Question 1

Lawrence, a hypochondriac, gains a great deal of attention from his family when he complains about health problems; they tend to ignore him when he talks about other topics. A behavior therapist has instructed the family to reverse these responses: ignore the complaints and reinforce other topics. What kind of treatment does this best illustrate?

Accepted Answer

This treatment involves changing the contingencies that are maintaining a behavior, in this case attention to health complaints. By ignoring the complaints and reinforcing other topics, the family is no longer providing attention for Lawrence's hypochondriac behavior, thereby reducing its frequency. This is an example of contingency management. A is incorrect because aversion therapy involves pairing an unwanted behavior with an unpleasant stimulus, such as nausea, in order to decrease the likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future. C and D are also incorrect because they involve exposure-based therapies, which are not being used in this case.

Question 2

Which of the following is an advantage of behavior therapy?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy usually achieves results in a relatively short period of time, making it a desirable option for individuals seeking quick relief from their problems.

Question 3

A Nobel Prize winning treatment for schizophrenia was

Accepted Answer

Prefrontal lobotomies, although now considered inhumane and largely discredited, were once awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1949. This surgical procedure was believed to treat various mental disorders, including schizophrenia, by severing connections in the brain's prefrontal cortex.

Question 4

Which of the following is a form of behavior therapy that is commonly used in the treatment of anxiety disorders?

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a form of behavior therapy commonly used in the treatment of anxiety disorders, especially phobias. This therapy involves gradually exposing the individual to the feared object or situation, while they practice relaxation techniques, until their anxiety response is reduced. This process is repeated until the individual is able to confront the feared object or situation without experiencing significant anxiety.

Question 5

For which client is behavior therapy most likely to be effective?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy focuses on specific behaviors and can be effective in treating issues such as premature ejaculation. It may not be as helpful for more complex issues such as personality disorders or vague concerns about life prospects. The focus is on changing specific behaviors, rather than understanding the origins of one's personality.

Question 6

Hart says, "For me, the goal of treatment is not to uncover inner conflicts, but to help the client achieve adaptive responses that he or she can control and maintain through self-monitoring." Dr. Hart probably considers herself a ________ therapist.

Accepted Answer

Dr. Hart's focus on helping clients achieve adaptive responses through self-monitoring indicates a behavioral approach rather than a psychodynamic or humanistic approach. The family systems approach may also focus on relational and systemic dynamics, rather than individual behavior and self-monitoring.

Question 7

Dennis has disorganized type of schizophrenia. He has lived in an institution for years. He rarely shows any attempt at socializing. A new program is started - every time Dennis speaks to another person he is given a piece of red paper. At the end of each week, he can use the red papers to get cigarettes or extra privileges. This new program is

Accepted Answer

The new program is a token economy, which involves reinforcing desired behavior with tokens (in this case, red papers) that can later be exchanged for rewards (cigarettes or extra privileges). This is a common form of behavior therapy used in institutional settings to encourage positive behaviors, particularly in individuals with severe mental illness such as schizophrenia. In this case, the program is specifically designed to encourage Dennis to socialize more.

Question 8

Abby is participating in cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat her depression. Her therapist

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy involves identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to depression. One way this is accomplished is through conducting experiments to test the accuracy of cognitive distortions, so option A is the correct choice. Option B suggests a person-centered approach, not cognitive-behavioral therapy. Option C is incorrect, as the therapist is typically directive in helping the client change their thoughts and behaviors. Option D suggests modeling as a therapeutic technique, not cognitive-behavioral therapy specifically.

Question 9

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavioral therapy assumes that thinking influences emotion, motivation, and behavior. It does not deny the importance of reinforcement or punishment, and in fact may incorporate these principles into treatment. It also focuses on changing both behavior and cognition, so it does not assume that behavior must change before cognitive changes can occur. While the therapist takes an active role in helping clients learn new coping skills and challenge distorted thinking patterns, it is still a collaborative approach.

Question 10

In the mid-1900s, prefrontal lobotomies were popular as a treatment because

Accepted Answer

In the mid-1900s, there were limited treatment options available for mental illnesses, and prefrontal lobotomies were one of the few options. Therefore, they became popular as a treatment despite their numerous negative side effects.

