Question 1

A parent wishes to stop her young son from throwing temper tantrums. You suggest she use extinction and advise her to___________.

Accepted Answer

Extinction refers to the process of withholding reinforcement that reinforces undesirable behavior. In the case of temper tantrums, the parent should ignore the tantrums and only pay attention to the child when he is calm. Giving attention during a tantrum could inadvertently reinforce the behavior and the child will continue to throw tantrums for attention. Therefore, ignoring the tantrums will help to decrease the likelihood of the child engaging in that behavior in the future. Spanking or physical restraint may result in aggression and can be harmful to the child's emotional and physical well-being. Giving a gold star and a hug when the child is calm may reinforce calm behavior, but it may not stop the child from throwing tantrums in the future.

Question 2

Which technique removes a reinforcer to reduce the frequency of a behavior?

Accepted Answer

Extinction involves removing the positive reinforcer that maintains a behavior in order to decrease the frequency of that behavior. Punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus to decrease the frequency of a behavior, while negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus to increase the frequency of a behavior. Systematic desensitization is a technique used to treat anxiety disorders and involves gradually exposing the individual to the feared stimulus while using relaxation techniques.

Question 3

Every time Alice cleans her room properly and makes the bed she receives a marble. When she accumulates 100 marbles, she can get the new video game she wants. What type of behavioral program are Alice's parents using?

Accepted Answer

Alice's parents are using a token economy system, where Alice receives a token (marble) for performing a desired behavior (cleaning her room and making the bed). These tokens can eventually be exchanged for a reward (the video game). This type of system reinforces positive behavior through the use of tangible rewards.

Question 4

Behavior modification is based on ________ principles.

Accepted Answer

Behavior modification is a therapeutic approach that relies heavily on the principles of operant conditioning, mainly positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction. Through these principles, the therapist seeks to modify and shape the patient's behaviors by reinforcing desired behaviors and eliminating unwanted ones. The other options (B, C, and D) are not commonly associated with behavior modification.

Question 5

A _________ is a method of reinforcement that uses a formal written agreement in which the goals for behavioral change, reinforcements, and penalties are clearly stated.

Accepted Answer

A response contingency is a method of reinforcement that involves a formal written agreement detailing the goals for behavioral change, reinforcements, and penalties, making it a structured approach to modifying behavior.

Question 6

At Skinner Elementary School, teachers pass out "skinner bucks" to students who turn in papers on time, obey the teacher, and finish their homework. The paper "bucks" can be traded in at the end of the week for special treats or game-playing time on the classroom computer. This system most resembles a________.

Accepted Answer

Skinner bucks represent a token economy, in which students receive tokens for desirable behavior and can trade them in for preferred items or privileges. This system is based on operant conditioning principles, in which behavior is increased through reinforcement.

Question 7

The use of operant techniques to modify or change undesirable behavior and increase desirable behavior is called_______.

Accepted Answer

The use of operant techniques to modify behavior is referred to as behavior modification. This involves using positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, or extinction to increase desirable behavior and decrease undesirable behavior. The other options, empty chair technique, reflection, and selective thinking, are not related to the use of operant techniques to modify behavior.

Question 8

Which of the following is a therapy based on the principles of operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Response contingency is a therapy based on the principles of operant conditioning, where desired behaviors are reinforced (rewarded) and undesired behaviors are not reinforced or punished. Systematic desensitization, flooding, and aversion therapy are all based on the principles of classical conditioning.

Question 9

The basic goal of systematic desensitization is to ________.

Accepted Answer

The basic goal of systematic desensitization is to relax individuals in the presence of a feared object or situation, gradually increasing exposure until the fear is reduced or eliminated. It works by pairing relaxation techniques with imagined or actual exposure to the feared object or situation, allowing the individual to learn new associations and reduce the fear response.

Question 10

Token economies are based on the use of ________ reinforcers to change behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Token economies use secondary reinforcers, which are tokens that can be exchanged for other rewards, to change behaviors.

