Question 1

The form of behavioral therapy in which an undesirable behavior is paired with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce the frequency of the behavior is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Aversion therapy is a form of behavioral therapy in which an undesirable behavior is paired with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce the frequency of the behavior. Aversive stimuli might include things like electric shocks, bad tastes or smells, or other unpleasant experiences. This type of therapy is often used to treat addiction or compulsive behaviors.

Question 2

Willow is living with posttraumatic stress disorder. During her therapy session, her therapist asks her to move her eyes rapidly back and forth while thinking of a disturbing memory. Willow's therapist is using __________.

Accepted Answer

The technique described in the scenario is eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). This is a therapeutic approach that involves recalling traumatic memories while focusing attention on a specific external stimulus, such as moving the eyes rapidly back and forth. The goal is to desensitize the individual to the traumatic memory and reduce associated distress. Systematic desensitization, on the other hand, is a technique used to treat anxiety disorders, such as phobias, through gradual exposure to feared stimuli while in a relaxed state. Eye-memory therapy and eye therapy are not established therapeutic techniques.

Question 3

Which of the following individuals would be considered a good candidate for humanistic therapy?

Accepted Answer

Humanistic therapy is focused on helping individuals achieve personal growth and self-actualization. Aaron, who is seeking a career change, would be a good candidate for this type of therapy as he is looking to make a positive change in his life and work towards his goals. Individuals who are severely withdrawn, suffer from psychotic disorders, or are unable to verbally express themselves would be better suited for other types of therapy.

Question 4

For which of these problems would systematic desensitization most likely be used?

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique used to assist individuals in overcoming phobias by gradually exposing them to the source of their fear. In this case, Chontel's fear of heights is preventing her from enrolling in classes that meet above the first floor. Systematic desensitization could be used to help her gradually confront and manage her fear, enabling her to enroll in higher-level classes.

Question 5

Which type of therapy is based on various learning principles?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy is based on various learning principles, including operant and classical conditioning. It focuses on changing maladaptive behavior through techniques such as reinforcement, extinction, and modeling.

Question 6

Which behavior therapy technique is commonly used to treat anxieties or fears?

Accepted Answer

Exposure therapy involves slowly introducing the patient to the feared stimulus, allowing them to habituate to it and eventually overcome their anxiety or fear. This technique is commonly used in the treatment of anxieties or phobias. Interpretation, free association, and dream analysis are all psychoanalytic techniques used in psychodynamic therapy.

Question 7

__________ is a form of therapy in which clients are directed to move their eyes rapidly back and forth while engaged in brief and repeated imaginal flooding.

Accepted Answer

The given description matches the technique of Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). This therapy involves the client's eye movements to reduce the intensity of traumatic or distressing memories. The therapy includes imaginal exposure and cognitive restructuring while the client's eyes are directed to move rapidly back and forth.

Question 8

What is the basic goal of systematic desensitization?

Accepted Answer

The basic goal of systematic desensitization is to relax individuals in the presence of a feared object or situation, gradually helping them become less fearful of it. While relaxing body muscles can be a part of the process, it is not the primary goal. Addressing the causes of one's fears and understanding their thoughts when faced with a feared object or situation may be important in therapy, but they are not the main objectives of systematic desensitization.

Question 9

The use of learning techniques to modify or change undesirable behavior and increase desirable behaviors is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Applied behavior analysis is a scientific approach to understanding and changing behavior by applying learning principles and techniques. It involves careful observation of the behavior, identifying the antecedents and consequences that maintain the behavior, and designing interventions to modify the behavior. The aim is to increase desirable behaviors and decrease undesirable ones. The other choices such as empty-chair technique, reflection, and selective thinking are not specific to behavior modification techniques.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

The use of learning techniques to modify behavior is a key feature of applied behavior analysis. This approach involves identifying specific behaviors and then using reinforcement and punishment to increase or decrease their occurrence. In Heath's case, his therapist is likely using reinforcement to encourage him to not smoke (e.g. giving him a reward for not smoking) and punishment to discourage smoking (e.g. taking away a reward if he smokes).

Question 11

Flannery, who has a great fear of flying, has been instructed by her behavior therapist to take a brief ride in an actual airplane. If Flannery follows her therapist's instructions, then she'll be engaged in __________ exposure.

