PPCT Defensive Tactics Questions with Correct Answers (Grade A+)
Question 1: The Autonomic Nervous System controls ______________________
Answer: Involuntary actions (heart stomach, etc)
Question 2: The 2 branches of the ANS are:
Answer: -Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) -Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
Question 3: Which system is responsible for flight or flight?
Answer: Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
Question 4: What is the balance between SNS and PNS called?
Answer: Homeostasis
Question 5: When does the highest level of cerebral cortex processing happen?
Answer: Homeostasis
Question 6: What are the SNS activation triggers?
Answer: -Objective threat perceptions -Objective fear perceptions -Physical exhaustion -Startle response
Question 7: The objective threat perception includes...
Answer: -Threat is within close proximity -Minimal time to control threat -Person is not confident with their
abilities -Threat perception is a new experience
Question 8: The Objective Fear Perception includes....
Answer: -Fear of death -Injury -Killing -Incorrect decision making -Failure -Or fear itself
Question 9: Physical Exhaustion includes...
Answer: -Depletion of ATP fuel system -Inadequate nutrition -Can cause officers to escalate their use of
force
Question 10: The startle response includes...
Answer: -Spontaneous threat -Unexpected loud noise -Unexpected touch -Threat is within close proximity
Page 1
, Question 11: Sympathetic Nervous System Activation and Physiological Changes
Answer: -Adrenal Activity -Vascular Activity -Perceptual Narrowing
Question 12: Increased adrenal activity effects....
Answer: Heart rate, respiration, pupil dilation, auditory exclusion
Question 13: What are the mental states in combat?
Answer: -Combat anxiety -Survival stress -Combat stress
Question 14: Combat Anxiety
Answer: The anticipation of danger
Question 15: Survival stress
Answer: Deadly force threat perception that initiates the SNS dischage
Question 16: Combat stress
Answer: PNS backlash-can distort memory
Question 17: How does SNS activation effect vision?
Answer: -Tunnel vision (reduction of up to 70% in the peripheral field) -Loss of (near vision, ability to
focus, depth perception, night vision, etc)
Question 18: What are the different motor skill classifications?
Answer: -Fine -Complex -Gross
Question 19: What type of motor skill increases in effectiveness from SNS activation?
Answer: Gross
Question 20: What is the heart range for optimal performace?
Answer: 115 to 145
Question 21: What is the inverted U-law?
Answer: -Relationship between heart rate and performance -As arousal increases, so will motor
performance to a point at which the arousal is too high and motor performance deteriorates
Page 2
Question 1: The Autonomic Nervous System controls ______________________
Answer: Involuntary actions (heart stomach, etc)
Question 2: The 2 branches of the ANS are:
Answer: -Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS) -Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
Question 3: Which system is responsible for flight or flight?
Answer: Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)
Question 4: What is the balance between SNS and PNS called?
Answer: Homeostasis
Question 5: When does the highest level of cerebral cortex processing happen?
Answer: Homeostasis
Question 6: What are the SNS activation triggers?
Answer: -Objective threat perceptions -Objective fear perceptions -Physical exhaustion -Startle response
Question 7: The objective threat perception includes...
Answer: -Threat is within close proximity -Minimal time to control threat -Person is not confident with their
abilities -Threat perception is a new experience
Question 8: The Objective Fear Perception includes....
Answer: -Fear of death -Injury -Killing -Incorrect decision making -Failure -Or fear itself
Question 9: Physical Exhaustion includes...
Answer: -Depletion of ATP fuel system -Inadequate nutrition -Can cause officers to escalate their use of
force
Question 10: The startle response includes...
Answer: -Spontaneous threat -Unexpected loud noise -Unexpected touch -Threat is within close proximity
Page 1
, Question 11: Sympathetic Nervous System Activation and Physiological Changes
Answer: -Adrenal Activity -Vascular Activity -Perceptual Narrowing
Question 12: Increased adrenal activity effects....
Answer: Heart rate, respiration, pupil dilation, auditory exclusion
Question 13: What are the mental states in combat?
Answer: -Combat anxiety -Survival stress -Combat stress
Question 14: Combat Anxiety
Answer: The anticipation of danger
Question 15: Survival stress
Answer: Deadly force threat perception that initiates the SNS dischage
Question 16: Combat stress
Answer: PNS backlash-can distort memory
Question 17: How does SNS activation effect vision?
Answer: -Tunnel vision (reduction of up to 70% in the peripheral field) -Loss of (near vision, ability to
focus, depth perception, night vision, etc)
Question 18: What are the different motor skill classifications?
Answer: -Fine -Complex -Gross
Question 19: What type of motor skill increases in effectiveness from SNS activation?
Answer: Gross
Question 20: What is the heart range for optimal performace?
Answer: 115 to 145
Question 21: What is the inverted U-law?
Answer: -Relationship between heart rate and performance -As arousal increases, so will motor
performance to a point at which the arousal is too high and motor performance deteriorates
Page 2
