AP Psychology Free Response Questions (FRQs) Sample Answers (1999-2019, 2021-23)
How to Answer FRQ questions:
Define (if possible or asked) and apply the terms using the exact words from the question.
Always answer FRQs in full sentences.
Most questions simply require that you apply the term. Applying the term means you
should explain the consequences, implications, or inferences that relate to the given person and
scenario.
For example,
Erica enters a new high school and is trying to make friends. Explain how positive
reinforcement could play a role in forming friendships. Definitions alone will NOT be scored.
Answer:
Positive reinforcement is when a behavior is strengthened (i.e., made more likely to
recur) or maintained because of the addition of a stimulus (this is the definition). If
Erica approaches a group of students who are looking at her, and if she smiles, says
hello, and acts in a courteous manner, then she will be more likely to form friendships
than if she avoids greeting them (this is the application of positive reinforcement in
the context of the question).
***Answers below are my own. Most answers are longer and go into slightly more detail than is
required for a perfect score.
You are allowed to paraphrase the examples I use below.
Good luck,
Anthony Bianco
, 1999 FRQs
1999 AP Psych Questions: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/apc/psych_99.pdf
Answers:
Question 1
A. Body and brain chemistry contribute to a person’s eating habits and body weight;
hormones and neurotransmitters influence hunger and satiety (i.e., feeling full). For
example, if Tiffany’s lateral or ventromedial hypothalamus is overactive or lesioned (i.e.,
damaged), then her body’s endocrine system – glands that secrete hormones such as
insulin, glucagon, leptin – will cause maladaptive eating habits, and her weight will be
affected.
The way a person’s brain is structured contributes to their eating habits and body
weight because specific brain areas regulate hunger and satiety. Damage to Tiffany’s
lateral hypothalamus will cause her to stop eating. Conversely, damage to Tiffany’s
ventromedial hypothalamus will cause her to overeat.
Genetics contribute to a person’s eating habits and body weight because specific
genes determine the body’s structure and function of body organs that influence eating
behavior. If, for example, Tiffany has a recessive gene that causes part of the brain to
produce more or less of some chemical involved in hunger and satiety (insulin, glucagon,
leptin), then she will have an abnormal eating habits and trouble with her weight.
Reinforcement is the strengthening or maintenance of a behavior by the addition
of stimulus. Specific foods contain high amounts of sugar and fat. These are primary
reinforcers, meaning that the consumption of these foods allows humans to survive, thus
making Tiffany experience a brief period of euphoria during consumption. If Tiffany
continually eats foods high in sugar and fat, then the positive reinforcement she receives
, (i.e., euphoria felt during eating sugar and fats) may alter her eating habits; she may seek
out foods high in sugar and fat content more often; and thus, her weight will change.
Modeling is the observation and imitation of others’ behavior. If Tiffany sees
those around her eating foods high in sugar and fat, for example ice cream, then she
might begin to eat such foods.
Cultural factors contribute to eating habits and weight by indicating to people
what norms (what is standard, typical) and mores (customs, conventions) are acceptable,
unacceptable, and ideal. For example, if Tiffany lives in a society that idolizes women
with a slim figure, then she may adjust her eating habits to try to conform to that model.
B. The implications of genetics on eating habits for weight management may be that if
medical professionals can identity genes that influence eating behavior, then they can
intervene with medical and behavioral therapies to mediate the effects of the genes. For
example, if genetic consulting reveals that Tiffany has a gene that alters the levels of
insulin or glucagon, then medical professionals can administer appropriate therapies.
The implications of cultural factors on eating habits and weight are that if a
culture promotes a specific body ideal for men and women, then eating habits will change
according to that model. If, for example, Tiffany moves to a culture that promotes a
healthy body image for women, then her eating habits and weight will change
accordingly.
Question 2
A. A schema is a mental representation or framework. For example, one may develop a
schema for what a bird looks like: has a beak, feathers, flies, three “toes.” A schema
helps explain the perceptions of most participants in the study because these participants
, probably have encoded experiences – their own, observed, or vicariously – of men as
perpetrators of aggression against women.
Retroactive interference is when old information is forgotten or distorted due to
learning new information. For example, learning the name of a new colleague might
intervene with the recall of another colleague’s name one learned the day before. The
photographs shown to participants after they had seen the photograph of the man being
shouted at by the women may have distorted participants’ memory of what was
happening in first photograph.
The representativeness heuristic is the phenomenon where one estimates the
likelihood of some event by comparing previous examples one has seen or heard about to
the current example. Since men have been, rightly or wrongly, portrayed as perpetrators
of aggression against women in media – participants might, when asked about the first
photo they saw – compare what they have seen and heard about in the past with the
fragments of the photograph in their mind, and erroneously conclude that the man is the
aggressor in the photograph.
Confirmation bias is searching for information that confirms one’s beliefs instead
of trying to find evidence that refutes one’s beliefs. The participants may focus on how
the man who is seated on the park bench in the photo seems to be strong and masculine,
and conclude that from his strength and masculinity that he is acting aggressively to
woman in the photograph – instead of focusing on the women’s actions in the
photograph.
