AP® Psychology Exploring Key Concepts
Through Scenarios
This study guide breaks down the 2024 AP® Psychology Free-Response Questions
(Set 1) to help you understand and apply core psychological concepts. Let's dive in
Question 1: Gavin's Museum Adventure
This question explores various psychological concepts through the scenario of
Gavin's visit to a science museum.
Part A: Developmental Psychology and Attachment
1. Explain how Jean Piaget’s concept of assimilation could relate to
Gavin’s experience with the glass marble.
o Answer: Assimilation is the process of incorporating new information
or experiences into existing cognitive schemas. Gavin has likely
encountered smaller balls before and understands that they can
bounce. When he encounters the large glass marble, he might try to
bounce it, assimilating this new object into his existing "bouncing
ball" schema. He's trying to fit the new experience into his current
understanding of the world.
2. Explain how egocentrism could relate to how Gavin interacted with his
grandmother in the car.
o Answer: Egocentrism, in Piaget's theory, is the preoperational child's
difficulty in understanding that other people have different
perspectives from their own. When Gavin talks to his grandmother
about his picture, he might assume that she sees it and understands its
significance in the same way he does. He might not consider that she
doesn't have the picture in front of her and therefore can't see the
colorful exhibits he's describing. His conversation might lack detail or
context that would be obvious to someone who had been at the
museum, reflecting his egocentric viewpoint.
3. Explain how avoidant attachment could relate to Gavin when he was
separated from his parents.
o Answer: Avoidant attachment is a style characterized by a child's lack
of distress when separated from their caregiver and a lack of seeking
contact upon reunion. If Gavin displayed avoidant attachment, when
, he was separated from his parents, he might not have shown
significant distress. Upon their return, he might have avoided seeking
comfort or contact with them, acting somewhat independently and
emotionally distant.
Part B: Memory, Brain Function, and Perception
4. Explain how the serial position effect could relate to Gavin in this
scenario.
o Answer: The serial position effect describes the tendency to
remember items at the beginning (primacy effect) and end (recency
effect) of a list better than items in the middle. If Gavin were trying to
recall the exhibits he saw at the museum later that night or the next
day, he might have the clearest memories of the first few exhibits he
encountered and the last few he saw. The exhibits in the middle of his
exploration might be harder for him to remember.
5. Explain how the motor cortex could relate to Gavin in this scenario.
o Answer: The motor cortex, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible
for planning, control, and execution of voluntary movements. When
Gavin grabbed the large marble and tried to bounce it, his motor
cortex was actively involved in coordinating the muscle movements
in his hand and arm to grasp and attempt to bounce the marble. Later,
when he drew a picture of the exhibits, his motor cortex controlled the
fine motor skills required to hold the crayon and create the drawing.
6. Explain how a cognitive map could relate to Gavin in this scenario.
o Answer: A cognitive map is a mental representation of the layout of
one's environment. As Gavin explored the science museum, he would
have been forming a cognitive map of the different exhibits and their
locations relative to each other. This mental representation would
have helped him navigate the museum and potentially contributed to
his ability to recall aspects of his visit later when drawing the picture
or talking about it.
7. Explain how cones in the retina could relate to Gavin in this scenario.
o Answer: Cones are photoreceptor cells located in the retina that are
responsible for color vision and function best in bright light
conditions. When Gavin was at the science museum, the cones in his
retina were crucial for perceiving the vibrant colors of the exhibits,
including the colorful picture he later drew. They allowed him to see
the different hues and details that made the museum visually
stimulating.
Through Scenarios
This study guide breaks down the 2024 AP® Psychology Free-Response Questions
(Set 1) to help you understand and apply core psychological concepts. Let's dive in
Question 1: Gavin's Museum Adventure
This question explores various psychological concepts through the scenario of
Gavin's visit to a science museum.
Part A: Developmental Psychology and Attachment
1. Explain how Jean Piaget’s concept of assimilation could relate to
Gavin’s experience with the glass marble.
o Answer: Assimilation is the process of incorporating new information
or experiences into existing cognitive schemas. Gavin has likely
encountered smaller balls before and understands that they can
bounce. When he encounters the large glass marble, he might try to
bounce it, assimilating this new object into his existing "bouncing
ball" schema. He's trying to fit the new experience into his current
understanding of the world.
2. Explain how egocentrism could relate to how Gavin interacted with his
grandmother in the car.
o Answer: Egocentrism, in Piaget's theory, is the preoperational child's
difficulty in understanding that other people have different
perspectives from their own. When Gavin talks to his grandmother
about his picture, he might assume that she sees it and understands its
significance in the same way he does. He might not consider that she
doesn't have the picture in front of her and therefore can't see the
colorful exhibits he's describing. His conversation might lack detail or
context that would be obvious to someone who had been at the
museum, reflecting his egocentric viewpoint.
3. Explain how avoidant attachment could relate to Gavin when he was
separated from his parents.
o Answer: Avoidant attachment is a style characterized by a child's lack
of distress when separated from their caregiver and a lack of seeking
contact upon reunion. If Gavin displayed avoidant attachment, when
, he was separated from his parents, he might not have shown
significant distress. Upon their return, he might have avoided seeking
comfort or contact with them, acting somewhat independently and
emotionally distant.
Part B: Memory, Brain Function, and Perception
4. Explain how the serial position effect could relate to Gavin in this
scenario.
o Answer: The serial position effect describes the tendency to
remember items at the beginning (primacy effect) and end (recency
effect) of a list better than items in the middle. If Gavin were trying to
recall the exhibits he saw at the museum later that night or the next
day, he might have the clearest memories of the first few exhibits he
encountered and the last few he saw. The exhibits in the middle of his
exploration might be harder for him to remember.
5. Explain how the motor cortex could relate to Gavin in this scenario.
o Answer: The motor cortex, located in the frontal lobe, is responsible
for planning, control, and execution of voluntary movements. When
Gavin grabbed the large marble and tried to bounce it, his motor
cortex was actively involved in coordinating the muscle movements
in his hand and arm to grasp and attempt to bounce the marble. Later,
when he drew a picture of the exhibits, his motor cortex controlled the
fine motor skills required to hold the crayon and create the drawing.
6. Explain how a cognitive map could relate to Gavin in this scenario.
o Answer: A cognitive map is a mental representation of the layout of
one's environment. As Gavin explored the science museum, he would
have been forming a cognitive map of the different exhibits and their
locations relative to each other. This mental representation would
have helped him navigate the museum and potentially contributed to
his ability to recall aspects of his visit later when drawing the picture
or talking about it.
7. Explain how cones in the retina could relate to Gavin in this scenario.
o Answer: Cones are photoreceptor cells located in the retina that are
responsible for color vision and function best in bright light
conditions. When Gavin was at the science museum, the cones in his
retina were crucial for perceiving the vibrant colors of the exhibits,
including the colorful picture he later drew. They allowed him to see
the different hues and details that made the museum visually
stimulating.
