When Stanley is afraid of meeting a woman, he finds an excuse to run off by himself. The immediate effect of running away is to make him feel less anxious and more at ease. Stanley's behavior illustrates the ____.
A) role of negative reinforcers in avoidance behavior
B) fact that shaping can result in maladjusted behavior
C) role of partial reinforcement in abnormal behavior
D) power of positive reinforcement

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Stanley's behavior illustrates the role of negative reinforcers in avoidance behavior. By running away from the situation that causes him anxiety (meeting a woman), he immediately feels less anxious and more at ease. This reduction in anxiety acts as a negative reinforcer, encouraging him to repeat the avoidance behavior in similar situations in the future. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (in this case, anxiety) following a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

When Stanley Is Afraid of Meeting a Woman, He Finds