AP AP Psychology & Human Behavior 3

Question 1

In classical conditioning, what term describes the previously neutral stimulus that, after repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to elicit a response on its own?

Accepted Answer

Conditioned stimulus (CS)

Answer

The conditioned stimulus begins as neutral but acquires the ability to trigger a response after being repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus.

Question 2

B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning holds that behaviors are strengthened or weakened primarily by:

Accepted Answer

Consequences such as reinforcement and punishment

Answer

Operant conditioning shows that behaviors followed by rewarding consequences increase in frequency, while those followed by punishment decrease.

Question 3

The serial position effect in memory shows that recall is best for items presented:

Accepted Answer

At the beginning and at the end of a list

Answer

The primacy effect (first items enter long-term memory) and recency effect (last items remain in working memory) together produce superior recall for both ends of a list.

Question 4

Stanley Milgram's obedience studies found that, when ordered by an authority figure, approximately what proportion of participants administered what they believed to be the maximum dangerous shock?

Accepted Answer

About 2 in 3 participants (65%)

Answer

Milgram found that about 65% of participants followed orders to deliver the maximum shock, revealing a powerful tendency to obey legitimate authority.

Question 5

Cognitive dissonance, as described by Leon Festinger, is the discomfort experienced when:

Accepted Answer

A person holds contradictory beliefs or acts against their own attitudes

Answer

Cognitive dissonance occurs when attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent, motivating people to reduce the conflict by changing a belief or rationalizing the behavior.

AP - Advanced Placement Test Practice Test

AP - Advanced Placement Test Practice Test

AP AP Psychology & Human Behavior 3