Question

Read the scenario below and answer the question that follows. Ted is a high school student. He is very good at math, but he is not a very good English student. He likes all of his teachers; he thinks they are fair and want him to learn. On Tuesday, Ted was sitting in his English classroom, listening to his teacher’s lecture. The teacher asked the class a question. He called on Ted. Ted had not been paying attention. His palms began to sweat, and his heart rate increased. He felt embarrassed that he did not know the answer. On Wednesday, Ted was asked to answer another question in his math classroom. Even though this time he was listening and knew the answer, his palms began to sweat and his heart rate increased. Why did Ted’s palms sweat and heart rate increase on Wednesday?

Answer 1

Ted has develop a psychological anxiety where he associated being asked a question with embarrassment as what happen to his English class. This is why his palms are sweating and he experience palpitations or increase heart rate on Wednesday even if he is listening and know the answer.

Answer 2

On Wednesday, Ted was asked to answer another question in his math classroom. Even though this time he was listening and knew the answer, his palms began to sweat and his heart rate increased because Ted associated being asked a question with embarrassment.