Framing refers to how attitudes and behaviors can change depending on the way
information is presented. If, for example, the participants were asked a question such as,
How to Answer FRQ questions:
Define (if possible or asked) and apply the terms using the exact words from the question.
Always answer FRQs in full sentences.
Most questions simply require that you apply the term. Applying the term means you
should explain the consequences, implications, or inferences that relate to the given person and
scenario.
For example,
Erica enters a new high school and is trying to make friends. Explain how positive
reinforcement could play a role in forming friendships. Definitions alone will NOT be scored.
Answer:
Positive reinforcement is when a behavior is strengthened (i.e., made more likely to
recur) or maintained because of the addition of a stimulus (this is the definition). If
Erica approaches a group of students who are looking at her, and if she smiles, says
hello, and acts in a courteous manner, then she will be more likely to form friendships
than if she avoids greeting them (this is the application of positive reinforcement in
the context of the question).
***Answers below are my own. Most answers are longer and go into slightly more detail than is
required for a perfect score.
You are allowed to paraphrase the examples I use below.
Good luck,
Anthony Bianco
, 1999 FRQs
1999 AP Psych Questions: https://secure-media.collegeboard.org/apc/psych_99.pdf
Answers:
Question 1
A. Body and brain chemistry contribute to a person’s eating habits and body weight;
hormones and neurotransmitters influence hunger and satiety (i.e., feeling full). For
example, if Tiffany’s lateral or ventromedial hypothalamus is overactive or lesioned (i.e.,
damaged), then her body’s endocrine system – glands that secrete hormones such as
insulin, glucagon, leptin – will cause maladaptive eating habits, and her weight will be
affected.
The way a person’s brain is structured contributes to their eating habits and body
weight because specific brain areas regulate hunger and satiety. Damage to Tiffany’s
lateral hypothalamus will cause her to stop eating. Conversely, damage to Tiffany’s
ventromedial hypothalamus will cause her to overeat.
Genetics contribute to a person’s eating habits and body weight because specific
genes determine the body’s structure and function of body organs that influence eating
behavior. If, for example, Tiffany has a recessive gene that causes part of the brain to
produce more or less of some chemical involved in hunger and satiety (insulin, glucagon,
leptin), then she will have an abnormal eating habits and trouble with her weight.
Reinforcement is the strengthening or maintenance of a behavior by the addition
of stimulus. Specific foods contain high amounts of sugar and fat. These are primary
reinforcers, meaning that the consumption of these foods allows humans to survive, thus
making Tiffany experience a brief period of euphoria during consumption. If Tiffany
continually eats foods high in sugar and fat, then the positive reinforcement she receives
, (i.e., euphoria felt during eating sugar and fats) may alter her eating habits; she may seek
out foods high in sugar and fat content more often; and thus, her weight will change.
Modeling is the observation and imitation of others’ behavior. If Tiffany sees
those around her eating foods high in sugar and fat, for example ice cream, then she
might begin to eat such foods.
Cultural factors contribute to eating habits and weight by indicating to people
what norms (what is standard, typical) and mores (customs, conventions) are acceptable,
unacceptable, and ideal. For example, if Tiffany lives in a society that idolizes women
with a slim figure, then she may adjust her eating habits to try to conform to that model.
B. The implications of genetics on eating habits for weight management may be that if
medical professionals can identity genes that influence eating behavior, then they can
intervene with medical and behavioral therapies to mediate the effects of the genes. For
example, if genetic consulting reveals that Tiffany has a gene that alters the levels of
insulin or glucagon, then medical professionals can administer appropriate therapies.
The implications of cultural factors on eating habits and weight are that if a
culture promotes a specific body ideal for men and women, then eating habits will change
according to that model. If, for example, Tiffany moves to a culture that promotes a
healthy body image for women, then her eating habits and weight will change
accordingly.
Question 2
A. A schema is a mental representation or framework. For example, one may develop a
schema for what a bird looks like: has a beak, feathers, flies, three “toes.” A schema
helps explain the perceptions of most participants in the study because these participants
, probably have encoded experiences – their own, observed, or vicariously – of men as
perpetrators of aggression against women.
Retroactive interference is when old information is forgotten or distorted due to
learning new information. For example, learning the name of a new colleague might
intervene with the recall of another colleague’s name one learned the day before. The
photographs shown to participants after they had seen the photograph of the man being
shouted at by the women may have distorted participants’ memory of what was
happening in first photograph.
The representativeness heuristic is the phenomenon where one estimates the
likelihood of some event by comparing previous examples one has seen or heard about to
the current example. Since men have been, rightly or wrongly, portrayed as perpetrators
of aggression against women in media – participants might, when asked about the first
photo they saw – compare what they have seen and heard about in the past with the
fragments of the photograph in their mind, and erroneously conclude that the man is the
aggressor in the photograph.
Confirmation bias is searching for information that confirms one’s beliefs instead
of trying to find evidence that refutes one’s beliefs. The participants may focus on how
the man who is seated on the park bench in the photo seems to be strong and masculine,
and conclude that from his strength and masculinity that he is acting aggressively to
woman in the photograph – instead of focusing on the women’s actions in the
photograph.
Framing refers to how attitudes and behaviors can change depending on the way
information is presented. If, for example, the participants were asked a question such as,
