VCE Psychology Question Thread!

[sdfg]

Hi, was wondering why the answer to this question is B. I thought it would be D.

Thanks!

Think of responses as exchanges with the environment; the environment gives something to the body (in the form of sensory stimuli) and the body gives something back (usually to influence the stimulus in some way), such as moving a hand. The FFF response doesn't 'give back' anything so it's therefore not a response, conscious or unconscious.

B is the most correct answer (A and C aren't correct because they don't make sense).

[rani_b]

Think of responses as exchanges with the environment; the environment gives something to the body (in the form of sensory stimuli) and the body gives something back (usually to influence the stimulus in some way), such as moving a hand. The FFF response doesn't 'give back' anything so it's therefore not a response, conscious or unconscious.

B is the most correct answer (A and C aren't correct because they don't make sense).

Isn't the fight-flight-freeze a response to a stressor? The textbook states "without our awareness or conscious control, our body instantly responds by automatically activating the fight– flight–freeze response." I still don't understand why the answer is B, because it says a series of three specific reactions that occur independently, but I though the fight-flight-freeze was read as fight OR flight OR freeze, meaning they do not all occur?

[sdfg]

Isn't the fight-flight-freeze a response to a stressor? The textbook states "without our awareness or conscious control, our body instantly responds by automatically activating the fight– flight–freeze response." I still don't understand why the answer is B, because it says a series of three specific reactions that occur independently, but I though the fight-flight-freeze was read as fight OR flight OR freeze, meaning they do not all occur?

In psychology, no, it isn't a response for the reasons I've stated above. It does react to the stressor but there's no exchange with the external environment and stressful stimuli. Also, the FFF response may be read as fight OR flight OR freeze to indicate that you can enter any stage is response to a stressor, not to suggest that they occur with one another (because they don't - wouldn't make sense anyway because they'll just cancel each other out).

[sarangiya]

My thoughts were that it could be placing importance on the part that the "fight-flight-freeze response" isn't the same reaction every time, but rather a reaction that manifests in three separate forms: a confrontation, a retreat, or a state of "lying low".
Where is this question from though?
I think it's too ambiguous to be VCAA - I'd be surprised if it were.

[Bri MT]

Hi, was wondering why the answer to this question is B. I thought it would be D.

Thanks!

imo this is a bad question.

I think the angle that the writers are coming from is that they want you to understand that you don't fight, flight AND freeze - they are seperate responses.

(They don't mean series in a sequential sense)

[rani_b]

My thoughts were that it could be placing importance on the part that the "fight-flight-freeze response" isn't the same reaction every time, but rather a reaction that manifests in three separate forms: a confrontation, a retreat, or a state of "lying low".
Where is this question from though?
I think it's too ambiguous to be VCAA - I'd be surprised if it were.

It's from the textbook, the end of chapter tests.

[rani_b]

imo this is a bad question.

I think the angle that the writers are coming from is that they want you to understand that you don't fight, flight AND freeze - they are seperate responses.

(They don't mean series in a sequential sense)

Ok, thanks!

[sarangiya]

It's from the textbook, the end of chapter tests.

Jac?
I personally find the Jacaranda textbook questions really bad representations of the exam. They might be a decent test of the textbook content but I don't think those type of questions are VCAA-style at all.
I'd put little importance on those questions.

[ardria]

From the Jacranda Psychology 3/4 textbook:

1)
A neurotransmitter will have its effect when it...

A. reaches an axon terminal.
B. binds to its receptor.
C. contacts a dendrite.
D. enters the synapse.

Why is the answer A and not B?

I answered B because neurotransmitters only have any effect on the target tissue/neuron if it successfully binds to its receptor.



2)
The peripheral nervous system transmits information between the _____ and the _____.
A. central nervous system; spinal cord
B. spinal cord; muscles, organs and glands
C. sensory receptors, muscles, organs and glands; central nervous system
D. somatic nervous system; muscles, organs and glands

Why is the answer B and not C?


Can't figure these answers out! Thanks

[sdfg]

From the Jacranda Psychology 3/4 textbook:

A neurotransmitter will have its effect when it...

B. reaches an axon terminal.
C. binds to its receptor.
C. contacts a dendrite.
D. enters the synapse.

Why is the answer B and not C?

I answered C because neurotransmitters only have any effect on the target tissue/neuron if it successfully binds to its receptor.

Thanks

Answer's wrong. You're correct.

2)
The peripheral nervous system transmits information between the _____ and the _____.
A. central nervous system; spinal cord
B. spinal cord; muscles, organs and glands
C. sensory receptors, muscles, organs and glands; central nervous system
D. somatic nervous system; muscles, organs and glands

Why is the answer B and not C?

This is a pretty crappy question imo, but I'm going to assume because B is more correct than C? C sort of implies that there's no sequential processes in which information is transferred within the nervous system, which there are.

[ardria]

C sort of implies that there's no sequential processes in which information is transferred within the nervous system, which there are.

Thanks for answering, what do you mean by this though?

[sdfg]

Thanks for answering, what do you mean by this though?

C doesn't acknowledge that information first has to go through the spinal cord before it can reach the brain, and that afferent pathways exist between the spinal cord and sensory receptors.

[KiNSKi01]

Could someone please explain the difference between interpreting a situation as either 'irrelevant' or 'benign positive' in primary appraisal!

Also, in primary appraisal if a situation is deemed to be stressful, can someone experience eustress or distress even if the stressful situation is deemed to be harm/loss or threat?

cheers 

[sarangiya]

Could someone please explain the difference between interpreting a situation as either 'irrelevant' or 'benign positive' in primary appraisal!

There are two levels to primary appraisal. One is assessing the situation, and then the consequent level is assessing what impact that situation may have.
So the irrelevant/benign-positive/stressful is the first level.
> If the situation doesn't affect the individual, it is irrelevant.
> If the situation is positive for the individual, but not stressful, (idk like someone smiling at you or something lol), then it is benign-positive.
> Stressful, of course, is self-explanatory.

The second level only occurs if the situation is assessed as stressful, at which stage the impact of the situation is evaluated.
> If the harm is thought to probably occur in the future, it is a threat
> If the impact causes opportunity for growth or is perceived as positive, it is a challenge
> If the harm has already occurred, it is considered harm-loss

Also, in primary appraisal if a situation is deemed to be stressful, can someone experience eustress or distress even if the stressful situation is deemed to be harm/loss or threat?

cheers 

In secondary appraisal, availability of resources to cope are assessed.

If there are sufficient resources, eustress can be experienced even in the face of harm/loss or threat. This is because one feels an ability to cope, and the situation will usually be reassessed through reappraisal and be a irrelevant (coped with it, not my problem now), or a challenge (I can cope with this).

On the other hand, of course, if there are insufficient resources to cope, then distress is usually experienced. Reappraisal will loop because the stressor has not been coped with.

Good luck!

[KiNSKi01]

Thank you so much sarangiya!!