Question

Explain why the smell of smoke when you are sitting at a campfire does not trigger alarm, but the smell of smoke in your residence hall does.

Short answer

Answer: The smell of smoke at a campfire does not cause alarm because it is an expected part of the experience in an outdoor setting with minimal associated risk. In contrast, the smell of smoke in a residence hall is unexpected and associated with a high risk of danger, so it triggers an alarm in the brain, initiating the stress response to react to the potential threat.

Step-by-step solution

Identify the factors and context for each situation.

In the campfire situation, you are outdoors, and it is expected to have a fire for warmth, light, and other purposes. In the residence hall situation, you are indoors, and fires are not allowed or expected in that closed environment.

Discuss the perception of risk in each situation.

At a campfire, the smell of smoke comes from controlled fire, and the risk of it getting out of control is relatively small. You are aware of the fire and can manage it. However, in the residence hall, the smell of smoke may indicate an uncontrolled fire, which poses a threat to the safety of all occupants. This causes a sense of alarm.

Address the role of prior experience and expectation in each situation.

When attending a campfire, people expect to smell smoke because a campfire is an intended source of fire.Campfires are also associated with positive experiences such as relaxation, cooking, and socialization. On the other hand, in a residence hall, the smell of smoke is not a part of the expected experience, and people associate it with negative events like fire hazards, and property damage.

Explain the brain's response to perceived danger.

When the brain perceives potential danger, such as smelling smoke in an unexpected context, it triggers a stress response and alerts the body to a possible threat. This response includes increased heart rate, rapid breathing, and heightened senses to react to the danger quickly. When the brain recognizes the smell of smoke in the context of a campfire, it does not perceive it as a threat, so it doesn't trigger a stress response.

Conclusion

The smell of smoke at a campfire does not trigger alarm because it is an expected part of the experience in an outdoor setting, and the associated risk is minimal. In contrast, the smell of smoke in a residence hall is unexpected and associated with a high risk of danger, so it triggers an alarm in the brain, initiating the stress response to react to the potential threat.