Individuals with _____ nervosa 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 _____.
A)anorexia;positive punishment
B)anorexia;negative reinforcement
C)bulimia;positive punishment
D)bulimia;negative reinforcement

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Bulimia involves binge eating as a way to cope with negative emotions, followed by purging to avoid weight gain and relieve anxiety. This is a form of negative reinforcement, as the purging behavior removes the perceived negative consequence (weight gain) and reinforces the binge-purge cycle as a way to cope with negative emotions. Positive punishment involves the addition of an aversive stimulus to decrease a behavior, which is not applicable in this scenario. Anorexia involves a restriction of food intake rather than binge eating, so options A and B can be eliminated. Option C incorrectly identifies the disorder as anorexia rather than bulimia.

Individuals with _____ Nervosa Consume Large Quantities of Food to Reduce