Question 1

Which of the following instances would be the most effective use of mild punishment in a behavioral contract?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following instances would be...

Question 2

Most nights Ian comes home from work,turns on the TV,and eats a whole bag of cookies or chips.He then takes a shower and changes clothes.By supper time,he has lost his appetite.Ian realizes he is substituting junk food for supper.For instance,he could shower immediately when he gets home or avoid turning on the TV until after supper. Ian will be utilizing the strategy that involves

Accepted Answer

Breaking up response chains involves identifying the sequence of behaviors or events that lead to the unwanted behavior and then interrupting that sequence by changing one or more steps. In this case, Ian's behavior sequence involves coming home, turning on the TV, and eating junk food, all leading to the loss of his appetite for supper. By showering immediately when he gets home or avoiding turning on the TV until after supper, Ian can break up the response chain and reduce his tendency to substitute junk food for supper.

Question 3

Which of the following involves a simple tally of response frequencies that can help you break undesirable behavior patterns and provides feedback about your progress in developing desirable behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Self-recording involves keeping track of one's own behaviors and can be done through simple tallying of response frequencies. This can help identify patterns and provide feedback on progress towards developing desirable behaviors.

Question 4

Greg has not been making any progress toward his weight loss for the past six months.So,he and his wife draw up a formal agreement in which he states that he will meet weekly weight loss goals with the rewards for meeting these goals listed and the consequences he will incur if he does not meet his weekly goal.Greg and his wife are utilizing which of the following to help Greg lose weight?

Accepted Answer

Greg and his wife are utilizing a behavioral contract, which is a formal agreement with specific measurable goals and consequences for meeting or not meeting those goals. This is a common technique in behavior modification for weight loss and other behavioral changes. The Premack principle involves using a preferred activity to reinforce a less preferred activity and higher order conditioning involves pairing a neutral stimulus with a previously conditioned stimulus to create a new conditioned stimulus. Self-recording involves tracking and monitoring one's own behavior. These techniques may be used in conjunction with a behavioral contract but are not the primary method being used in this scenario.

Question 5

Self-management based on keeping records of response frequencies is known as

Accepted Answer

Self-recording involves keeping records of one's own behaviors or responses, which can then be used to monitor and manage behavior. The Premack principle, observational learning, and response chaining are all related concepts but do not specifically involve keeping records of response frequencies.

Question 6

When trying to change a bad habit,if a person were to finally discover what is reinforcing an unwanted response and then remove,avoid,or delay the reinforcement,we would say this person has utilized the technique known as

Accepted Answer

Extinction is a technique used to eliminate a behavior by removing the reinforcement that is maintaining it. In this case, the person has identified what is reinforcing the unwanted response and has taken steps to remove, avoid, or delay that reinforcement in order to eliminate the behavior. Modeling refers to learning by observing others, breaking response chains involves identifying and eliminating specific steps that lead to the unwanted behavior, and cues and antecedents refer to the environmental triggers that lead to the behavior. While these techniques may also be helpful in changing behavior, they are not specifically related to the use of extinction to eliminate unwanted responses.

Question 7

The key to any self-management program is

Accepted Answer

Self-recording provides feedback which helps in monitoring progress, identifying patterns, and making necessary adjustments. It is an important component of any self-management program. Social support and adjusting the schedule are also important, but they are not the key to the program. Punishment is not a recommended approach for self-management as it can lead to negative emotions and decreased motivation.

Question 8

Fatima has developed a habit of taking longer and longer "breaks" to watch TV when she should be studying.Obviously,TV watching is reinforcing her break taking.To improve her study habits,Fatima could delay reinforcement by studying at the library or some other location a good distance from her TV.In this way,she will remove the reinforcement for "taking breaks." This strategy for breaking bad habits is known as

Accepted Answer

Extinction is the process of gradually reducing the frequency or eliminating a behavior by removing the reinforcement that is maintaining it. In this case, the reinforcement for Fatima's habit of taking breaks is TV watching. By studying at a location away from the TV, she is removing the reinforcement for taking breaks and gradually reducing the frequency of this behavior. Modeling refers to learning by observing others, shaping refers to the process of reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior, and latent learning refers to learning that occurs without apparent reinforcement. None of these concepts accurately describe the situation described in the question.

Question 9

In a self-management program,self-recording

Accepted Answer

Self-recording is important in a self-management program because it allows individuals to track their progress towards their goals and to receive feedback on their actions. This feedback can encourage individuals to continue making positive changes and can help them to identify areas where additional effort may be needed. Setting and adjusting goals is also an important part of self-management, but this is done in addition to self-recording, not instead of it. Extra rewards or the Premack principle may be helpful for some individuals, but they are not necessary for effective self-management.

