SCSA Psychology Psychological knowledge and understanding
15 sample questions with marking guides and sample answers
Use the following information to answer the question.
The origins of the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) can be 'traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920’s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.'
National NAIDOC Week is held annually in the first week of July with the aim to 'celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations* cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.'
Source: adapted from <naidoc.org.au>
* First Nations – a term that is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.
The 2021 NAIDOC week theme was 'Heal Country'.
According to the social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) framework, the 2021 NAIDOC theme acknowledges the principle of
physical health as a biological marker of health.
connecting to Country as a way of healing body, mind and spirit.
complex interactions between biological, psychological and social factors.
spending time with Elders and developing healthy relationships with others.
Reveal Answer
physical health as a biological marker of health.
The SEWB framework views health holistically, encompassing more than just physical health or biological markers.
connecting to Country as a way of healing body, mind and spirit.
The theme 'Heal Country' directly aligns with the SEWB framework's principle that a strong connection to land and Country is fundamental to the holistic healing and wellbeing of body, mind, and spirit for First Nations peoples.
complex interactions between biological, psychological and social factors.
While this describes the biopsychosocial model of health, it does not specifically address the 'Heal Country' theme or the unique cultural dimensions of the SEWB framework.
spending time with Elders and developing healthy relationships with others.
Although connecting with Elders and community is a vital component of the SEWB framework (connection to kinship and family), it does not directly reflect the specific theme of 'Heal Country'.
Use the following information to answer the question.
Sunil is a young university student who has been experiencing disrupted sleep for several months. After extensive investigation and testing, a sleep therapist diagnosed Sunil with a condition known as nightmare disorder.
This disorder results in Sunil experiencing the same terrifying dream as soon as he enters REM sleep and, as a consequence, waking up five or six times per night.
Which type of sleep disorder is Sunil experiencing and why is it this type?
parasomnia, because it affects the pattern of Sunil's sleep
dyssomnia, because Sunil is having trouble staying asleep
dyssomnia, because of increased brain activity during sleep
parasomnia, because Sunil experiences abnormal sleep activity
Reveal Answer
parasomnia, because it affects the pattern of Sunil's sleep
While nightmare disorder is a parasomnia, the reasoning is incorrect. Disorders that primarily affect the pattern, timing, or amount of sleep are classified as dyssomnias, not parasomnias.
dyssomnia, because Sunil is having trouble staying asleep
Nightmare disorder is classified as a parasomnia, not a dyssomnia. Although Sunil has trouble staying asleep, this is a secondary consequence of the terrifying dreams rather than a primary inability to maintain sleep.
dyssomnia, because of increased brain activity during sleep
Nightmare disorder is a parasomnia, not a dyssomnia. Additionally, increased brain activity is a normal physiological feature of REM sleep, not the defining cause of a dyssomnia.
parasomnia, because Sunil experiences abnormal sleep activity
Nightmare disorder is a parasomnia, which is a category of sleep disorders characterized by abnormal behavioral, experiential, or physiological events (like terrifying dreams) occurring during sleep.
Use the following information to answer the question.
Mindfulness meditation can help to manage stress resulting from chronic health challenges such as pain and fatigue. Researchers are attempting to link mindfulness meditation to the GAS model. They suggest that people practising mindfulness meditation can:
- acknowledge the physiological stress response as it happens, with awareness of the mind and body
- engage in acceptance, investigating their thoughts and the sensations of the stress response with curiosity.
Linking mindfulness meditation to the GAS model may improve the explanatory power of the GAS model by
recognising the relationship between chronic stress and illness.
proposing that physiological stress responses vary between individuals.
recognising the psychological processing involved in the stress response.
focusing on cognitive processes rather than physiological variations in the stress response.
Reveal Answer
recognising the relationship between chronic stress and illness.
The GAS model already accounts for the relationship between chronic stress and illness, particularly in the exhaustion stage, so this does not add to its explanatory power.
proposing that physiological stress responses vary between individuals.
While the GAS model is often criticized for assuming a uniform physiological response, the provided text focuses on mental awareness and thoughts, not on physiological variations between individuals.
recognising the psychological processing involved in the stress response.
A major limitation of the GAS model is its purely physiological focus. Linking it to mindfulness incorporates psychological processing (awareness and thoughts), thereby addressing this limitation and improving its explanatory power.
focusing on cognitive processes rather than physiological variations in the stress response.
The prompt states that mindfulness involves acknowledging the physiological stress response, meaning it integrates cognitive processes with physiological ones rather than focusing on one instead of the other.
