In trying to make sense of the mass suicide in Jonestown, a behaviorist would probably examine the __________.
A) rewards and punishments that Jim Jones used to influence his followers
B) prior mental health of the people who committed suicide
C) attitudes and values of the people who committed suicide
D) contents of the speeches that Jim Jones delivered to his followers

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A behaviorist would focus on the external factors that influenced the behavior of the followers, namely the rewards and punishments that Jim Jones used to shape their actions. The behaviorist would be less interested in the internal attitudes and values of the individuals or the contents of Jones's speeches, but rather in the observable actions and consequences of the group dynamics.

In Trying to Make Sense of the Mass Suicide in Jonestown