AP Psychology Quiz

Preparing for the AP Psychology exam? Try some practice questions to gauge your readiness!

AP Psychology Free Practice Question #1

Which philosopher is best known for his mind-body dualism?
A. Socrates
B. Aristotle
C. Descartes
D. Locke
E. Hume


C: René Descartes, (C), is best known for believing that the mind and the body were separate substances, a position known as mind-body dualism. None of the other choices advocated this position


AP Psychology Free Practice Question #2

A scientist wants to study the effects of exercise on dopamine levels in rats. In such an experiment, the dependent variable would be:
A. the group of rats made to exercise
B. the group of rats not made to exercise
C. amount of exercise
D. dopamine levels
E. the number of rats in the study


D: The dependent variable is the variable that is measured in the experiment. In this case, the dependent variable is dopamine levels, making (D) correct. (A) and (B) are incorrect because they are not variables, but rather the experimental group and control group, respectively. Amount of exercise is the independent variable, since it is manipulated in the experiment to determine its effects on dopamine levels; (C) is incorrect. (E) is also incorrect; the number of rats in the study represents the sample, not a variable.


AP Psychology Free Practice Question #3

Which of the following would be considered a negative symptom in a diagnosis of schizophrenia?
A. Delusions
B. Disorganized speech
C. Avolition
D. Catatonia
E. Hallucinations


C: Positive symptoms of schizophrenia include delusions, (A), disorganized speech, (B), catatonia, (D), and hallucinations, (E). Negative symptoms include decreased motivation, otherwise known as avolition, and disturbed affect. (C) is correct.


AP Psychology Free Practice Question #4

Research suggests that the capacity of short-term memory is:
A. 2±3 items
B. 5±1 items
C. 3±2 items
D. 9±2 items
E. 7±2 items


E: The capacity of short-term memory is approximately five to nine items, or seven plus or minus two. (E) is correct. The other choices do not represent the capacity demonstrated by several studies, most notably by Miller in 1956.


AP Psychology Free Practice Question #5

Which of the following would provide the most support for the Schachter-Singer theory of emotion?
A. An individual who is given a tranquilizer feels angry when the people around him act angry.
B. An individual who is given a dose of epinephrine feels angry when the people around him act angry.
C. A patient with a spinal cord injury exhibits a diminished level of emotion after her injuries compared to before.
D. A hiker simultaneously starts sweating and feeling scared when she encounters a bear in the woods.
E. A young man senses his heartbeat speeding up and concludes that he must be excited.


B: The Schachter-Singer theory states that emotional experience requires both the awareness and interpretation of your physiological arousal. Thus, (B) must be correct since the individual is experiencing an emotion that is consistent with both his physiological reaction to the dose of adrenaline and his interpretation of his environment. (A) is incorrect because a tranquilizer would cause a physiological reaction associated with calmness, not anger. (C) and (E) support the James-Lange theory of emotion, which says that emotional responses occur as a result of physiological arousal, making them incorrect. (D) would support the Cannon-Bard theory of emotion, which states that physiological arousal and emotional experience in response to a stimulus occur simultaneously, making it incorrect.


AP Psychology Free Practice Question #6

Which of the following would someone from a collectivist culture be LEAST likely to value?
A. Honesty
B. Family
C. Generosity
D. Unity
E. Assertiveness


E: For members of a collectivist culture, unity and group cohesiveness are highly important. As a result, qualities that set a person apart from others, such as (E), assertiveness, are less important. The other choices are values that are perfectly compatible with a collectivist culture.