Use the following information to answer the question.
Sunil is a young university student who has been experiencing disrupted sleep for several months. After extensive investigation and testing, a sleep therapist diagnosed Sunil with a condition known as nightmare disorder.
This disorder results in Sunil experiencing the same terrifying dream as soon as he enters REM sleep and, as a consequence, waking up five or six times per night.
In comparison to other people his age, Sunil is more likely to experience a higher proportion of which of the following stage(s) of sleep?
REM sleep
NREM stages 1 and 2
NREM stages 3 and 4
both REM and NREM sleep
Reveal Answer
REM sleep
Since Sunil wakes up as soon as he enters REM sleep, he will actually experience a significantly lower proportion of REM sleep compared to others.
NREM stages 1 and 2
Because Sunil wakes up five or six times a night, he must restart the sleep cycle frequently. This results in a higher proportion of time spent in the initial stages of sleep, NREM stages 1 and 2.
NREM stages 3 and 4
Frequent awakenings disrupt the sleep cycle, making it harder to reach and maintain the deeper sleep stages of NREM 3 and 4.
both REM and NREM sleep
While he experiences NREM sleep, his proportion of REM sleep is drastically reduced due to waking up as soon as it begins, so he does not experience a higher proportion of both.
Cecil is a 25-year-old who has recently completed his apprenticeship and started his first job in a busy workshop. Despite completing his apprenticeship and getting a job in the industry, he finds himself struggling with feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction in various aspects of his life. He often feels overwhelmed by work pressure, has trouble maintaining meaningful relationships with colleagues, and lacks a sense of purpose and direction in his personal life. Cecil also finds it challenging to balance his professional responsibilities with his own needs for personal growth and self-care.
Cecil has been referred to a psychologist for help by his supervisor at work. To collect data on Cecil's wellbeing, the psychologist has conducted both an interview and administered a self-report survey. The interview was open-ended, and the survey was composed of a variety of Likert and rating scales. The information from these measures was applied to a psychological and a subjective model of wellbeing to better help Cecil understand his current situation.
Write an extended answer that demonstrates Science inquiry and Psychological knowledge and understanding in relation to the scenario above.
In your answer you must:
- define wellbeing
- distinguish between subjective and psychological wellbeing
- summarise Diener's (1984) model of subjective wellbeing
- explain how four components of Ryff's (1989) psychological wellbeing model contribute to an overall sense of wellbeing
- explain one specific challenge Cecil is facing related to his wellbeing
- assess the benefit of using both the interview and the survey to collect and interpret data
- use appropriate psychological terminology
- acknowledge sources of information using appropriate referencing.
Reveal Answer
Wellbeing is feeling happy and content or a positive state in one's life.
Subjective wellbeing focuses on an individual's personal evaluation of their life satisfaction and emotional experiences, and emphasises subjective perceptions and feelings. Psychological wellbeing encompasses broader dimensions of psychological functioning and reflects a more comprehensive assessment of mental health and wellbeing.
Diener’s (1984) model of subjective wellbeing includes life satisfaction, which is the overall evaluation of one's life circumstances, including satisfaction with work, relationships, and personal achievements; and affective balance, which is the balance between positive and negative emotions experienced by an individual, indicating the overall emotional wellbeing.
In Ryff’s (1989) psychological wellbeing model, autonomy is the sense of independence and self-determination where individuals feel in control of their actions and decisions, which leads to a greater sense of fulfilment. Environmental mastery is the ability to effectively manage and adapt to the external world, demonstrating competence in navigating challenges. Personal growth is the continuous process of self-improvement and exploration, fostering a sense of progress and expansion of one's capabilities and seizing opportunities for personal development. Positive relations with others highlights the importance of meaningful and supportive connections with family, friends, and community, contributing to emotional wellbeing and social support.
A specific challenge Cecil is facing is that he experiences feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction, indicating low life satisfaction and low affective balance.
The benefit of using both the interview and the survey to collect and interpret data is that this is a mixed method design that collects both quantitative and qualitative data, which allows for statistical analysis and allows for rich data and understanding of meaning.
