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A clutch of new studies in the field of the psychology of emotion
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01 Jul 2021, 21:00
01 Jul 2021, 21:00
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(01:28) wrong A clutch of new studies in the field of the psychology of emotion offers opportunities for humans to have better control over their emotions. Unfortunately, some other research has proven conclusively that certain emotions that are triggered spontaneously, most notable among them being anger, are often accompanied by the release of various types of chemicals and hormones. These chemicals and hormones, interestingly, help to further sustain the emotional outburst. To take an example, anger causes the release of adrenaline, and this adrenaline further helps to sustain, and even magnify, that aroused state of anger. To make matters worse, the rate of dissipation of this adrenaline is not within the control of the conscious human mind. Hence, when such emotions get triggered, they tend to circumvent our conscious mind, a fact that has several vital implications for emotional impulse control.
The solution then is to somehow be able to avoid setting off such impulses that are beyond the control of our conscious mind, something that is easier said than done. One way of doing so is to get a better understanding of how we perceive different events around us. The idea is to view everything with an objective mindset and avoid the ‘jumping to conclusions’ syndrome, which can trigger these unwanted impulses. To illustrate, it is possible for two people to view the same event but reach entirely different conclusions about its connotation. Let’s say if we see a group of people pointing in our direction and laughing, many of us will misconstrue such an act, thinking that those people are laughing at us and become irritated or angry. Such a reaction could then trigger the adrenaline-fuelled anger, and we could even end up getting into a fight with those people. However, a smarter, and less impulsive, approach could be to simply view the event for what it is—a group of people pointing at something and laughing. For all we know, they could be pointing at something behind us. Such people will not jump to conclusions; rather, they will wait for more clarity on the actions of those people before coming up with a reaction. Remember that even though we cannot control the activities of those people, we can always control our reaction to their actions, by addressing them calmly or even simply ignoring them.
The solution then is to somehow be able to avoid setting off such impulses that are beyond the control of our conscious mind, something that is easier said than done. One way of doing so is to get a better understanding of how we perceive different events around us. The idea is to view everything with an objective mindset and avoid the ‘jumping to conclusions’ syndrome, which can trigger these unwanted impulses. To illustrate, it is possible for two people to view the same event but reach entirely different conclusions about its connotation. Let’s say if we see a group of people pointing in our direction and laughing, many of us will misconstrue such an act, thinking that those people are laughing at us and become irritated or angry. Such a reaction could then trigger the adrenaline-fuelled anger, and we could even end up getting into a fight with those people. However, a smarter, and less impulsive, approach could be to simply view the event for what it is—a group of people pointing at something and laughing. For all we know, they could be pointing at something behind us. Such people will not jump to conclusions; rather, they will wait for more clarity on the actions of those people before coming up with a reaction. Remember that even though we cannot control the activities of those people, we can always control our reaction to their actions, by addressing them calmly or even simply ignoring them.
1. According to the passage, in which of the following hypothetical cases would a person be able to consciously control his or her emotions?
i. If a person becomes angry at the slightest of provocations but no hormone is released.
ii. If a person consumes a recently developed drug that greatly increases the rate of dissipation of hormones in the human body.
iii. If a person is taking a medication that prevents the release of adrenaline in the human body.
(A) ii and iii only
(B) i and ii only
(C) iii only
(D) ii only
(E) i, ii and iii
2. According to the passage, a rational person differs from a highly impulsive person in that:
(A) a rational person’s body produces a controllable amount of hormones.
(B) a rational person is able to better control his judgment of events.
(C) a rational person does not let his hormones affect his emotions.
(D) a rational person does not allow emotions to bypass his conscious mind.
(E) a rational person has no less a tendency to jump to conclusions.
3. What is the meaning of the word ‘misconstrue’ as used in the passage (paragraph two)?
(A) Mislead
(B) Misdemeanor
(C) Misguide
(D) Misinterpret
(E) Misrepresent
4. Why does the author use the term 'unfortunately' in the second sentence of the passage?
(A) To underscore the inherent sorrow that a person who is unable to contain his emotions, faces.
(B) To provide a contrast with the previous sentence by stating that in some cases a person may not be able to voluntarily control his emotions in the first place.
(C) To assert that a person not being able to contain his emotions is not the desired state of affairs.
