Interaction of Heredity and Environment

Interaction of Heredity and Environment is topic 1.1 of AP Psychology, inside Biological Bases of Behavior. This page works through three real practice questions on it, with the full reasoning behind each credited answer.

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38 questionsConcept Application100% with a figure
Worked examples

Three real interaction of heredity and environment questions

From the practice pool, not the mock papers — each with the reasoning that produces the answer.

100% of them come with a figure. Reading the graph or diagram correctly is most of the work here before any content knowledge applies.

71% test a single AP skill: Concept Application. That makes this topic unusually predictable to prepare for.

Concept Application · with figure

Two adolescents have a family history of anxiety. One attends a school with predictable routines and supportive adults; the other changes schools twice in a year and reports frequent conflict at home. Only the second adolescent begins avoiding classes. Which explanation is most consistent with the pattern?

  1. AInherited vulnerability can be expressed differently when daily surroundings differ.correct
  2. BMaturation alone determines whether emotional behavior changes over time.
  3. CSensory receptors become less responsive after repeated exposure to the same stimulus.
  4. DRandom assignment is required before a behavior can be described scientifically.
Why A is correct

The best answer explains why similar inherited risk can lead to different behavior when environments differ.

heredity-environment interaction explains the evidence in "Two adolescents have a family history of anxiety.". The credited option, "Inherited vulnerability can be expressed differently when daily surroundings differ", is supported because The scenario combines a shared family risk with different environmental conditions, so an interaction account is appropriate. "Maturation alone determines whether emotional behavior changes over time" is a real-looking alternative, but Maturation would focus on age-linked biological change, not different surroundings for adolescents with similar risk; "Sensory receptors become less responsive after repeated exposure to the same..." also fails because Sensory adaptation concerns reduced receptor response, not the onset of avoidance behavior. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Concept Application · with figure

Two adolescents are adopted into different homes. Both later score high on thrill seeking despite different schools and neighborhoods. Which explanation best fits the similarity?

  1. AGenetic influencecorrect
  2. BAbsolute threshold
  3. CGroup polarization
  4. DNegative reinforcement
Why A is correct

The scenario asks why a behavioral tendency is similar across different environments.

heredity-environment interaction is the mechanism that makes "Two adolescents are adopted into different homes." coherent. The credited option, "Genetic influence", is supported because The similarity across different rearing contexts is consistent with inherited influence on variation. "Absolute threshold" is a real-looking alternative, but No weakest detectable sensory input is being measured; "Group polarization" also fails because No discussion among like-minded people is described. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

Concept Application · with figure

A child who is naturally cautious receives more patient explanations from adults, which further increases the child's careful approach to new tasks. Which pattern best explains the loop?

  1. AEvocative gene-environment correlationcorrect
  2. BOpponent-process theory
  3. CSelf-actualization
  4. DFixed-interval responding
Why A is correct

The child's tendency evokes environmental responses.

correlation explains the evidence in "A child who is naturally cautious receives more patient explanations from adults, which further increases the...". The credited option, "Evocative gene-environment correlation", is supported because A genetically influenced tendency can draw responses from others that shape later behavior. "Fixed-interval responding" is a real-looking alternative, but No time-based reward schedule is described; "Opponent-process theory" also fails because No color perception afterimage is described. The aim is to connect the concrete evidence to the psychological mechanism, then reject choices that shift the process, time frame, or research logic away from the scenario pattern.

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Last reviewed 2026-08-28. Topic and unit names follow the College Board course framework. Question counts describe the PrepScore practice bank, not the exam.
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