Define wellbeing
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
States that wellbeing is feeling happy and content or a positive state | 1 |
States that it is in one's life | 1 |
Distinguish between subjective and psychological wellbeing
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Explains that subjective wellbeing focuses on an individual's personal evaluation of their life satisfaction and emotional experiences | 1 |
States that subjective wellbeing emphasises subjective perceptions and feelings | 1 |
Explains that psychological wellbeing encompasses broader dimensions of psychological functioning | 1 |
States that psychological wellbeing reflects a more comprehensive assessment of mental health and wellbeing | 1 |
Diener’s model of subjective wellbeing
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies life satisfaction | 1 |
Describes life satisfaction as the overall evaluation of one's life circumstances, including satisfaction with work, relationships, or personal achievements | 1 |
Identifies affective balance | 1 |
Describes affective balance as the balance between positive and negative emotions experienced by an individual (indicating the overall emotional wellbeing) | 1 |
Component 1
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies a component (Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relations with others, Purpose in life, or Self-acceptance) | 1 |
Describes the component (e.g., the sense of independence and self-determination, the ability to effectively manage and adapt to the external world, etc.) | 1 |
Explains how it contributes to wellbeing (e.g., leads to a greater sense of fulfilment, demonstrating competence in navigating challenges, etc.) | 1 |
Component 2
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies a component (Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relations with others, Purpose in life, or Self-acceptance) | 1 |
Describes the component (e.g., the sense of independence and self-determination, the ability to effectively manage and adapt to the external world, etc.) | 1 |
Explains how it contributes to wellbeing (e.g., leads to a greater sense of fulfilment, demonstrating competence in navigating challenges, etc.) | 1 |
Component 3
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies a component (Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relations with others, Purpose in life, or Self-acceptance) | 1 |
Describes the component (e.g., the sense of independence and self-determination, the ability to effectively manage and adapt to the external world, etc.) | 1 |
Explains how it contributes to wellbeing (e.g., leads to a greater sense of fulfilment, demonstrating competence in navigating challenges, etc.) | 1 |
Component 4
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies a component (Autonomy, Environmental mastery, Personal growth, Positive relations with others, Purpose in life, or Self-acceptance) | 1 |
Describes the component (e.g., the sense of independence and self-determination, the ability to effectively manage and adapt to the external world, etc.) | 1 |
Explains how it contributes to wellbeing (e.g., leads to a greater sense of fulfilment, demonstrating competence in navigating challenges, etc.) | 1 |
Specific challenge
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies that he experiences feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction OR struggles with work pressure, maintaining relationships, finding purpose, or balancing his needs | 1 |
Explains that this indicates low life satisfaction OR highlights deficiencies | 1 |
Explains that this indicates low affective balance OR deficiencies in autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations, purpose in life, or self-acceptance | 1 |
Benefit of mixed method design
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies that this is a mixed method design | 1 |
States that it collects both quantitative and qualitative data | 1 |
Explains that this allows for statistical analysis | 1 |
Explains that this allows for rich data or understanding of meaning | 1 |
Psychological terminology
Marking Bands| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Accurately uses a variety of appropriate psychological terminology relevant to theories, studies, models and concepts fluently and in a clear and logical way. | 3 |
Accurately uses some appropriate psychological terminology relevant to theories, studies, models and concepts in a clear and logical way. | 2 |
Uses everyday language with limited relevance to theories, studies, models and concepts. | 1 |
None of the above | 0 |
Referencing
Marking Bands| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Consistently uses the names of the researcher/author and date/s. | 2 |
Uses only the names of the researcher/author or date/s. | 1 |
None of the above | 0 |
Which one of the following statements is true regarding the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)?
It is part of the pineal gland.
It uses daylight to reset every 24 hours.
It is part of the sympathetic nervous system.
It operates independently on an ultradian rhythm.
Reveal Answer
It is part of the pineal gland.
The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a tiny region located in the hypothalamus, not the pineal gland, although it does send signals to the pineal gland to regulate melatonin production.
It uses daylight to reset every 24 hours.
The SCN serves as the brain's primary biological clock and uses light information received from the retina to entrain or reset its circadian rhythm to a 24-hour cycle.
It is part of the sympathetic nervous system.
The SCN is a structure within the central nervous system (specifically the brain's hypothalamus), not the peripheral sympathetic nervous system.
It operates independently on an ultradian rhythm.
The SCN operates on a circadian rhythm (approximately 24 hours), rather than an ultradian rhythm, which refers to biological cycles that are shorter than 24 hours.
Use the following information to answer the question.
The school-wide positive behaviour support framework has been introduced into schools by the Victorian Department of Education. The framework was developed with the intention to
- increase positive behaviours and interactions for students at school
- improve mental wellbeing
- increase time spent focusing on teacher instructions.