(D) To conclude that all the efforts of researchers have gone in vain because there is actually a connection between hormones and emotions.
(E) To arrive at a conclusion about the relationship between hormones and emotions later in the passage.
i. If a person becomes angry at the slightest of provocations but no hormone is released.
ii. If a person consumes a recently developed drug that greatly increases the rate of dissipation of hormones in the human body.
iii. If a person is taking a medication that prevents the release of adrenaline in the human body.
(A) ii and iii only
(B) i and ii only
(C) iii only
(D) ii only
(E) i, ii and iii
2. According to the passage, a rational person differs from a highly impulsive person in that:
(A) a rational person’s body produces a controllable amount of hormones.
(B) a rational person is able to better control his judgment of events.
(C) a rational person does not let his hormones affect his emotions.
(D) a rational person does not allow emotions to bypass his conscious mind.
(E) a rational person has no less a tendency to jump to conclusions.
3. What is the meaning of the word ‘misconstrue’ as used in the passage (paragraph two)?
(A) Mislead
(B) Misdemeanor
(C) Misguide
(D) Misinterpret
(E) Misrepresent
4. Why does the author use the term 'unfortunately' in the second sentence of the passage?
(A) To underscore the inherent sorrow that a person who is unable to contain his emotions, faces.
(B) To provide a contrast with the previous sentence by stating that in some cases a person may not be able to voluntarily control his emotions in the first place.
(C) To assert that a person not being able to contain his emotions is not the desired state of affairs.
(D) To conclude that all the efforts of researchers have gone in vain because there is actually a connection between hormones and emotions.
(E) To arrive at a conclusion about the relationship between hormones and emotions later in the passage.
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Passage # 261 Date: 02-Jul-2021
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Passage # 261 Date: 02-Jul-2021
This question is a part of RC Butler 2021. Click here for Details
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Re: A clutch of new studies in the field of the psychology of emotion
[#permalink]
Updated on: 05 Jul 2021, 01:45
Updated on: 05 Jul 2021, 01:45
1. According to the passage, in which of the following hypothetical cases would a person be able to consciously control his or her emotions?
i. If a person becomes angry at the slightest of provocations but no hormone is released.
ii. If a person consumes a recently developed drug that greatly increases the rate of dissipation of hormones in the human body.
iii. If a person is taking a medication that prevents the release of adrenaline in the human body.
(A) ii and iii only
(B) i and ii only
(C) iii only
(D) ii only
(E) i, ii and iii
(i) If someone is already angry, he has already lost control of his/her emotion. So, fails.
(ii) If the rate of dissipation of hormones is increased, emotions too get heightened. So, fails.
(iii) If a medication can prevent the release of adrenaline, then somehow, he/she may be able to control things spiraling out of control. Hence, the only possibly correct option.
2. According to the passage, a rational person differs from a highly impulsive person in that:
(A) a rational person’s body produces a controllable amount of hormones.
(B) a rational person is able to better control his judgment of events.
(C) a rational person does not let his hormones affect his emotions.
(D) a rational person does not allow emotions to bypass his conscious mind.
(E) a rational person has no less a tendency to jump to conclusions.
The passage speaks about a rational person as someone who has the ability to not let his/her emotions get better of him by not jumping to conclusions and by not keeping his judgments on his sleeves, and that's what the option B states. Hence, correct.
3. What is the meaning of the word ‘misconstrue’ as used in the passage (paragraph two)?
(A) Mislead
(B) Misdemeanor
(C) Misguide
(D) Misinterpret
(E) Misrepresent
Misconstrue is used to depict misinterpretation of something as trivial as looking at a direction as a sign of bullying (sort of). Hence, option D is correct.
4. Why does the author use the term 'unfortunately' in the second sentence of the passage?
(A) To underscore the inherent sorrow that a person who is unable to contain his emotions, faces.
(B) To provide a contrast with the previous sentence by stating that in some cases a person may not be able to voluntarily control his emotions in the first place.
(C) To assert that a person not being able to contain his emotions is not the desired state of affairs.
(D) To conclude that all the efforts of researchers have gone in vain because there is actually a connection between hormones and emotions.
(E) To arrive at a conclusion about the relationship between hormones and emotions later in the passage.
