Question 1

The basic goal of systematic desensitization is to ________.

Accepted Answer

The basic goal of systematic desensitization is to help individuals relax in the presence of a feared object or situation. This is achieved by gradually exposing the individual to the feared stimulus while teaching them relaxation techniques.

Question 2

Which type of therapy is based on various learning principles?

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapy is based on the principles of classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning. Its main goal is to modify problematic behaviors by reinforcing positive behaviors and extinguishing negative ones. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (B) also incorporates learning principles but focuses on changing both behavior and thoughts. Psychoanalysis (C) is based on the theories of Sigmund Freud and focuses on exploring unconscious conflicts and childhood experiences. Person-centered therapy (D) emphasizes the importance of creating a supportive and empathetic therapeutic relationship between client and therapist, rather than focusing on specific techniques or theories.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

Exposure therapy is a behavior therapy technique commonly used to treat anxieties or fears. It involves gradually exposing the individual to the feared situation or object until they no longer feel anxiety or fear in that situation. The goal of exposure therapy is to help the individual confront and overcome their fears, rather than avoid them, and to learn that the feared situation or object is not actually dangerous.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Iram's therapist is using flooding, a method that exposes the patient to their fear in a safe environment until the fear response is extinguished. This is different from systematic desensitization, which gradually exposes the patient to the feared object or situation in a step-by-step process. Paradoxical intent involves having the patient intentionally do the opposite of what they normally would do in response to their fear, while aversion therapy involves pairing an unpleasant stimulus with the feared object or situation to decrease the individual's attraction to it.

Question 5

Which of the following techniques would be most appropriate for treating overeating or smoking?

Accepted Answer

Aversion therapy is a technique that uses discomfort or negative associations to reduce or eliminate unwanted behaviors. It has been specifically used for treating overeating and smoking by associating these behaviors with unpleasant sensations (such as a bad taste or smell) to help individuals decrease their desire for these behaviors. Flooding, systematic desensitization, and token economy are not appropriate for treating overeating or smoking.

Question 6

Julie 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.Julie's therapist is using __________.

Accepted Answer

The therapist is using systematic desensitization, which involves constructing a hierarchy of fears and then gradually exposing the individual to each fear while teaching relaxation techniques. Person-centered therapy focuses on providing a supportive and non-judgmental environment for the client to explore their own thoughts and emotions. Rational emotive therapy focuses on identifying and changing irrational beliefs that may be causing emotional distress. Cognitive consistency therapy is not a well-known therapy approach.

Question 7

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 an individual to their feared stimulus in a gradual and controlled manner, allowing them to associate it with relaxation rather than anxiety. Contingency contract and token economy are based on principles of operant conditioning, while reinforcement is a general term that can encompass both classical and operant conditioning.

Question 8

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

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapies are based on the idea that behavior is learned through environmental factors and can be changed with modified conditioning. Traditional psychodynamic therapies focus on unconscious conflicts and early childhood experiences, short-term psychodynamic therapies are more time-limited and focused on specific problems, and cognitive therapies focus on changing negative thought patterns.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

Behavior modification is a therapeutic approach that uses learning techniques to change behavior, such as developing more desirable behaviors and reducing or eliminating problematic ones. In this scenario, Craig's therapist is using behavior modification techniques to help him modify his smoking habit and develop more desirable behaviors. The other options, such as the empty chair technique, reflection, and selective thinking, are not related to behavior modification.

Question 10

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

Accepted Answer

Humanistic therapy focuses on personal growth, self-awareness, and improving interpersonal relationships. Lou, who is seeking a career change, could benefit from this type of therapy as it can help her explore her interests, values, and goals, which can lead to increased satisfaction and fulfillment in her career. The other individuals mentioned would likely require different types of therapy.

Question 11

Which of the following is a limitation of humanistic therapy?

Accepted Answer

Humanistic therapy lacks enough experimental research to support its basic ideas. While it has been found to be effective in some cases, the empirical evidence supporting it is not as robust as it is for other therapies.

Question 12

Every time Jarrad opens his cigarette case or uses his lighter,he gets a painful electric shock.Jarrad's friends and family have been asked not to give him any cigarettes or light any cigarettes for him,so he must use his own lighter if he wants to smoke.Eventually,Jarrad loses his desire to smoke,thanks to ______.

Accepted Answer

Jarrad is experiencing aversive conditioning, where the unpleasant electric shock is paired with smoking, causing him to lose the desire to smoke.

Question 13

Which of the following is an advantage of person-centered therapy?

Accepted Answer

Person-centered therapy aims to create a non-judgmental, supportive and empathic therapeutic environment. Clients are encouraged to express themselves in their own way, which means they do not need to be verbal or articulate. This can be an advantage for clients who struggle to communicate verbally, allowing them to express themselves more freely. Additionally, because the approach is non-directive, the therapist has a lower risk of having his or her words misinterpreted by the client. However, there is not enough empirical research to support that it is one of the best approaches for treating serious disorders.

Question 14

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

Accepted Answer

Behavior modification refers to the use of learning techniques to change or modify behaviors, which can include increasing desirable behaviors or decreasing undesirable behaviors. The other options listed are not related to behavior modification.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a method of treating phobias that involves gradually exposing the person to the feared object or situation while they are in a relaxed state. This is achieved through progressive relaxation techniques, where the person learns to relax their muscles in stages, and then exposure to the feared object or situation is slowly introduced while they maintain this relaxed state. Through repeated exposure, the person's fear response is gradually extinguished. Punishment and token economy are not effective treatments for phobias.

Question 16

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

Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a therapy technique used to treat phobias and anxieties. Alice's fear of heights restricts her enrollment to classes on the first floor, which can be addressed through systematic desensitization.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Behavior therapists believe that abnormal or undesirable behaviors are a result of learned responses to environmental cues and reinforcement. These behaviors can be unlearned or replaced with more adaptive behaviors through behavior therapy techniques such as operant conditioning, modeling, and exposure therapy.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

In vivo exposure involves exposing the individual to the actual feared stimulus or situation. In this case, Mary is being instructed to take a brief ride in an actual airplane, which involves in vivo exposure. Imaginal exposure involves imagining the feared stimulus or situation, aversive exposure involves pairing the feared stimulus with an aversive experience, and virtual reality exposure involves using virtual reality technology to simulate the feared stimulus or situation.

Question 19

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 feared object or situation without any gradual buildup or hierarchy of exposure. The person is flooded with the fear-provoking stimulus until the fear response extinguishes, and they learn that the feared outcome does not occur. This is in contrast to systematic desensitization, which slowly exposes the person to the feared stimulus while teaching relaxation techniques, and aversive therapy, which pairs the feared stimulus with an unpleasant consequence to discourage the behavior. Paradoxical intent is a technique in which the person is instructed to intentionally exaggerate the behavior they are fearful of, typically with a humorous or playful attitude.

Question 20

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. Token economy is a reward system used to reinforce positive behaviors. Operant conditioning involves shaping behavior through consequences, such as rewards or punishments. Participant modeling is a form of therapy in which the therapist models a desired behavior and encourages the patient to imitate it.

Quiz 15: Applied Psychology and Psychology Careers