Source: Adapted from https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/behaviour-students/guidance/5-school-wide-positive-behaviour-support-swpbs-framework
An increase in positive interactions between students could be directly linked to an improvement in mental wellbeing by
teaching students about the continuum of mental wellbeing.
running lessons on how to maximise student coping flexibility.
creating a peer mentoring system to provide genuine and energising support.
actively decreasing the number of internal stressors the students need to manage.
Reveal Answer
teaching students about the continuum of mental wellbeing.
Teaching students about the continuum of mental wellbeing increases their knowledge but does not directly facilitate positive interactions between students.
running lessons on how to maximise student coping flexibility.
Running lessons on coping flexibility focuses on developing individual coping strategies rather than fostering interpersonal positive interactions.
creating a peer mentoring system to provide genuine and energising support.
A peer mentoring system directly facilitates positive interactions between students, providing social support which is a strong protective factor that improves mental wellbeing.
actively decreasing the number of internal stressors the students need to manage.
Decreasing internal stressors focuses on individual stress management and cognitive appraisal, rather than directly increasing positive interactions between students.
An avoidance strategy
is the healthiest way to reduce stress in the long-term.
is always maladaptive because it does not deal with the problem.
can reduce stress when nothing can be done to address the stressor.
is inappropriate when an immediate confrontation will lead to an argument.
Reveal Answer
is the healthiest way to reduce stress in the long-term.
While avoidance can provide short-term relief, it is generally unhealthy in the long-term because the underlying problem remains unresolved and can cause future stress.
is always maladaptive because it does not deal with the problem.
Avoidance is not always maladaptive; it can be a useful short-term coping mechanism or highly adaptive when a situation is completely out of a person's control.
can reduce stress when nothing can be done to address the stressor.
When a stressor is uncontrollable, avoidance or emotion-focused coping strategies can be highly adaptive ways to minimize psychological distress.
is inappropriate when an immediate confrontation will lead to an argument.
Avoidance is actually highly appropriate in situations where immediate confrontation would escalate into a harmful or unproductive argument.
When Annabelle started to get a reduced number of shifts at her retail job, she felt quite stressed. She often called her colleague to complain about what she considered to be unfair treatment. Finally, realising she could not change the situation, she did some research on how to improve her employability. She managed to convince a potential employer to give her a trial and, during the trial, proved to the employer that her customer service skills made her worth employing. Annabelle was also studying part time. Her final assignment clashed with a major family commitment that involved travel to another state, so she contacted her teacher and asked for more time to complete the assignment.
Identify three typical characteristics of a mentally healthy person and describe how Annabelle demonstrates each one.
Reveal Answer
Resilience
Even though Annabelle experienced stress, such as the number of shifts at work reducing, she was able to ‘bounce back’ and overcome the issue and restore positive function.
High level of functioning
Annabelle was able to look after herself and perform activities such as study, working part time and maintaining social connections.
Characteristic 1
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies a characteristic of a mentally healthy person and describes how Annabelle demonstrates it using the scenario (e.g., positive mindset, high self-efficacy, coping flexibility, high level of independence, high level of functioning, high level of social interaction, high level of resilience) | 1 |
Characteristic 2
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies a characteristic of a mentally healthy person and describes how Annabelle demonstrates it using the scenario (e.g., positive mindset, high self-efficacy, coping flexibility, high level of independence, high level of functioning, high level of social interaction, high level of resilience) | 1 |
Characteristic 3
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies a characteristic of a mentally healthy person and describes how Annabelle demonstrates it using the scenario (e.g., positive mindset, high self-efficacy, coping flexibility, high level of independence, high level of functioning, high level of social interaction, high level of resilience) | 1 |
Explain how Annabelle used a strategy with context-specific effectiveness to manage one external factor that affected her mental health.
Reveal Answer
- Losing shifts (external factor) was stressful for Annabelle. In order to overcome this stressor, she does some research to improve her employability which results in her getting another job. This strategy was effective as it meets the demands of the stressor / is a strategy that was a good fit for the situation as it leads to her overcoming the stressor.
- Annabelle had an assignment due at the same time as a major family commitment, so in order to overcome this problem, she contacts her teacher and arranges for more time to complete the assignment; the strategy she used resulted in a reduction in the problem, so it had context-specific effectiveness.
| Descriptor | Marks |
|---|---|
Identifies an external factor affecting Annabelle's mental health from the scenario (e.g., losing shifts or major family commitment) | 1 |
Demonstrates how she used a strategy to overcome the problem that was context specific (e.g., researching to improve employability or contacting her teacher for an extension; must be an effective approach strategy, not complaining) | 1 |
Explains how the strategy was context specific in that it enabled her to overcome the specific problem effectively | 1 |
Use the following information to answer the question.
