AP Psychology Quiz: Hunger, Learned Preferences, and Environmental Cues

📚 Quick Study Guide

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• Hunger Signals: Physiological signals like stomach contractions, low glucose levels, and hormones (ghrelin, leptin, PYY) influence hunger.
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• Brain Regions: The hypothalamus (lateral and ventromedial) plays a crucial role in regulating hunger and satiety.
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• Set Point Theory: The body attempts to maintain a specific weight range. When weight deviates, the body adjusts metabolism and hunger levels.
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• Learned Preferences: Taste preferences are influenced by exposure, cultural norms, and conditioning (e.g., associating certain foods with positive experiences).
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• Environmental Cues: External factors like the availability of food, portion sizes, and social settings can trigger eating behavior.
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• Classical Conditioning: Environmental cues can become associated with eating through classical conditioning, leading to hunger even when not physiologically needed. For example, seeing a commercial for pizza might make you hungry.
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• Operant Conditioning: Eating can be reinforced by its consequences (e.g., feeling satisfied), leading to increased consumption in certain environments.

Practice Quiz

1. Which hormone is primarily responsible for stimulating appetite?
1. A) Leptin
2. B) Insulin
3. C) Ghrelin
4. D) PYY
2. The lateral hypothalamus is associated with:
1. A) Inhibiting hunger
2. B) Stimulating hunger
3. C) Regulating body temperature
4. D) Releasing growth hormones
3. What does the set point theory suggest?
1. A) Body weight is solely determined by genetics.
2. B) The body attempts to maintain a specific weight range.
3. C) Hunger is purely psychological.
4. D) Metabolism is constant and unchanging.
4. A child who prefers salty snacks over sweet ones is demonstrating:
1. A) A genetic predisposition
2. B) An eating disorder
3. C) A learned preference
4. D) A metabolic imbalance
5. Seeing a McDonald's sign and feeling hungry, even if you recently ate, is an example of:
1. A) Homeostasis
2. B) Classical conditioning
3. C) Operant conditioning
4. D) Cognitive dissonance
6. Which environmental cue is most likely to increase food consumption?
1. A) Small portion sizes
2. B) Limited food variety
3. C) Large portion sizes
4. D) Unattractive food presentation
7. Which hormone signals satiety and reduces appetite?
1. A) Ghrelin
2. B) Cortisol
3. C) Leptin
4. D) Insulin