Individuals with _____ consume large quantities of food to reduce negative emotions such as sadness and anxiety. This short-lasting relief ultimately gives rise to concern about weight gain, causing them to vomit or use laxatives to reduce this anxiety. A behavioral psychologist would interpret this vicious cycle in terms of _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The given symptoms are of bulimia nervosa, where individuals use binge eating and purging behaviors to alleviate negative emotions. This is an example of negative reinforcement, as the behavior of purging removes the negative emotion and is therefore reinforced. Positive punishment would involve an aversive consequence for a behavior, which is not the case here. Anorexia nervosa involves restrictive eating rather than binge eating, so options A and B can be eliminated. Option C is also incorrect as it mistakenly attributes the symptoms to anorexia nervosa.

Individuals with _____ Consume Large Quantities of Food to Reduce