Kahn et al. (2023) conducted an investigation involving 54 women to test whether mothers of infants with sleep difficulties were at an increased risk of poor driving. Participants were classified into three groups.
Group A: mothers of infants with sleep difficulties
Group B: mothers of well-sleeping infants
Group C: women without children
The women completed a questionnaire on their driving performance and sleep behaviours across a seven-day period. Following this, they completed a simulated driving task without any passengers.
Source: Adapted from M Kahn et al., 'Sleepless on the road: Are mothers of infants with insomnia at risk for impaired driving?' Journal of Sleep Research, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1111/jsr.14083 Licensed by CC-BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/
Which one of the following results would most likely be found from this study?
Group A demonstrated greater lane deviation and higher maximum speed.
Group A was able to drive best when the simulator featured simple and repetitive roads.
Both Groups A and B showed improved driving ability during shorter trips compared to Group C.
Both Groups A and B showed more caution in their driving and reduced speeds compared to Group C.
Reveal Answer
Group A demonstrated greater lane deviation and higher maximum speed.
Sleep deprivation from caring for an infant with sleep difficulties impairs cognitive and motor functions, leading to poorer driving performance such as greater lane deviation and poorer speed control.
Group A was able to drive best when the simulator featured simple and repetitive roads.
Simple, repetitive roads typically decrease arousal and vigilance, which would worsen the driving performance of sleep-deprived individuals rather than improve it.
Both Groups A and B showed improved driving ability during shorter trips compared to Group C.
Sleep deprivation impairs driving ability, so Group A would likely perform worse, not better, than well-rested women without children (Group C).
Both Groups A and B showed more caution in their driving and reduced speeds compared to Group C.
While drivers might attempt to compensate for fatigue, sleep deprivation generally impairs reaction time and vehicle control, making poor driving outcomes more likely than uniformly cautious behavior.
Use the following information to answer the question.
The origins of the National Aboriginal and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) can be 'traced to the emergence of Aboriginal groups in the 1920’s which sought to increase awareness in the wider community of the status and treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.'
National NAIDOC Week is held annually in the first week of July with the aim to 'celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations* cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.'
Source: adapted from <naidoc.org.au>
* First Nations – a term that is inclusive of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia.
In the above information, self-determination is best demonstrated by
the participation of all Australians in celebrations.
the origins of NAIDOC week being traced back to the 1920s.
Aboriginal groups being the driving force for the creation of NAIDOC.
an opportunity for all Australians to learn about the First Nations cultures and histories.
Reveal Answer
the participation of all Australians in celebrations.
While the participation of all Australians promotes reconciliation and cultural awareness, self-determination specifically refers to Indigenous peoples having agency and control over their own affairs and initiatives.
the origins of NAIDOC week being traced back to the 1920s.
The historical timeline of NAIDOC week does not inherently illustrate self-determination; rather, it is the specific actions taken by Aboriginal groups during that time that demonstrate the concept.
Aboriginal groups being the driving force for the creation of NAIDOC.
Self-determination involves Indigenous peoples taking control of their own representation, advocacy, and cultural expression, which is clearly demonstrated by Aboriginal groups initiating and driving the creation of NAIDOC.
an opportunity for all Australians to learn about the First Nations cultures and histories.
Providing an educational opportunity for the wider community is a positive outcome of NAIDOC Week, but it describes cultural sharing rather than the political and social agency central to self-determination.
Consider the following statements related to stress.
Statement 1 – Context-specific effectiveness determines whether a coping strategy is approach or avoidance.
Statement 2 – The absence of coping flexibility could prolong the release of cortisol.
Statement 3 – Both acute and chronic stress involve a physiological stress response.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Reveal Answer
1 only
This option is incorrect because Statement 1 is false. Approach and avoidance coping are determined by whether the behavior is directed toward or away from the stressor, not by context-specific effectiveness.
1 and 2 only
This option is incorrect because Statement 1 is false, and it incorrectly excludes Statement 3. Both acute and chronic stress trigger physiological responses, making Statement 3 true.
2 and 3 only
This option is correct. Statement 2 is true because lacking coping flexibility can lead to unresolved stress, prolonging cortisol release. Statement 3 is also true as both acute and chronic stress activate physiological stress responses.
