In the context of AP Psychology and the study of stress, which of the following best defines a reflex?

• A. An automatic, involuntary response to a specific stimulus, such as pulling your hand away from a hot surface
• B. A learned behavior that is acquired through repeated exposure to a stressful situation
• C. A complex emotional reaction involving multiple cognitive processes
• D. A conscious decision made in response to environmental stressors

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of a reflex in psychology. A reflex is an automatic and involuntary response to a specific stimulus, meaning it happens without conscious thought.
2. Step 2: Identify the key characteristics of a reflex: it is immediate, involuntary, and triggered by a specific stimulus, such as pulling your hand away from a hot surface.
3. Step 3: Compare the given options to the definition of a reflex. Eliminate options that describe learned behaviors, complex emotional reactions, or conscious decisions, as these do not fit the automatic and involuntary nature of reflexes.
4. Step 4: Recognize that learned behaviors involve experience and repetition, complex emotional reactions involve multiple cognitive processes, and conscious decisions require awareness, none of which apply to reflexes.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best definition of a reflex is the automatic, involuntary response to a specific stimulus, exemplified by the example of pulling your hand away from a hot surface.