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Jeketarina has recently had an accident which resulted in damage to her amygdala - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 9 - 2022 - Paper 2
Question 9
Jeketarina has recently had an accident which resulted in damage to her amygdala. Since the accident she has lost her temper a lot more. She has had frequent argumen... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Jeketarina has recently had an accident which resulted in damage to her amygdala - AQA - A-Level Psychology - Question 9 - 2022 - Paper 2
Step 1
Describe the role of the amygdala in response to situations.
Answer
The amygdala is responsible for processing information from our senses and determining how we respond. It can trigger the flight or fight response, which influences our decision to either flee from a situation or confront it. When activated, the amygdala overrides rational reasoning, making us less able to think logically during stressful situations.
Step 2
Explain how damage to the amygdala may impact behavior.
Answer
Damaged amygdala can hinder an individual's ability to manage emotional responses effectively. This impairment can result in spontaneous and aggressive reactions, as the individual may not have the capacity to assess situations rationally before responding.
Step 3
Contextualize Jeketarina's aggression.
Answer
Jeketarina may perceive threats in her environment more readily, explaining her tendency to initiate fights with strangers. The damage to her amygdala likely propels her into a heightened state of alert, leading to aggressive encounters, such as when she strikes another individual while out with her friends.
Step 4
Discuss the implications of her social behavior.
Answer
Furthermore, her new friends might exhibit aggressive behaviors themselves, which could reinforce Jeketarina's own aggressive tendencies. With her impaired judgment due to amygdala damage, she might not consider the outcomes of her actions, resulting in her recent arrest for violence.