AP Psychology Practice Test

What does the social-cultural perspective examine?

1. How behavior and thinking vary across cultures and situations

2. The differences between human and animal cognition

3. The impact of pharmaceuticals on behavior

4. The genetic basis for social behaviors

The correct answer is: How behavior and thinking vary across cultures and situations

The social-cultural perspective examines how behavior and thinking vary across cultures and situations, which is crucial for understanding human psychology. This approach emphasizes the influence of social interactions, cultural norms, and societal expectations on an individual's behaviors and thought processes. It recognizes that psychological phenomena are not universal but can differ significantly across different cultural contexts, highlighting the importance of situational factors and cultural backgrounds in shaping human experience. The other options focus on either the biological aspects of psychology, such as genetics and animal cognition, or the effects of pharmaceuticals, which do not align with the primary focus of the social-cultural perspective. By contrasting human and animal cognition, for instance, one would be looking at cognitive psychology rather than the social influences that the social-cultural perspective considers. Similarly, the implications of pharmaceuticals and genetics do not address the variability in behavior and thought processes tied specifically to culture and context.