The author starts the passage by mentioning a study that hints towards a possibility of humans being able to control their emotions. But, then he stated another study that has "conclusive evidence" to state otherwise, and the usage of "unfortunately" depicts his preference in the matter. He would have preferred if the humans had the ability to control their emotions. Hence, keeping this in mind the option B is correct.
i. If a person becomes angry at the slightest of provocations but no hormone is released.
ii. If a person consumes a recently developed drug that greatly increases the rate of dissipation of hormones in the human body.
iii. If a person is taking a medication that prevents the release of adrenaline in the human body.
(A) ii and iii only
(B) i and ii only
(C) iii only
(D) ii only
(E) i, ii and iii
(i) If someone is already angry, he has already lost control of his/her emotion. So, fails.
(ii) If the rate of dissipation of hormones is increased, emotions too get heightened. So, fails.
(iii) If a medication can prevent the release of adrenaline, then somehow, he/she may be able to control things spiraling out of control. Hence, the only possibly correct option.
2. According to the passage, a rational person differs from a highly impulsive person in that:
(A) a rational person’s body produces a controllable amount of hormones.
(B) a rational person is able to better control his judgment of events.
(C) a rational person does not let his hormones affect his emotions.
(D) a rational person does not allow emotions to bypass his conscious mind.
(E) a rational person has no less a tendency to jump to conclusions.
The passage speaks about a rational person as someone who has the ability to not let his/her emotions get better of him by not jumping to conclusions and by not keeping his judgments on his sleeves, and that's what the option B states. Hence, correct.
3. What is the meaning of the word ‘misconstrue’ as used in the passage (paragraph two)?
(A) Mislead
(B) Misdemeanor
(C) Misguide
(D) Misinterpret
(E) Misrepresent
Misconstrue is used to depict misinterpretation of something as trivial as looking at a direction as a sign of bullying (sort of). Hence, option D is correct.
4. Why does the author use the term 'unfortunately' in the second sentence of the passage?
(A) To underscore the inherent sorrow that a person who is unable to contain his emotions, faces.
(B) To provide a contrast with the previous sentence by stating that in some cases a person may not be able to voluntarily control his emotions in the first place.
(C) To assert that a person not being able to contain his emotions is not the desired state of affairs.
(D) To conclude that all the efforts of researchers have gone in vain because there is actually a connection between hormones and emotions.
(E) To arrive at a conclusion about the relationship between hormones and emotions later in the passage.
The author starts the passage by mentioning a study that hints towards a possibility of humans being able to control their emotions. But, then he stated another study that has "conclusive evidence" to state otherwise, and the usage of "unfortunately" depicts his preference in the matter. He would have preferred if the humans had the ability to control their emotions. Hence, keeping this in mind the option B is correct.
Originally posted by PyjamaScientist on 02 Jul 2021, 08:53.
Last edited by PyjamaScientist on 05 Jul 2021, 01:45, edited 3 times in total.
Last edited by PyjamaScientist on 05 Jul 2021, 01:45, edited 3 times in total.
Re: A clutch of new studies in the field of the psychology of emotion
[#permalink]
05 Jul 2021, 00:51
05 Jul 2021, 00:51
Passage Summary:
P1: Group 1 -> We have opportunites to control emotions & Group 2 -> Certain emotions occur spontaneously
P2: Solution is avoid setting off impulses beyond conscious control by objective mindset + avoid jumping to conclusion
(I think P2 is like reconciling two groups in P1)
Q1 Hypothetical case (I think this question is really challenging!)
i. If a person becomes angry at the slightest of provocations but no hormone is released.
-> Because emotions are accompanied by hormones, it cannot be controlled. If no hormone is released, then it is under control -> i is surely correct
ii. If a person consumes a recently developed drug that greatly increases the rate of dissipation of hormones in the human body.
-> This is where it becomes challenging: the rate of dissipation that is not under control is the reason why emotions cannot be controlled. If we can control rate of dissipation (increase), then it should be under control?
iii. If a person is taking a medication that prevents the release of adrenaline in the human body.
-> If adrenaline is not present, then is it under control now? (like i)
It is like B vs E but I choose E lol. I do not know why B is correct.
