Question 1

When Donovan was 4 years old,he was startled and began to cry when a car backfired just as he was walking past a fire hydrant.As an adult,Donovan is still fearful of fire hydrants and avoids walking near them.Based on principles of classical conditioning,what is Donovan's current fear of fire hydrants

Accepted Answer

Donovan's current fear of fire hydrants is a conditioned response, which developed as a result of associating the neutral stimulus (fire hydrant) with the unconditioned stimulus (loud noise of the car backfiring) that initially caused an unconditioned response (fear/crying). Over time, the fire hydrant alone became enough to elicit the fear response without the loud noise.

Question 2

In systematic desensitization,what type of response is supposed to replace the fear response

Accepted Answer

In systematic desensitization, the fear response is gradually replaced by a relaxation response through a hierarchy of exposure to the feared stimulus. Therefore, the correct response that replaces the fear response is relaxation.

Question 3

When Ling was 8 years old,she was startled and began to cry when a car backfired just as she was walking under a ladder.As an adult,Ling is still terrified of ladders.Based on principles of classical conditioning,what term is used to label the sound of the car backfiring

Accepted Answer

The sound of the car backfiring is considered an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally (without prior conditioning) elicited a response of fear or startle from Ling, which is an unconditioned response.

Question 4

Given the results of studies that have examined the effectiveness of insight therapy,which portion of therapy tends to result in the greatest improvement

Accepted Answer

The greatest improvement in therapy often occurs in the early stages, specifically within the first 10 to 20 sessions. This period is crucial for establishing a therapeutic alliance, setting goals, and beginning to address the client's concerns, which can lead to significant initial progress.

Question 5

With regard to psychological disorders,what does spontaneous remission refer to

Accepted Answer

Spontaneous remission refers to the recovery from a disorder that occurs without formal treatment. This means that the individual recovers without undergoing any therapy, medication or other forms of intervention.

Question 6

You make an appointment to see a therapist and,as you are waiting,you notice that a large number of the books on the therapist's shelves deal with the work of Joseph Wolpe.What should you expect from this therapist

Accepted Answer

Joseph Wolpe developed the technique of counterconditioning, specifically systematic desensitization, which is a behavioral therapy for reducing anxiety responses. Therefore, if a therapist has many books on Joseph Wolpe's work, it is likely that they will use these techniques in their therapy sessions, with an emphasis on reducing anxiety through counterconditioning.

Question 7

From where does behaviour therapy derive its principles

Accepted Answer

Behaviour therapy derives its principles from research by B. F. Skinner, Hans Eysenck, and Joseph Wolpe, specifically in the areas of operant and classical conditioning.

Question 8

When Kayla was 6 years old,her older brother hid in her closet,then unexpectedly jumped out and grabbed her when she came into her dark bedroom.Kayla is still frightened in dark places,even as an adult.Based on principles of classical conditioning,what term describes the experience of being grabbed unexpectedly by her brother

Accepted Answer

The experience of being grabbed unexpectedly by her brother is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally and automatically elicits a fear response in Kayla, without any prior learning or conditioning. This fear response has become associated with dark places through classical conditioning, as it occurred in her dark bedroom.

Question 9

According to behaviour therapists,how should pathological behaviours be viewed

Accepted Answer

Behaviour therapists view pathological behaviours as learned behaviours that can be modified directly through the application of established principles of conditioning. They believe that these behaviours are not the product of unconscious conflicts or irrational thinking, but rather are the result of environmental factors such as reinforcement and punishment. Therefore, they focus on using techniques such as operant or classical conditioning to modify and replace the problematic behaviours with more adaptive ones.

Question 10

What does behaviour therapy require

Accepted Answer

Behaviour therapy requires that the client's complaints be translated into specific, measurable, and observable behavioural goals, which provide a clear focus for treatment.

Answer: D 
 Behaviour therapy is typically client-driven, with the therapist serving as a guide and coach rather than an authority figure. The client must be willing to actively participate in the therapeutic process and take the lead in setting goals and implementing behaviour change strategies.

Question 11

Joseph Wolpe launched behaviour therapy in 1958.Which technique did he develop

Accepted Answer

Joseph Wolpe developed systematic desensitization, a technique used in behaviour therapy to help individuals overcome phobias and anxiety by gradually exposing them to their fears while teaching relaxation techniques. Aversion therapy (A) is used to discourage undesirable behaviour through negative associations. Rational emotive therapy (C) is a type of cognitive therapy that challenges irrational beliefs. Social skills training (D) focuses on improving an individual's ability to effectively communicate and interact with others. While Wolpe made contributions to cognitive-behavioural therapy, his most significant contribution was the development of systematic desensitization.

