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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > Social Studies

Unit 3 AP Psychology Practice Quiz

Ace exams with targeted review and practice

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 12
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Colorful paper art promoting AP Psych Power-Up, a challenging review quiz for high school students.

What does psychology primarily study?
Chemical reactions in labs
Historical events
Material objects
Behavior and mental processes
Psychology is the scientific study of both behavior and mental processes. This question tests the fundamental understanding of what the field encompasses.
Which research method allows psychologists to determine cause-and-effect relationships by controlling variables?
Correlation study
Experiment
Survey
Case study
Experiments are designed to control variables and determine causality. This basic research method is a cornerstone of psychological inquiry.
Which type of psychologist focuses on the relationship between brain structures and behavior?
Clinical psychologist
Biopsychologist
Developmental psychologist
Social psychologist
Biopsychologists study how physical processes in the brain influence behavior. This question reinforces an understanding of the different subfields within psychology.
What is the primary purpose of conducting psychological research?
To promote a specific ideology
To better understand behavior and mental processes
To diagnose mental illnesses
To create legal policies
Psychological research aims to expand our understanding of behavior and mental processes. It is not designed to promote personal ideologies or directly create laws.
What concept refers to a change in behavior due to direct experience?
Intelligence
Perception
Learning
Memory
Learning involves acquiring new behaviors or information through experience. This question clarifies the basic definition of learning in psychology.
Which research method examines the relationship between variables without manipulating them?
Experiment
Naturalistic observation
Correlational study
Case study
A correlational study assesses the relationship between variables without the manipulation inherent in experiments. This study design is essential for identifying associations without inferring causation.
In classical conditioning, which term describes the learned stimulus that elicits a response?
Neutral stimulus
Conditioned stimulus
Conditioned response
Unconditioned stimulus
The conditioned stimulus is initially neutral but becomes capable of triggering a response after being paired with an unconditioned stimulus. This foundational concept differentiates it from unconditioned and neutral stimuli.
In operant conditioning, which term describes a consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring?
Extinction
Reinforcer
Stimulus
Punishment
A reinforcer is any event that strengthens a behavior, making it more likely to occur again. This question distinguishes reinforcement from other operant conditioning components such as punishment and extinction.
What term is used for memories that consist of facts and general knowledge?
Semantic memory
Sensory memory
Episodic memory
Procedural memory
Semantic memory involves the storage of general world knowledge and facts. It is distinct from episodic memory, which involves personal experiences, and procedural or sensory memories that operate differently.
Which theory explains the discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or behaviors?
Attribution theory
Social comparison theory
Self-perception theory
Cognitive dissonance
Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort that results from holding contradictory beliefs or attitudes. This discomfort often leads to changes in behavior or beliefs to achieve internal consistency.
Which brain structure is essential for converting short-term memories into long-term memories?
Cerebellum
Amygdala
Thalamus
Hippocampus
The hippocampus plays a critical role in the process of memory consolidation, transferring information from short-term to long-term storage. This question highlights a fundamental aspect of cognitive neuroscience within psychology.
Which phenomenon describes improved performance when tasks are performed in the presence of others?
Social facilitation
Social loafing
Group polarization
Deindividuation
Social facilitation is the tendency for people to perform better on simple tasks when others are present. This is in contrast to effects like social loafing, where individuals may reduce their effort in a group context.
According to Erikson, which developmental stage is characterized by the conflict of identity versus role confusion?
Adolescence
Early childhood
Late adulthood
Middle adulthood
Erikson theorized that adolescence is marked by the struggle to establish a coherent identity, known as the conflict between identity and role confusion. This stage is crucial for personal development and self-understanding.
Who proposed the theory that personality is structured into the id, ego, and superego?
B.F. Skinner
Abraham Maslow
Carl Rogers
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud developed the psychoanalytic theory, which includes the structural model of personality composed of the id, ego, and superego. This framework is foundational to many later theories of personality.
What is the term for the body's physiological reaction to a perceived threat, involving hormones like cortisol and adrenaline?
Stress response
Neuroplasticity
Homeostasis
Conditioned response
The stress response, often referred to as the fight-or-flight response, is the body's reaction to perceived threats, triggering the release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This process prepares the body for rapid action.
In a study examining the effects of stress on cognitive performance, which factor is most crucial for establishing causality?
Random assignment
Longitudinal data
Observational analysis
Self-reported measures
Random assignment is essential in experimental design as it helps ensure that differences between groups are due to the manipulation rather than pre-existing differences. This strengthens the internal validity and supports causal inferences.
Which neurotransmitter is most closely associated with the brain's pleasure and reward pathways?
Dopamine
Serotonin
GABA
Norepinephrine
Dopamine is critically involved in the brain's reward system and is linked to pleasure, motivation, and reinforcement. This question distinguishes its role from other neurotransmitters that influence mood and arousal.
In psychological research, what is the main purpose of obtaining informed consent from participants?
To guarantee that the study will yield significant results
To allow researchers to modify participant responses
To ensure that participants understand the risks and benefits of the study
To sell participation rights to third parties
Informed consent is a critical ethical requirement that ensures participants are fully aware of what the study entails, including any risks or benefits. This process respects the autonomy of individuals and protects their rights.
Which process involves modifying existing cognitive schemas in response to new information that does not fit?
Accommodation
Assimilation
Equilibration
Confirmation bias
Accommodation involves changing one's cognitive schemas to incorporate new, incongruent information. This process is distinct from assimilation, where new information is simply added to existing frameworks without modification.
Which concept explains the specialization of one hemisphere of the brain for language processing in most individuals?
Neuroplasticity
Lateralization
Synaptic pruning
Hemispheric competition
Lateralization refers to the functional differences between the brain's hemispheres, with the left hemisphere typically being more involved in language processing. This question tests an understanding of how cognitive functions are organized in the brain.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand key psychological theories and their historical context.
  2. Analyze cognitive and behavioral processes in various psychological phenomena.
  3. Apply psychological concepts to real-world scenarios and case studies.
  4. Identify research methods used in psychological studies.
  5. Evaluate the practical implications of psychological findings on everyday behavior.

