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Sarkari MCQs Government Exam Question Bank
Question no. 85856

Behaviorists argue that self-defeating actions persist because they yield immediate reinforcement in the form of:

Select your answer for: Behaviorists argue that self-defeating actions persist because they yield immediate reinforcement in the form of:
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Answer: A. relief from anxiety

Explanation

Self-defeating actions continue because they instantly lower uncomfortable tension through short-term negative reinforcement. Immediate psychological relief powerfully reinforces the maladaptive habit despite long-term negative consequences. Behavioral theory demonstrates that immediate rewards outweigh delayed punishments in maintaining persistent habits. Operant conditioning principles explain how immediate reinforcement strengthens the probability of future behavioral repetition. Anxiety acts as a powerful aversive state that individuals desperately seek to escape quickly. Short-term coping mechanisms often bypass rational long-term planning due to immediate physiological relief.

This principle explains why individuals struggling with phobias or addictions continue avoidance behaviors persistently. Therapists utilize exposure techniques to break the cycle of immediate anxiety relief through avoidance. Recognizing this reinforcement pattern helps patients develop healthier long-term emotional regulation strategies. Defending the ego belongs to psychoanalytic theory rather than empirical behavioral reinforcement paradigms. Protecting one self image describes psychodynamic defense mechanisms rather than direct operant conditioning principles. Avoiding existential anxiety is a humanistic concept rather than a standard behavioral reinforcement explanation.

Subject
Psychology
Category
Psychology
Topic
—
Difficulty
medium

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