Question 11

Yuko is painfully shy. Her therapist first shows her appropriate social skills so she can interact competently with others. Then Yuko attempts the same behavior while getting feedback. This illustrates the behavior therapy technique called

Accepted Answer

The behavior therapy technique described in the scenario involves modeling, where the therapist demonstrates appropriate social skills for Yuko to imitate and practice with feedback. Guided exposure would involve gradually exposing Yuko to the situations that trigger her shyness, and covert sensitization is a form of aversion therapy used to decrease unwanted behaviors. Contingency management involves reinforcing desirable behaviors with rewards.

Question 12

While ________ can be used in treatment, it also a means by which problematic behaviors are acquired when others' behavior is problematic.

Accepted Answer

Modeling refers to the process of learning by observing others' behaviors and their consequences. While it is a useful tool in therapy when used appropriately, it can also contribute to the acquisition of problematic behaviors when one observes and imitates others' problematic behaviors.

Question 13

The text reported the case of a 6-year-old boy who hated school and showed off in class. His parents and teacher were instructed to ignore the showing-off behavior while reinforcing appropriate behavior. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

The case presented illustrates the systematic use of reinforcement, where appropriate behavior is reinforced and showing-off behavior is ignored, to increase the likelihood of appropriate behavior in the future.

Question 14

Punishment is a component of

Accepted Answer

Punishment is a central component of aversion therapy, where individuals are given an unpleasant stimulus in order to reduce the likelihood of a specific behavior occurring again. Punishment is not a component of EMDR therapy, modeling, or systematic desensitization.

Question 15

Chrissy and her therapist together wrote a list of ten scenes involving Chrissy's fear of flying. After teaching her a relaxation technique, Chrissy's therapist told her to imagine herself in the least frightening scene while she made herself feel relaxed. Chrissy was undergoing

Accepted Answer

The technique described in the scenario is systematic desensitization, where the individual is gradually exposed to feared stimuli while learning relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety. The therapist and Chrissy creating a list of scenes involving Chrissy's fear of flying and starting with the least frightening scene to imagine while practicing relaxation techniques is a classic example of systematic desensitization.

Question 16

The basic assumption of cognitive-behavior therapy is

Accepted Answer

Cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) is based on the assumption that psychological problems are partly based on faulty or unhelpful ways of thinking and that these biased ways of thinking can be changed to improve emotional regulation and develop personal coping strategies.

Question 17

The use of drugs that have noxious effects and viewing movies that elicit disgust are both techniques associated with

Accepted Answer

The use of drugs that have noxious effects and viewing movies that elicit disgust are both examples of aversion therapy, a technique aimed at reducing or eliminating unwanted behaviors by pairing them with unpleasant stimuli. Token economies involve the use of rewards to reinforce desired behaviors, guided exposure therapy involves gradually exposing a person to a feared stimulus in a safe and controlled environment, and EMDR therapy is a form of therapy that uses eye movements to reduce the intensity of traumatic memories.

Question 18

A token economy is

Accepted Answer

A token economy is a type of contingency management, which involves providing a reward or consequence for a behavior. In a token economy, tokens or points are given as a reward for desired behaviors, which can be exchanged for privileges or other rewards. This is commonly used in settings such as schools, hospitals, and prisons to encourage positive behavior and discourage negative behavior. Imaginal exposure therapy, in vivo exposure therapy, and modeling therapy are all different types of therapies used in psychology but are not related to token economies.

Question 19

Today, neurosurgery

Accepted Answer

Neurosurgery is still used in certain cases as a last resort, but only involves the destruction of tiny areas of the brain rather than full lobotomies.

Question 20

Behavior therapy is based on the belief that

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy is based on the premise that abnormal behavior is learned the same way as normal behavior and can therefore be unlearned through conditioning and reinforcement. It focuses on changing overt behavior rather than internal states such as thoughts and feelings. Medications may or may not be used in conjunction with behavior therapy, but they are not the primary focus of this approach. While thoughts can influence behavior, behavior therapy does not place as much emphasis on changing thoughts as it does on changing behavior.

Quiz 16: Therapy