AP Psychology Exam Review Questions and
Correct Answers
Question 1
EEG (electroencephalogram)
Correct Answer
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the
brain's surface. Helps diagnose brain disorders.
Question 2
brain plasticity
Correct Answer
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after
damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Question 3
visual cliff
Correct Answer
a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals
Question 4
mnemonic devices
Correct Answer
memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational
devices
Page 1 of 152
,Question 5
reaction formation
Correct Answer
Defense mechanism by which people behave in a way opposite to what their true
but anxiety-provoking feelings would dictate.
Question 6
memory consolidation
Correct Answer
the gradual, physical process of converting new long-term memories to stable,
enduring memory codes
Question 7
stimulus generalization
Correct Answer
the tendency to respond to a stimulus that is only similar to the original conditioned
stimulus with the conditioned response
Question 8
self-report bias
Correct Answer
Inaccuracies or distortions in responses to surveys or questionnaires due to factors
such as social desirability, memory recall, or misunderstanding of questions.
Question 9
resting potential
Correct Answer
the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse
Page 2 of 152
,Question 10
foot-in-the door phenomenon
Correct Answer
the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later
with a larger request
Question 11
texture gradient
Correct Answer
a gradual change from a coarse, distinct texture to a fine, indistinct texture signals
increasing distance. Objects far away appear smaller and more densely packed.
Question 12
amplitude
Correct Answer
Height of a wave (great amplitude = loud sounds; small amplitude = soft sounds)
Question 13
functional fixedness
Correct Answer
the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions; an
impediment to problem solving
Question 14
Law of effect
Correct Answer
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become
more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less
likely
Page 3 of 152
, Question 15
primary sex characteristics
Correct Answer
the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual
reproduction possible
Question 16
parallel play
Correct Answer
activity in which children play side by side without interacting
Question 17
antisocial behavior
Correct Answer
actions that are deliberately hurtful or destructive to another person
Question 18
projective tests
Correct Answer
a personality test, such as the Rorschach or TAT, that provides ambiguous stimuli to
trigger projection of one's inner thoughts and feelings
Question 19
apparent motion
Correct Answer
the perception of movement when a series of stationary images or stimuli are
presented in rapid succession, creating the illusion of continuous motion
Page 4 of 152
Correct Answers
Question 1
EEG (electroencephalogram)
Correct Answer
An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the
brain's surface. Helps diagnose brain disorders.
Question 2
brain plasticity
Correct Answer
the brain's ability to change, especially during childhood, by reorganizing after
damage or by building new pathways based on experience
Question 3
visual cliff
Correct Answer
a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals
Question 4
mnemonic devices
Correct Answer
memory aids, especially those techniques that use vivid imagery and organizational
devices
Page 1 of 152
,Question 5
reaction formation
Correct Answer
Defense mechanism by which people behave in a way opposite to what their true
but anxiety-provoking feelings would dictate.
Question 6
memory consolidation
Correct Answer
the gradual, physical process of converting new long-term memories to stable,
enduring memory codes
Question 7
stimulus generalization
Correct Answer
the tendency to respond to a stimulus that is only similar to the original conditioned
stimulus with the conditioned response
Question 8
self-report bias
Correct Answer
Inaccuracies or distortions in responses to surveys or questionnaires due to factors
such as social desirability, memory recall, or misunderstanding of questions.
Question 9
resting potential
Correct Answer
the state of the neuron when not firing a neural impulse
Page 2 of 152
,Question 10
foot-in-the door phenomenon
Correct Answer
the tendency for people who have first agreed to a small request to comply later
with a larger request
Question 11
texture gradient
Correct Answer
a gradual change from a coarse, distinct texture to a fine, indistinct texture signals
increasing distance. Objects far away appear smaller and more densely packed.
Question 12
amplitude
Correct Answer
Height of a wave (great amplitude = loud sounds; small amplitude = soft sounds)
Question 13
functional fixedness
Correct Answer
the tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions; an
impediment to problem solving
Question 14
Law of effect
Correct Answer
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become
more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less
likely
Page 3 of 152
, Question 15
primary sex characteristics
Correct Answer
the body structures (ovaries, testes, and external genitalia) that make sexual
reproduction possible
Question 16
parallel play
Correct Answer
activity in which children play side by side without interacting
Question 17
antisocial behavior
Correct Answer
actions that are deliberately hurtful or destructive to another person
Question 18
projective tests
Correct Answer
a personality test, such as the Rorschach or TAT, that provides ambiguous stimuli to
trigger projection of one's inner thoughts and feelings
Question 19
apparent motion
Correct Answer
the perception of movement when a series of stationary images or stimuli are
presented in rapid succession, creating the illusion of continuous motion
Page 4 of 152