Question 12

What type of conditioning is the basis for systematic desensitization

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a form of therapy that is based on classical conditioning. It involves exposing an individual to a feared object or situation in a controlled and gradual manner, while at the same time introducing relaxation techniques to help the individual manage their anxiety. Over time, the individual learns to associate the feared object or situation with relaxation rather than fear, leading to a reduction in anxiety in the presence of the once-feared stimulus.

Question 13

When evaluating the effectiveness of insight therapies,what is typically found

Accepted Answer

Research has consistently shown that insight therapies, such as psychoanalytic and humanistic therapies, are more effective than placebo treatments in improving mental health outcomes. While drug therapy may be more effective for certain conditions, such as severe depression, insight therapy has been found to have long-lasting effects and can help individuals better understand and cope with their emotions and behaviors. Additionally, insight therapy can be used in combination with other therapies to enhance overall effectiveness.

Question 14

If you think about a snake phobia in classical conditioning terms,what term is used to describe the sight of the snake

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, the sight of the snake would be the conditioned stimulus (CS), which is the neutral stimulus that becomes associated with the unconditioned stimulus (US) (in this case, the fear response to snakes) through repeated pairings. Over time, the CS elicits a conditioned response (CR), which is the same response as the original unconditioned response (UR) but is now triggered by the CS alone.

Question 15

What would be a behaviour therapist's focus in treating an abnormal behaviour

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapists focus on modifying the environmental cues and consequences associated with the troublesome behavior, rather than exploring the unconscious conflicts or thoughts patterns that underlie the behavior. Their goal is to change the behavior itself, rather than addressing the larger psychological issues that may contribute to it. Additionally, they typically focus on present behavior, rather than childhood experiences or future self-actualization.

Question 16

Dr.Stroetz believes that most psychological disorders can be successfully treated if clients' vague complaints are translated into concrete behavioural goals.Knowing this,you might expect that Dr.Stroetz's bookshelves contain a large number of books written by which authors

Accepted Answer

According to the scenario, Dr. Stroetz believes in the importance of concrete behavioral goals for successful treatment of psychological disorders. This aligns with the principles of behaviorism, a theoretical perspective that emphasizes observable behaviors and the use of specific techniques to modify those behaviors. B.F. Skinner and Joseph Wolpe are both prominent behaviorists who have written extensively on the subject of behavior therapy, which focuses on changing problematic behaviors through systematic interventions. Therefore, it is likely that Dr. Stroetz's bookshelves contain a large number of books written by these authors. Options A, B, and D are less likely since they are associated with different theoretical perspectives, such as psychoanalysis, cognitive therapy, and humanistic psychology, respectively.

Question 17

Carolyn had been feeling extremely depressed over the loss of her job,and she had considered seeing a therapist for help with her depression.However,for the past week she has been feeling much better and has decided that she doesn't need professional treatment after all.In this case,what appears to have happened to Carolyn

Accepted Answer

Spontaneous remission refers to a situation where someone's symptoms improve on their own without any specific treatment or intervention. In this case, Carolyn's depressive symptoms have improved without any professional treatment, pointing to the possibility of a spontaneous remission.

Question 18

When Brett was 6 years old,his older sister hid in his closet,then unexpectedly jumped out and scared him when he came into his dark bedroom.Brett is still terrified of the dark even as an adult.Based on principles of classical conditioning,what is Brett's fear of the dark

Accepted Answer

Brett's fear of the dark is a conditioned response because it was learned through association with the unconditioned stimulus (his sister jumping out and scaring him) and the conditioned stimulus (the dark).

Question 19

What is the basic learning principle used in Wolpe's systematic desensitization

Accepted Answer

Wolpe's systematic desensitization is based on the principle of counterconditioning, which involves replacing an undesirable response with a desirable response. In this technique, the client is gradually exposed to the feared object or situation while in a relaxed state, allowing them to develop a new response (relaxation) to the previously feared stimulus.

Question 20

If you are evaluating clients' subjective ratings of changes in their feelings,measures of clients' behavioural changes,and therapists' subjective ratings of changes in clients' adaptive functioning,what are you trying to measure

Accepted Answer

By evaluating clients' subjective ratings of changes in their feelings, measures of clients' behavioural changes, and therapists' subjective ratings of changes in clients' adaptive functioning, the goal is to measure the effectiveness of therapy. This is done by assessing the changes that occur as a result of the therapy, both from the client's perspective (i.e. their subjective experience) and from the therapist's perspective (i.e. their assessment of the client's adaptive functioning). The other options (personality differences, placebo effects, and therapist competence) may be relevant factors to consider, but they are not the primary purpose of this type of evaluation.

Quiz 16: A: Treatment of Psychological Disorders