1, 2 and 3
This option is incorrect because Statement 1 is false. Context-specific effectiveness refers to how well a coping strategy matches the demands of a specific situation, not its classification as approach or avoidance.
Use the following information to answer the question.
Since finishing secondary school four weeks ago, Ben has been working on a farm. Ben had never lived away from home before and, while he was initially excited, he is now missing his friends and family. Ben has been finding it difficult to sleep at night. He has often come close to crying after speaking to his parents or friends and has sometimes even avoided answering the phone. He has been able to complete his farm work but is worried he is not doing it well enough.
Ben's doctor has suggested that he has a mental health problem.
Which of the following characteristics is likely to have contributed to the doctor's assessment of Ben?
feelings of unhappiness and difficulty sleeping
disorganised attachment to his friends and family
unwillingness to adjust to the changes in his lifestyle
ability to complete his farm work and seek the help of others
Reveal Answer
feelings of unhappiness and difficulty sleeping
Difficulty sleeping and persistent feelings of unhappiness, such as frequently being close to crying, are common clinical symptoms that indicate a potential mental health issue like depression or an adjustment disorder.
disorganised attachment to his friends and family
Disorganised attachment is a specific psychological term typically referring to childhood attachment styles, which is not supported by the text describing Ben's current emotional distress.
unwillingness to adjust to the changes in his lifestyle
The text states that Ben is able to complete his farm work, which shows he is making an effort to adjust rather than demonstrating an unwillingness to do so.
ability to complete his farm work and seek the help of others
The ability to complete work and seek help are positive signs of functioning and resilience, not characteristics that would lead a doctor to diagnose a mental health problem.
Use the following information to answer the question.
Sleep quality and room temperature are connected. In one study, 10 healthy young adults slept in a temperature-controlled room. Each participant spent the first night of the study sleeping in a room set at 25 °C and the second night set at 29 °C.
Participants were required to record their self-reported sleepiness level before and after each sleep episode on a rating scale from 0 (not sleepy) to 5 (very sleepy). The results are presented in the table below.
| Room temperature (°C) | Average reduction in self-reported sleepiness level |
|---|---|
| 25 | 1.8 |
| 29 | 1.1 |
Room temperature is considered a zeitgeber for sleep as it
operates on a 24-hour circadian rhythm.
is found to impact the rate of cortisol release.
is an external cue that can regulate the body's circadian rhythm.
is controlled by the same autonomic nervous system processes as sleep.
Reveal Answer
operates on a 24-hour circadian rhythm.
A zeitgeber is an external environmental cue that influences the circadian rhythm, rather than an internal biological process that operates on a 24-hour cycle itself.
is found to impact the rate of cortisol release.
While temperature may indirectly affect hormone levels, a zeitgeber is defined by its role as an external cue that synchronizes the circadian rhythm, not specifically by its impact on cortisol release.
is an external cue that can regulate the body's circadian rhythm.
A zeitgeber is defined as an external environmental cue, such as light or temperature, that helps entrain or regulate the body's internal circadian rhythms.
is controlled by the same autonomic nervous system processes as sleep.
Room temperature is an external environmental factor, meaning it is independent of and not controlled by the individual's autonomic nervous system.
Use the following information to answer the question.
Since finishing secondary school four weeks ago, Ben has been working on a farm. Ben had never lived away from home before and, while he was initially excited, he is now missing his friends and family. Ben has been finding it difficult to sleep at night. He has often come close to crying after speaking to his parents or friends and has sometimes even avoided answering the phone. He has been able to complete his farm work but is worried he is not doing it well enough.
A few weeks later, Ben has started to settle into life on the farm and is feeling much happier. He now believes that he is doing a good job and has even asked to learn new skills.
Ben now demonstrates
self-efficacy.
protective factors.
good family support.
cognitive behavioural strategies.
Reveal Answer
self-efficacy.
Self-efficacy refers to an individual's belief in their capacity to execute behaviors necessary to succeed. Ben's newfound belief that he is doing a good job and his confidence to learn new skills directly demonstrate high self-efficacy.
protective factors.
While self-efficacy can act as a protective factor for mental wellbeing, the scenario specifically describes Ben's belief in his own competence, which is the exact definition of self-efficacy rather than the broader category of protective factors.
good family support.
Although Ben speaks to his parents, the recent change highlights his internal belief in his work competence and desire to learn, not the level or quality of support his family provides.
cognitive behavioural strategies.
Cognitive behavioural strategies involve actively identifying and challenging negative thought patterns. The scenario does not mention Ben consciously using these specific psychological techniques to change his mindset.