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Jim is unsure whether he wants to take the AP® psychology exam. He has developed a mental list of pros and cons to help determine whether he should take it.

(a) Explain how the following could help Jim make a decision. Be sure to relate your answers to the content of the situation.


• Yerkes-Dodson law

• Extrinsic motivation

• Self-efficacy beliefs

• Conformity

• Obedience


(b) One of the reasons Jim doesn’t want to take the exam is that he believes he has test anxiety. He states that he experiences feelings of sickness, shaky hands, and headaches when he sits down to a test. How could the following terms and theories explain Jim’s interpretation of symptoms associated with taking a test?


• Lazarus’s cognitive mediational theory of emotion

• Hans Selye’s General Adaptation Syndrome: Alarm Stage/Resistive Stage/Exhaustion Stage

• Positive psychology

User Bengel
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Answer:

(a)

• Yerkes-Dodson law: The Yerkes-Dodson law states that performance on a task is related to the level of arousal, with an optimal level of arousal leading to optimal performance. Jim can use this law to help him decide whether to take the AP psychology exam by considering his level of arousal and how it affects his performance on tests.

• Extrinsic motivation: Extrinsic motivation refers to performing an activity for external rewards, such as grades or praise. Jim can use this concept to weigh the pros and cons of taking the exam. If the external rewards of taking the exam outweigh the costs, he may be more motivated to take the exam.

• Self-efficacy beliefs: Self-efficacy beliefs refer to an individual's beliefs in their ability to perform a specific task. Jim can use this concept to determine whether he has the confidence to perform well on the exam. If he has high self-efficacy beliefs, he may be more likely to take the exam.

• Conformity: Conformity refers to the tendency to conform to social norms or expectations. Jim can use this concept to consider whether he feels pressure to take the exam because of social norms or expectations. If he feels pressure to conform, he may be more likely to take the exam.

• Obedience: Obedience refers to following instructions or orders from an authority figure. Jim can use this concept to consider whether he feels obligated to take the exam because of instructions or expectations from authority figures, such as parents or teachers. If he feels a sense of obligation, he may be more likely to take the exam.

(b)

• Lazarus's cognitive mediational theory of emotion: Lazarus's theory suggests that emotions are the result of cognitive appraisals of a situation. Jim's interpretation of his symptoms associated with test-taking could be influenced by his cognitive appraisals of the situation. For example, he may interpret his shaky hands and headaches as signs of failure, which could lead to anxiety and stress.

• Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome: The General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) is a model of stress that involves three stages: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. Jim's symptoms could be related to the alarm stage of GAS, which involves the activation of the body's stress response system. His feelings of sickness, shaky hands, and headaches could be physical symptoms of this stage.

• Positive psychology: Positive psychology is a branch of psychology that focuses on promoting well-being and positive emotions. Jim could use positive psychology to help him overcome his test anxiety by developing positive coping strategies and focusing on his strengths and abilities. For example, he could practice relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or meditation, to help reduce his anxiety before the exam. He could also focus on his knowledge and skills in psychology to build his confidence and self-efficacy beliefs.

Step-by-step explanation:

User Tushar Bhaware
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