Anna is terrified of speaking in public. She always finds an excuse to avoid public speaking or is able to get someone to speak for her. Anna once had a full-blown panic attack when her boss called on her unexpectedly to speak at a meeting. Her boss strongly suggested that Anna seek treatment for her problem. How might a behaviourist explain Anna's problem?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A behaviourist would explain Anna's problem as resulting from classical conditioning and negative reinforcement of avoidance behaviour. Anna has likely had negative experiences with public speaking in the past, leading to anxiety and avoidance. By continuing to avoid public speaking, Anna is being negatively reinforced by the reduction of anxiety, which reinforces the avoidance behaviour. This creates a vicious cycle that reinforces Anna's fear of public speaking. Cognitive factors or childhood abuse are not necessary to explain Anna's behaviour according to a behaviourist perspective.

Anna Is Terrified of Speaking in Public