Question 11

Eileen goes to a therapist for help in losing weight. She and her therapist develop a written agreement spelling out weekly step-by-step methods for Eileen to use in order to reach her weight goal. The plan specifies rewards for reaching weekly goals and penalties for not achieving them. Eileen's therapist is using which of the following methods?

Accepted Answer

This method is known as a response contingency, where rewards are given for achieving specific goals and penalties for not achieving them, directly linking consequences to behaviors.

Question 12

_________ strengthens a response by following it with a pleasurable consequence.

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement is the process of increasing the likelihood of a response by following it with a pleasurable consequence. This can be done by providing rewards or incentives that encourage the desired behavior. Positive reinforcement is a powerful tool for shaping behavior, and can be used in a variety of settings, such as classrooms, workplaces, and homes.

Question 13

An example of a self-monitoring technique would be ________.

Accepted Answer

Self-monitoring involves keeping track of a behavior or habit. Keeping a daily log of a problematic behavior can help to identify patterns and triggers, which can then be addressed and modified. B, C, and D are all useful techniques for behavior change, but they do not specifically involve self-monitoring. Setting personal goals and achieving them can be a helpful motivator, and physical relaxation exercises can help to reduce stress and anxiety, but these techniques do not involve tracking one's own behavior.

Question 14

Julie has a fear of riding in elevators. She is seeing a therapist who asks her to construct a hierarchy of her fears related to riding in elevators. In addition, her therapist is teaching her to relax while imagining each fear in the hierarchy. Julie's therapist is using__________.

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a therapy technique that involves creating a hierarchy of feared situations and then gradually exposing the person to those situations while teaching them relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety. This is what Julie's therapist is doing by having her construct a hierarchy of her fears related to riding in elevators and teaching her to relax while imagining each fear in the hierarchy. Person-centered therapy focuses on the individual's inner resources and self-direction, rational-emotive therapy focuses on changing irrational beliefs, and cognitive consistency therapy focuses on reducing cognitive dissonance.

Question 15

The view that depressive thoughts produce depressive feelings and behaviors is a hallmark of ________.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive therapy focuses on how thoughts (cognitive processes) influence feelings and behaviors, suggesting that changing maladaptive thoughts can lead to changes in feelings and behaviors, including reducing depressive symptoms. Behavior therapy primarily focuses on changing behaviors through conditioning and learning, with less emphasis on the role of thoughts.

Question 16

If Cheryl is engaged in progressive muscle relaxation, then she is most likely ________.

Accepted Answer

Progressive muscle relaxation is a technique that involves tensing and then relaxing muscles sequentially from one end of the body to the other in order to reduce muscle tension and promote relaxation. It does not involve receiving a massage, using a device, or imagining how one would feel if their muscles weren't tense.

Question 17

Craig is currently in therapy to help him stop smoking. His therapist is using learning techniques to help him modify his smoking habit and develop more desirable behaviors. Craig's therapist is using________.

Accepted Answer

The description matches behavior modification, which is a type of therapy that focuses on changing behaviors through the use of learning techniques such as positive and negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction.

Question 18

_________ strengthens a response by following it with the removal of an unpleasant stimulus.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement strengthens a response by removing an unpleasant stimulus. It is different from punishment, which weakens a response by presenting an unpleasant stimulus. Positive reinforcement strengthens a response by presenting a desirable stimulus, and extinction weakens a response by removing a desirable stimulus.

Question 19

Behavior therapy techniques are based on classical and operant conditioning. Which of the following is a behavior therapy technique based on operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Behavior modification is a behavior therapy technique based on operant conditioning, which involves reinforcing desired behaviors and withholding reinforcement for undesired behaviors. Exposure, systematic desensitization, and exposure with response prevention are based on classical conditioning.

Question 20

The strengthening of a response by following it with a pleasurable consequence or removing an unpleasant stimulus is called________.

Accepted Answer

The definition given here matches the concept of reinforcement, which involves strengthening a response by following it with a pleasurable consequence or removing an unpleasant stimulus.

Quiz 12: Treatment: Healing Actions, Healing Words