes us to almost a constant state of change. There are also developmental stages that every person goes through that can and do make marked changes in one's personality, beliefs, values, habits, and physical appearance. This is the field of developmental psychology. 

Example Question #72 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

What is the main difference between the learning style of a baby versus an adult? 

Possible Answers:

A baby learns everything automatically

A baby takes much more information from new experiences 

An adult takes much more information from new experience

An adult learns everything effortlessly

Correct answer:

A baby takes much more information from new experiences 

Explanation:

A baby is much more open to the world than an adult is. A baby new into the world is trying to learn as much as it can about its surroundings since it's vital information to its survival.

Example Question #73 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

In what age group is one more likely to become more Agreeable (that is, more cooperative and compassionate)?

Possible Answers:

Infancy

Early childhood

Adolescence

Around the early to late thirties

Correct answer:

Around the early to late thirties

Explanation:

As a person starts accumulating more responsibilities to their families and workplaces, they tend to become more Agreeable--that is, less competitive, more cooperative, and more compassionate. These responsibilities generally start accruing most in people's early to late thirties as they move up in their career or establish a family. This can lead to less self-absorption and more absorption in their duties to other people. 

Example Question #74 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

According to Gordon Allport, a "Cardinal Trait" is ____________.

Possible Answers:

a trait that is observable in most people

a trait exhibited only in certain situations

None of these

a dominant trait that plays a vital role in determining a personality

Correct answer:

a dominant trait that plays a vital role in determining a personality

Explanation:

Gordon Allport's trait theory outlines 3 types of traits: Cardinal Traits (dominant traits/ruling passions), Central Traits (characteristics found (at least somewhat) in most or all people), and Secondary Traits (traits exhibited only on certain occasions). While Allsport assigned differing levels of dominance to these traits, he believed a thorough examination of all kinds of traits was needed to accurately reflect a person's personality.

Example Question #75 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

What are some of the qualities of those who have experienced post-traumatic growth? 

Possible Answers:

All of these 

Changed priorities 

Greater appreciation for life 

More intimate relationships 

Correct answer:

All of these 

Explanation:

According to the research done on post-traumatic growth, the most salient qualities of those who have undergone post-traumatic growth are an acknowledgement of new paths in life, a greater appreciation for life, a change in priorities, and more intimate relationships. 

Example Question #76 : Motivation, Emotion, And Personality

What generally tends to happen to people's personalities as they get older?

Possible Answers:

Their positive traits increase and negative ones decrease

Their negative traits increase and positive ones decrease

None of these

Both their positive and negative traits increase

Correct answer:

Their positive traits increase and negative ones decrease

Explanation:

According to the "Maturity Principle", between the ages of 20-65 people's negative personality traits decrease and positive ones increase. Over time, people tend to develop more accountability for themselves, acceptance over things they cannot control, and more emotional stability. Moreover, they easily "ride the waves" of highs and lows in life. This is counter to what most people view the process of aging as a state of decline into bitterness and remorse, it is in fact the opposite. We tend to become better people.

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