Joe comes to the counseling 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, in order to determine what is maintaining the behavior. This is important information for developing an effective treatment plan. Option A refers to internal factors such as beliefs, attitudes, and personality traits that may contribute to the anxiety, but these are not the focus of the homework assignment. Option B refers to negative reinforcement, which involves the removal of aversive stimuli to increase behavior, and is not necessarily present before Joe's anxiety attacks. Option C refers to classical conditioning, which may be involved in the development of anxiety but is not directly relevant to the homework assignment.

Joe Comes to the Counseling Center with Complaints of "Overwhelming