Question 1

Self-help manuals are more effective with the control of smoking and overeating than they are for overcoming depression and anxiety.

Accepted Answer

Self-help manuals can be effective for a range of issues, including depression and anxiety, but their effectiveness can vary greatly among individuals and is often dependent on the severity of the condition and the quality of the self-help material. For some, they may be very helpful for depression and anxiety, while others might find them more useful for issues like smoking and overeating. There is no one-size-fits-all answer, and effectiveness can also depend on additional support systems and personal motivation.

Question 2

Which of the following involves teaching clients to counteract irrational negative self- statements with more positive and realistic statements?

Accepted Answer

Rational-emotive therapy (RET) involves teaching clients to counteract irrational negative self-statements with more positive and realistic statements. RET is a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) that focuses on changing negative thoughts and beliefs that contribute to emotional problems. Problem-solving therapy helps clients to identify and address specific life problems and stressors, while thought-stopping therapy is a technique that involves interrupting negative thoughts or behaviors with a physical or mental cue. Behavior therapy focuses on modifying maladaptive behaviors rather than changing negative thoughts or beliefs.

Question 3

There is no evidence that people who have mastered some behavior modification principles can use them to control their own behavior without having to see a therapist.

Accepted Answer

People who have mastered behavior modification principles can indeed use them to control their own behavior, often through techniques such as self-monitoring, self-reward, and self-punishment, without necessarily having to see a therapist.

Question 4

The first step in a self-control program is to decide how to use self-reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

The first step in a self-control program is typically to clearly define the specific behavior that one wants to change or improve.

Question 5

When the words "blue sky" are repeatedly paired with actually looking at and seeing a blue sky, the words "blue sky" come to elicit the activity of "seeing" or "imagining" a blue sky.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

This is an example of respondent thinking, which occurs when a conditioned stimulus (the words "blue sky") elicits a conditioned response (the activity of "seeing" or "imagining" a blue sky) due to its repeated pairing with an unconditioned stimulus (actually looking at and seeing a blue sky). This is different from operant thinking, which involves learning through consequences and positive or negative reinforcement, and cognitive thinking, which involves the use of mental processes such as perception, attention, and memory. Positive thinking is a term used to describe a mindset focused on positivity and optimism, and is not relevant to this scenario.

Question 6

With a behavioral model of self-control, an individual must behave in some way that arranges the environment to manage his or her own subsequent behavior.

Accepted Answer

In a behavioral model of self-control, an individual uses behavior to arrange the environment in a way that will promote desired future behavior. This involves taking action to modify the environment or one's own behavior in the present to make it easier to resist temptation or to engage in behaviors that are consistent with long-term goals. This approach relies on specific techniques, such as stimulus control, self-monitoring, and self-reinforcement, to help individuals exert greater control over their behavior.

Question 7

A strategy for manipulating consequences in a self-control program is to eliminate certain reinforcers that may inadvertently strengthen an undesirable behavior.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Removing certain reinforcers that may be contributing to an undesirable behavior can help weaken that behavior and make it easier to exercise self-control.

Question 8

There is no evidence that recording and graphing a behavior is all that's needed to bring about improvement.

Accepted Answer

Recording and graphing a behavior can serve as a form of feedback and self-monitoring, which has been shown to be effective in behavior modification and improvement. This process makes individuals more aware of their behavior patterns, potentially leading to positive changes.

Question 9

A mastery criterion is a performance requirement for practicing a skill such that if the criterion is met the skill has been learned.

Accepted Answer

A mastery criterion is designed to determine whether or not a skill has truly been learned. Once a learner reaches or exceeds the mastery criterion, they can be confident that they have mastered the skill.

Question 10

Teaching a group of children to state they were going to play in a certain designated area before actually playing in that area is referred to as correspondence training.

Accepted Answer

Correspondence training is a behavior intervention technique where an individual is taught to verbally state what they are about to do before actually engaging in that behavior. This helps to increase awareness and self-monitoring of their own actions. In the given scenario, teaching children to state their intention of playing in a designated area before actually playing is an example of correspondence training.

Question 11

Many self-control problems occur because individuals lack will power.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many self-control problems occur because individuals lack...

Question 12

In behavior modification, self-control refers to some sort of force within us that makes it
possible to show self-restraint.

Accepted Answer

Self-control in behavior modification refers to the strategies and techniques individuals use to regulate their own behavior, not an internal force.

Question 13

Both a commitment to change and knowledge of change techniques are important for self-modification.

Accepted Answer

Both commitment and knowledge are necessary for successful self-modification. Without a commitment to change, individuals may not have the motivation to stick with the process. Without knowledge of change techniques, individuals may not have the skills to identify and overcome obstacles to change.

Question 14

Causes of relapse in situations include:

Accepted Answer

All of the options listed—avoidable setback situations, overreaction to occasional setbacks, and counterproductive self-talk—can contribute to relapse in situations. It is important to address each of these potential causes in order to prevent relapse and maintain progress towards goals.

Question 15

For many self-control problems, the immediate reinforcement for consumption of harmful substances wins out over the unnoticeable and immediate negative effects that are only cumulatively significant.

Accepted Answer

This statement is generally true for self-control problems related to substance abuse, as the immediate pleasure or relief provided by the substance often outweighs the long-term negative consequences. However, there may be some situations in which the negative effects are more immediately noticeable and impactful.

Question 16

Reinforcing a child for stating what s/he intends to do and then for later doing that behavior is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Correspondence training involves reinforcing a child for stating what they intend to do and then for later doing that behavior, promoting consistency between verbal statements and actions.

Question 17

Who developed rational-emotive behavior therapy?

Accepted Answer

Rational-emotive behavior therapy was developed by Albert Ellis in the 1950s.

Question 18

That individuals interpret and react to events in terms of their perceived significance, and that maladaptive cognitions can cause emotional disorders, are two major assumptions of:

Accepted Answer

The two assumptions described are fundamental principles of cognitive therapy, which emphasizes the role of thoughts and beliefs in shaping emotions and behavior. Operant and respondent therapies focus more on learning principles and behavior modification, while behavior therapy is a more general term that encompasses a variety of approaches to treating psychological problems.

Question 19

Believing, thinking, and perceiving are three things that describe:

Accepted Answer

Believing, thinking, and perceiving all fall under the category of cognition, which refers to the mental processes involved in gaining knowledge and understanding through thought, experience, and senses. Respondent and operant thinking both fall under the umbrella of behaviorism, which focuses on observable behavior rather than internal mental processes. Self-control refers to a person's ability to regulate their own behavior and impulses, which is not directly related to cognition.

Question 20

Some self-control problems occur because of the influence of immediate small reinforcers for problem behaviors as compared to delayed stronger reinforcers for desirable behaviors.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Self-control problems can arise when the immediate rewards or reinforcement for engaging in a behavior that one knows they should not do are greater than the long-term rewards or reinforcement that come with practicing self-control and engaging in desirable behaviors. This is known as the "delay discounting" effect, where people tend to devalue future rewards in favor of immediate rewards.

Quiz 31: Shaping and Schedules of Reinforcement: A Comprehensive Guide