Q2 A rational person is ... (objective mindset & avoid jumping to conclusion)
(A) a rational person’s body produces a controllable amount of hormones. -> hormones cannot be controlled
(B) a rational person is able to better control his judgment of events. -> Yes, keep
(C) a rational person does not let his hormones affect his emotions. -> hormones cannot be controlled
(D) a rational person does not allow emotions to bypass his conscious mind. -> Yes, keep
(E) a rational person has no less a tendency to jump to conclusions. -> Quite opposite
Now, B vs D. The problem of D is that rational person does not allow impulses, not emotions, to bypass conscious mind. The answer is B. (tough one, I guess)
Q3 misconstrue: not using objective mindset = bias
(A) Mislead (not related)
(B) Misdemeanor (not related)
(C) Misguide (not related)
(D) Misinterpret (yes, if we use bias, then we misinterpret)
(E) Misrepresent (not related)
Answer is D
Q4 "Unfortunately" is just to present group 2 research results. It seems like special, but nothing special in this case: it is unfortunate that we have different opinions. That is all!
(A) To underscore the inherent sorrow that a person who is unable to contain his emotions, faces. (too far)
(B) To provide a contrast with the previous sentence by stating that in some cases a person may not be able to voluntarily control his emotions in the first place. (yes - keep)
(C) To assert that a person not being able to contain his emotions is not the desired state of affairs. (tempting, but the point is not about desired state of affairs!)
(D) To conclude that all the efforts of researchers have gone in vain because there is actually a connection between hormones and emotions. (too far)
(E) To arrive at a conclusion about the relationship between hormones and emotions later in the passage. (Does this alone lead to recommendations about objective mindset? No)
Ans: B
P1: Group 1 -> We have opportunites to control emotions & Group 2 -> Certain emotions occur spontaneously
P2: Solution is avoid setting off impulses beyond conscious control by objective mindset + avoid jumping to conclusion
(I think P2 is like reconciling two groups in P1)
Q1 Hypothetical case (I think this question is really challenging!)
i. If a person becomes angry at the slightest of provocations but no hormone is released.
-> Because emotions are accompanied by hormones, it cannot be controlled. If no hormone is released, then it is under control -> i is surely correct
ii. If a person consumes a recently developed drug that greatly increases the rate of dissipation of hormones in the human body.
-> This is where it becomes challenging: the rate of dissipation that is not under control is the reason why emotions cannot be controlled. If we can control rate of dissipation (increase), then it should be under control?
iii. If a person is taking a medication that prevents the release of adrenaline in the human body.
-> If adrenaline is not present, then is it under control now? (like i)
It is like B vs E but I choose E lol. I do not know why B is correct.
Q2 A rational person is ... (objective mindset & avoid jumping to conclusion)
(A) a rational person’s body produces a controllable amount of hormones. -> hormones cannot be controlled
(B) a rational person is able to better control his judgment of events. -> Yes, keep
(C) a rational person does not let his hormones affect his emotions. -> hormones cannot be controlled
(D) a rational person does not allow emotions to bypass his conscious mind. -> Yes, keep
(E) a rational person has no less a tendency to jump to conclusions. -> Quite opposite
Now, B vs D. The problem of D is that rational person does not allow impulses, not emotions, to bypass conscious mind. The answer is B. (tough one, I guess)
Q3 misconstrue: not using objective mindset = bias
(A) Mislead (not related)
(B) Misdemeanor (not related)
(C) Misguide (not related)
(D) Misinterpret (yes, if we use bias, then we misinterpret)
(E) Misrepresent (not related)
Answer is D
Q4 "Unfortunately" is just to present group 2 research results. It seems like special, but nothing special in this case: it is unfortunate that we have different opinions. That is all!
(A) To underscore the inherent sorrow that a person who is unable to contain his emotions, faces. (too far)
(B) To provide a contrast with the previous sentence by stating that in some cases a person may not be able to voluntarily control his emotions in the first place. (yes - keep)
(C) To assert that a person not being able to contain his emotions is not the desired state of affairs. (tempting, but the point is not about desired state of affairs!)
(D) To conclude that all the efforts of researchers have gone in vain because there is actually a connection between hormones and emotions. (too far)
(E) To arrive at a conclusion about the relationship between hormones and emotions later in the passage. (Does this alone lead to recommendations about objective mindset? No)
Ans: B
