Deck 21: Case Studies 39-44

Question 1

Use Seligman's concepts of learned helplessness, learned optimism and explanatory style to explain Kiara and Malik's behavior by answering the following questions.
Compare and contrast Seligman's concepts of learned helplessness and learned optimism.Has Kiara learned to be helpless or optimistic? Malik? Explain.

Answer 1

Seligman's concept of learned helplessness suggests a perception of a lack of control over one's environment, whereas learned optimism implies a sense of control over the environment.A sense of control seems to result in greater happiness, for example, an increased sense of control in nursing home patients resulted in them becoming more physically active and more social than those who had a lower perception of control.It was also associated with a lower death rate.Generally, a sense of control results in efforts to control one's environment and a sense of no control results in one not trying to control or influence the environment even when it can be controlled or influenced.Kiara seems to have learned to be optimistic.Her sister describes her as cheerful and she seems to feel that she has control over her health, e.g.she exercises, does not smoke, eats right, and goes for regular medical examinations in an effort to avoid obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.Malik seems to have learned helplessness as evidenced by his reaction to Kiara's illness.He thinks she is going to dies from cancer and that he can do nothing to prevent it.

Question 2

Use Seligman's concepts of learned helplessness, learned optimism and explanatory style to explain Darren and Quincy's behaviors by answering the following questions.
Define learned optimism.Find an example of learned optimism in the case and explain how the behavior fits the definition of the concept.

Answer 2

Again, quite literally, learned optimism is the condition of learning to be optimistic.A person (or animal) learns to believe that s/he has control over her/his environment or over a situation or outcome.An example of learned optimism can be found in Quincy's behavior when he attempts to improve his pre-calculus grade.He first goes to his professor for advice; then he works harder and longer on his homework.When that does not work, he begins, and participates in, a study group that ultimately allows him to improve his grade.He did not give up trying to improve.Rather, he tried a variety of techniques that could potentially improve his performance.

Question 3

Use Seligman's concepts of learned helplessness, learned optimism and explanatory style to explain Darren and Quincy's behaviors by answering the following questions.
Define learned helplessness.Find examples of learned helplessness in the case and explain how the behavior fits the definition of the concept.

Answer 3

Quite literally, learned helplessness is a matter of a person (or animal) learning to be helpless.The person (or animal) comes to believe that a situation or an outcome is unchangeable or inescapable, even if it can be controlled in actuality.When Darren encounters some type of hardship, he minimally tries to overcome it but once he has failed to do so, he gives up trying and begins to believe that he cannot control it.This giving up and this belief that he has no control over the obstacle is learned helplessness.Darren displays multiple examples of learned helplessness.This is shown in the first part of the case when Darren loses his job, initially tries to find another one, but is unsuccessful, and then starts to believe that he will never be able to find another job.This is also seen as Darren attempts to lose weight but when he does not, he comes to believe that he will never be able to lose the "freshman fifteen." Finally, learned helplessness is depicted as Darren comes to believe that he will never be able to pull his pre-calculus grade up from a C to a higher grade.He believes that his behavior has no effect on event outcomes.

Question 4

How does Seligman's concept of learned helplessness and learned optimism relate to the concept of health locus of control?

Question 5

According to Seligman, is Angela's concern that Malik will wreck Kiara's optimism a valid concern?

Question 6

How are Seligman's concepts of learned helplessness and learned optimism related to Erikson's theory?

Question 7

How does the hostility component of the Type A (or anger-prone) personality compare to Horney's aggressive personality?

Question 8

Describe the symptoms that indicate that Malik is experiencing depression.How could Seligman explain Malik's depression?

Question 9

Application Questions
Use the concepts of Type A and Type B Behavior Patterns to explain Bruce's behavior by answering the following questions.
Could Bruce be considered Type A or Type B? Why? Provide evidence for your answer.

Question 10

Quincy is uncertain whether Darren's repeated pattern of giving up, when he faces an obstacle, is due to an inherited trait or due to learning.According to Seligman, how does this behavior pattern develop? Is it likely to be inherited or learned?

Question 11

What are some of the negative effects of Type A behavior? What are some of the positive effects?

Question 12

Use Skinner's concepts of radical behaviorism to explain Lydia and Madison's behavior and relationship.

Question 13

Application Questions
Use the concept of social anxiety to explain Claire's behavior by answering the following questions.
What are the characteristics of people with social anxiety? Find examples of these in the case.

Question 14

Use the concepts of Type A and Type B Behavior Patterns to explain Lydia and Madison's behavior by answering the following questions.
What are the three components of Type A Behavior? Define them and find examples of them in the case.

Question 15

Which component of the Type A Behavior Pattern is most associated with heart disease? Based upon the description of Lydia's behavior, predict whether she will develop heart disease or not.Explain.

Question 16

How can Kelly's individuality corollary account for Madison and Lydia's difference in opinion about who should be first flute in their school's marching band?

Question 17

What types of nonverbal behaviors are indicators of Type A behavior? Does Bruce demonstrate any of them? Explain.

Question 18

How are Seligman's concepts of explanatory style different from Rotter's concepts of external and internal locus of control?

Question 19

What aspect of Seligman's theory is related to Bandura's theory?

Question 20

How are Type A and Type B Behaviors similar? How are they different? Would Lydia be considered Type A or Type B? Would Madison be considered Type A or Type B? Explain.

Question 21

Why does Emilio become quiet or repeat what someone else has said when talking with more than a couple people?

Question 22

Application Questions
Use the concept of social anxiety to explain Emilio's behavior by answering the following questions.
What are other terms people use to refer to social anxiety? How are they the same? How are they different? Is Emilio socially anxious or can another term more accurately describe his behavior? Why?

Question 23

Application Questions
Use the concept of social anxiety to explain Emilio's behavior by answering the following questions.
What seems to be the cause of Emilio's social anxiety?

Question 24

Application Questions
Use the concept of social anxiety to explain Emilio's behavior by answering the following questions.
What are some physiological symptoms of social anxiety? Does Emilio display any of them? Explain.

Question 25

How is social anxiety different from introversion? Would Claire be better described as introverted or socially anxious? Why?

Question 26

Use Skinner's radical behaviorism to explain Claire's behavior.

Question 27

Social anxiety can create a cycle of social isolation and increased social anxiety.How can the avoidant behaviors of socially anxious people create social isolation? What types of behaviors does Claire engage in that create her loneliness?