Introductory Psychology CLEP Prep Practice Exam

Which of the following is an example of somatic response?

1. Telling a joke

2. Crying

3. Dreaming

4. Blushing

The correct answer is: Blushing

When a person experiences the emotion of embarrassment, they often exhibit physical reactions such as blushing. This is a somatic response, meaning it is a physical reaction to an emotion or stimulus. While telling a joke may elicit a physical response such as laughter, it is not considered a somatic response as it is a voluntary action. Crying is also not a somatic response as it is typically a reaction to a strong emotional feeling rather than a stimulus. Dreaming is considered an unconscious activity and therefore is not classified as a somatic response.