Unit 3 AP Psych Test & Review Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Neuron Structure - Picture dendrites like antennae catching signals, axons as highways carrying messages, and the myelin sheath as turbo boosters speeding everything up. Mastering this creates the roadmap for how every thought zips through your brain. Quizlet: AP Psychology Unit 3 Flashcards
  2. Learn Neurotransmitters - Get to know dopamine's reward magic and serotonin's mood-balancing skills, because these chemical messengers are the VIPs of your emotions and behaviors. Understanding their roles feels like unlocking cheat codes for happiness and motivation. Quizlet: AP Psychology Unit 3 Flashcards
  3. Explore Brain Anatomy - Break your brain into the hindbrain (basic life support), midbrain (traffic control), and forebrain (executive suite) to see who's really calling the shots. It's like dividing a city into neighborhoods so you know where each party is happening. AP Study Notes: Biological Bases of Behavior
  4. Study Cerebral Cortex Lobes - The frontal lobe is your decision HQ, the parietal lobe handles touch and space, the occipital lobe sees everything, and the temporal lobe is all about sound and memory. Piecing them together turns you into a full-stack brain aficionado. AP Study Notes: Biological Bases of Behavior
  5. Understand Brain Plasticity - Discover how your brain is like silly putty, reshaping itself after injuries or fresh experiences to keep you growing. This adaptability is your inner superhero, helping you bounce back stronger. AP Study Notes: Biological Bases of Behavior
  6. Review the Endocrine System - Meet glands like the adrenal (fight-or-flight fuel) and pituitary (the boss of hormones) that team up with your nervous system to keep your body in sync. Think of them as a backstage crew making sure the hormone show goes on without a hitch. AP Study Notes: Biological Bases of Behavior
  7. Familiarize with Genetics - Dive into how genes and chromosomal quirks (hello, Down's Syndrome) shape who we are, from quirks in eye color to predispositions in behavior. It's like reading the instruction manual behind your personal blueprint. AP Study Notes: Biological Bases of Behavior
  8. Learn Nervous System Divisions - Split the action into the central system (brain and spinal cord) and the peripheral system (somatic for moves, autonomic for autopilot). Think of them as the command center and the field agents keeping you alive and kicking. Quizlet: AP Psychology Unit 3 Flashcards
  9. Understand Sensation & Perception - Unpack concepts like absolute thresholds (your sensory "power-on" point) and adaptation (how your senses stop yelling at you about constant stimuli). It's the science behind why you notice your socks at first but soon forget they're even there. Course-Notes: Sensation & Perception Flashcards
  10. Study Hearing Mechanisms - Trace the journey of sound waves through the cochlea's spiral tunnels and up the auditory nerve to your brain's sound studio. This deep dive explains how your favorite song turns into neural beats you can't stop dancing to. Course-Notes: Sensation & Perception Flashcards
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