AP Psychology Practice Exam

The reversible figure above illustrates the Gestalt organizing principle of:

• Proximity

• Figure-Ground

• Closure

• Common Fate

• Simplicity

Which of the following is the best interpretation of Solomon Asch's findings, pictured above, concerning conformity in perceptual judgments?

• The larger the group, the greater the conformity of group members.

• The smaller the group, the greater the conformity of group members.

• Conformity increases as group size increases to about four persons.

• Conformity decreases as group size decreases to about four persons.

• There is no relationship between group size and conformity

Which of the following is true of the frequency distributions shown in the graphs above?

• Distribution A has more variation than distributions B or C.

• Distribution B has more variation than distributions A or C.

• Distribution B and distribution C have the same variation.

• The standard deviation of distribution A is infinite.

• The standard deviation of distribution B is zero.

A Psychotherapist who believes that deviant behavior can be traced either to genetic anomalies or to problems in the physical structure of the brain most likely subscribes to which of the following views of abnormality?

• Cognitive

• Behavioral

• Biomedical

• Sociological

• Psychoanalytic

A person with obsessive-compulsive disorder is best described as an individual who experiences

• memory loss

• intense mood swings

• extreme fear of open spaces

• physical symptoms with no know cause

• persistent anxiety-provoking thoughts

A research design involves two randomly assigned groups of participants. One group receives a one-time treatment, and the other does not. Later, the two groups are compared to see whether the treatment had an effect. Psychologists call this kind of research

• a correlational study

• an experiment

• a case study

• a survey

• a cross-sequential study

The area of the brain stem that is important in controlling breathing is the

• suprachiasmatic nucleus

• cerebellum

• limbic system

• medulla

• hippocampus

Egocentrism, animism, and artificialism are characteristic of which of Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development?

• Sensorimotor

• Preoperational

• Postformal

• Concrete operations

• Formal operations

Which of the following would an industrial-organizational psychologist be LEAST likely to study?

• Managerial skills

• Employee motivation

• Job satisfaction

• Corporate profitability

• Pay incentive programs

Vic has unpredictable and repeated attacks of overwhelming anxiety that frequently leave him dizzy, nauseous, short of breath, and in tears. A psychologist is likely to view Vic's behavior as indicative of

• a panic disorder

• a psychotic breakdown

• a dissociative reaction

• a phobia

• an obsession