Accepted Answer

In vivo exposure involves facing the feared situation or object in real life, which Flannery will be doing by taking a ride in an actual airplane. Virtual reality exposure involves using technology to simulate the feared situation, aversive exposure involves pairing the feared situation or object with an unpleasant stimulus, and imaginal exposure involves imagining the feared situation. None of these describe Flannery's exposure in this scenario.

Question 12

Therapeutic approaches that are based on the belief that all normal and abnormal behavior is learned are __________ therapies.

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapies, such as classical conditioning and operant conditioning, are based on the belief that behavior is learned through previous experiences and surroundings. They focus on changing maladaptive behaviors through techniques such as systematic desensitization and reinforcement. Traditional psychodynamic therapies focus on exploring unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences as the root of abnormal behavior. Short-term psychodynamic therapies focus on resolving specific issues in a shorter amount of time. Cognitive therapies focus on changing negative thought patterns to improve behavior.

Question 13

Due to virtual reality technology that involves having the client wear a headset that can project realistic anxiety-provoking images, therapists can now conduct __________ therapies in their offices.

Accepted Answer

Virtual reality technology allows for exposure therapy, which involves gradually exposing clients to anxiety-provoking stimuli in a safe and controlled environment to build up their tolerance and reduce their anxiety symptoms. This technology can provide a more immersive and realistic experience for the client than traditional methods of exposure therapy. Free association, transference, and unconditional positive regard are not directly related to the use of virtual reality technology in therapy.

Question 14

A technique for treating phobias and other stress disorders in which the person is suddenly exposed to the fear-provoking situation or object in an intense way and is prevented from making the usual avoidance or escape response is called __________.

Accepted Answer

Flooding involves exposing the person to the fear-provoking situation or object in an intense way and preventing them from making the usual avoidance or escape response. Systematic desensitization involves gradually exposing the person to the feared situation while teaching them relaxation techniques. Paradoxical intent involves encouraging the person to deliberately engage in the behavior or thought that they fear. Aversion therapy involves pairing the fear-provoking stimulus with an unpleasant stimulus in order to decrease the person's desire for the thing they fear.

Question 15

What do behavior therapists see as the cause of abnormal or undesirable behaviors?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapists generally see abnormal or undesirable behaviors as learned behaviors, often developed through environmental factors such as reinforcement, modeling, and conditioning. They focus on the present behavior and aim to change it through interventions such as reinforcement, punishment, and shaping.

Question 16

Which method of treating phobias involves progressive relaxation and exposure to the feared object?

Accepted Answer

The method of treating phobias that involves progressive relaxation and exposure to the feared object is called systematic desensitization. This involves gradually exposing the person to the feared object or situation while they engage in relaxation techniques, helping them to gradually become desensitized to the fear response. The other answer choices listed (extinction, punishment, and token economy) are not relevant to this method of treating phobias.

Question 17

Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing is primarily used for the treatment of __________.

Accepted Answer

Eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) is primarily used for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). It is a psychotherapy approach that incorporates eye movements, taps, or sounds, while the patient recalls traumatic experiences, in order to help the patient process and alleviate distressing symptoms associated with the trauma. It is not typically used for the treatment of schizophrenia, depression, or bipolar disorder.

Question 18

Thom is afraid of snakes. In an effort to help him overcome his fear, Thom's therapist has him enter a room where there are dozens of snakes and has him hold them. Thom is not permitted to leave the room until the therapy session is completed. Which technique is Thom's therapist using?

Accepted Answer

Thom's therapist is using flooding, which involves exposing the person to their fear in a highly intense and immediate way. The idea is that by confronting the fear head-on, the person will eventually become desensitized to it. This technique can be effective for some people, but it can also be very overwhelming and traumatic for others.

Question 19

Hope 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. Hope's therapist is using __________.

Accepted Answer

The therapist is asking Hope to construct a hierarchy of her fears related to riding in elevators and teaching her to relax while imagining each fear in the hierarchy, which are key components of systematic desensitization therapy. A is not the correct answer because person-centered therapy focuses on empathy and unconditional positive regard, B is not the correct answer because rational emotive behavior therapy involves identifying and modifying irrational beliefs, and D is not the correct answer because cognitive consistency therapy is not a recognized form of therapy.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a therapy based on the principles of classical conditioning. It involves exposing the individual to gradually increasing levels of the feared stimulus while in a relaxed state, which eventually leads to a reduction in their anxiety response.

Quiz 15: Psychological Therapies