Joe comes to the counselling center with complaints of "overwhelming anxiety" in social situations. After an initial interview, the psychologist asks Joe to complete a homework assignment: identify the nature of the situations in which he is anxious. He is asked to recall what happens just before he becomes anxious and what happens immediately after he becomes anxious. What would the psychologist be trying to find out about Joe's anxiety attacks?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The psychologist is trying to identify the antecedents (what happens just before) and consequences (what happens immediately after) of Joe's anxiety attacks. This information will help the psychologist determine what is maintaining the behavior and how to intervene effectively. Option A refers to the internal states maintaining the emotional reaction, which may be determined through other methods such as self-report measures or physiological assessments. Option B refers to negative reinforcers, which are not necessarily present before the anxiety is experienced but rather after, as avoiding the anxiety-provoking situation may provide relief. Option C refers to classical conditioning, which may be relevant in some cases of anxiety but not necessarily in all cases.

Joe Comes to the Counselling Center with Complaints of "Overwhelming