Question 10

Tomas and Eric have both developed a habit of walking over to each other's offices when they want to take a break from their work.However these breaks have increasingly gotten longer and louder because they enjoy talking to each other.Recently both Tomas and Eric have had to take more and more work home to finish plus getting the "evil eye" stare from the boss several times.Tomas and Eric have decided to only see each other at lunch and after work and to not go to each other's offices unless it is required by office business.By doing this,Tomas and Eric have removed the reinforcement for "hanging out" at the office and also increased their productivity during working hours. This strategy for breaking bad habits is known as

Accepted Answer

Extinction is the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a behavior due to the lack of reinforcement. In this case, the reinforcement for Tomas and Eric's habit of hanging out at each other's offices was the enjoyment of talking and taking a break from work. By removing this reinforcement and only seeing each other during designated times, they are extinguishing the habit and increasing their productivity during working hours.

Question 11

Regarding self-recording,which of the following statements is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

While it is generally recommended to keep track of the number of times the behavior occurred, where it occurred, and the time it occurred, recording one's feelings is not necessary for effective self-recording. It may be helpful for some individuals, but it is not essential to the process.

Question 12

If you scramble the sequence of events that precede an undesirable response,you are

Accepted Answer

Scrambling the sequence of events that precede an undesirable response often involves breaking up the response chain by introducing a delay or adding additional steps. This can help to disrupt the learned association between the cues and the undesirable response, making it less likely to occur.

Question 13

If you try to avoid,narrow down,or remove stimuli that elicit the bad habit,you are breaking this bad habit using the strategy that involves

Accepted Answer

The strategy mentioned in the question - avoiding, narrowing down, or removing stimuli that elicit the bad habit - is a technique that involves cues and antecedents. This strategy helps in breaking the association between the cue and the bad habit, ultimately leading to a reduction in the frequency of the habit. Options A, C, and D are not applicable in this context.

Question 14

Tina always seems to be a little late for work every morning because she spends so much time drinking coffee and reading the morning paper that she has to rush through her shower and her selection of clothes.So,she has decided to get a cup of coffee and drink it while selecting her clothes,then take a shower,and,if any time remains,she will have a second cup of coffee and read the morning paper.Tina is utilizing the strategy that involves

Accepted Answer

Tina is breaking up her usual response chain of having coffee and reading the paper before showering and getting dressed. By changing the order of her routine, she is able to allocate her time better and avoid being late for work.

Question 15

David is a recovering alcoholic.He has not had a drink in eight months.David has avoided parties where alcohol is served,found new friends who do not drink and stayed away from bars.Of the strategies listed in your text for breaking a bad habit,David is using the one involving

Accepted Answer

David is using the strategy involving cues and antecedents by avoiding situations and environments (parties, bars) and people (friends who drink) that could trigger his desire to drink alcohol. This approach focuses on removing or avoiding the triggers that lead to the unwanted behavior.

Question 16

Brandon wants to cut down on smoking.So,he removes ashtrays,matches,and extra cigarettes from his house and office,keeping them only in the car.Of the strategies listed in your textbook for breaking a bad habit,Brandon is using the one involving

Accepted Answer

The answer of Brandon wants to cut down on smoking.So,he...

Question 17

A formal agreement stating behaviors to be changed and consequences that apply is known as

Accepted Answer

A behavioral contract is a formal agreement between two parties, usually a therapist and client, that outlines specific behaviors that will be changed and the consequences that will apply if the behaviors are not changed. This contract helps to clarify goals and expectations and provides accountability for both parties. The Premack principle refers to using a preferred activity as a reward for completing a less preferred activity, while higher order conditioning involves pairing a conditioned stimulus with a new stimulus to create a second, conditioned response. Self-recording refers to individuals keeping track of their own behaviors to increase awareness and accountability.

Question 18

Self-recording is important in managing your own behavior because

Accepted Answer

Self-recording allows individuals to track their progress towards their goals, which can be inherently rewarding. The act of seeing progress can motivate individuals to continue practicing positive behaviors. The other options (A, C, D) are not necessarily relevant to the importance of self-recording.

Question 19

Ginger has been procrastinating on finishing her dissertation.So,she and her fiance draw up a formal agreement in which she states that she will meet weekly deadlines on the number of pages she will complete and the rewards she will receive,such as eating out at her favorite restaurant,and the consequences she will incur,such as chores she hates to do.Ginger and her fiance are utilizing which of the following to help Ginger finish her dissertation?

Accepted Answer

Ginger and her fiance are using a behavioral contract, which is a formal agreement that outlines specific behaviors, rewards, and consequences to help achieve a specific goal or behavior change. The contract helps increase accountability and motivation to follow through on the agreed-upon behaviors and rewards.

Question 20

A "behavioral contract" is a(n)

Accepted Answer

A behavioral contract is a system of self-management where an individual outlines specific goals and commitments they will make to themselves in order to modify their behavior. It involves setting specific, measurable goals, outlining the steps necessary to achieve those goals, and monitoring progress towards them. The contract can be created and agreed upon between an individual and a therapist, counselor, or support group.

Quiz 32: Psychology in Action: Behavioral Self-Management