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Free Psychology practice questions
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Distinguish between the roles of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system in responding to a sudden threat.
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2 marks for the sympathetic division: activates the body for action ('fight-flight-freeze'), e.g. increases heart rate, redirects blood to skeletal muscles, releases adrenaline. 2 marks for the parasympathetic division: returns the body to a calm, balanced (homeostatic) state after the threat passes, e.g. slows heart rate and restores digestion. Full marks require an explicit contrast between activation and restoration.
Explain, using the General Adaptation Syndrome, what happens to a student's resistance to stress if a demanding assessment period continues for several weeks without relief.
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1 mark for naming the model (Selye's GAS) and its three stages: alarm reaction, resistance, exhaustion. 1 mark for alarm: initial drop in resistance below normal, then a sharp rise as cortisol is released. 1 mark for resistance: resistance stays above normal as the body copes, but resources are gradually depleted. 1 mark for exhaustion: with no relief, resistance falls below normal and the student becomes vulnerable to illness, fatigue and reduced performance.
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