Question 1

A nursing instructor is teaching about the behavior technique of modeling.When asked to give an example of this behavioral intervention,which student statement indicates learning has occurred?

Accepted Answer

A) "A child is first rewarded for using a spoon to eat and then rewarded for using a fork,and finally rewarded for cutting food with a knife." 
B) "An adolescent imitates dad by using and caring for tools appropriately." 
C) "A client and therapist agree to conditions of therapy,stating explicitly in writing the behavior change that is desired." 
D) "A mother tells her child that television can be watched only after homework is completed." B

Question 2

Parents of a 3-year-old have noticed an improvement in behavior because of using a time-out behavioral approach.Which aspect of time-out therapy may be responsible for this child's improved behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) Negative reinforcement discourages maladaptive behavior. 
B) Positive reinforcement is removed. 
C) Covert sensitization is being applied. 
D) Reciprocal inhibition is eliminated. B

Question 3

A client is diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.The nurse counselor recommends the behavioral technique of reciprocal inhibition.The client asks,"What's that?" Which is the best nursing reply?

Accepted Answer

A) "At the beginning of this intervention,a contract will be drawn up explicitly stating the behavior change agreed upon." 
B) "By introducing an adaptive behavior that is mutually exclusive to your maladaptive behavior,we will expect subsequent behavior to improve." 
C) "Through a series of increasingly anxiety-provoking steps,we will gradually increase your tolerance to anxiety." 
D) "In one intense session,you will be exposed to a maximum level of anxiety that you will learn to tolerate." B

Question 4

A mother states,"You are old enough to clean your own bedroom." Upon later inspection,the mother finds the floor is clear and everything is stacked in a chair.The mother praises the child for clearing the floor.This is consistent with which technique of behavior modification?

Accepted Answer

A) Shaping 
B) Extinction 
C) Stimulus generalization 
D) Reciprocal inhibition

Question 5

A client reports,"My friend panicked at the sight of spiders.Her therapist used gradual exposure to spiders that initially made her increasingly more anxious." Which technique was the friend's therapist using?

Accepted Answer

A) Extinction 
B) Covert sensitization 
C) Systematic desensitization 
D) Reciprocal inhibition

Question 6

A third-grader feigns illness to avoid doing homework.The teacher recommends an educational program that uses a token economy.Which of the following statements by the school nurse best explains a token economy?

Accepted Answer

A) "Your child will receive green tokens for completing homework that can be cashed in for desired rewards." 
B) "Your child will receive red tokens when homework is incomplete and this will result in school suspension." 
C) "Your child will receive a time-out for each homework assignment not completed." 
D) "Your child,with your assistance,will envision receiving rewards for completed homework."

Question 7

When asked to identify principles that define the term maladaptive behavior,which nursing student statement indicates further teaching is needed?

Accepted Answer

A) "Behavior is maladaptive when it is age inappropriate." 
B) "Behavior is maladaptive when it interferes with adaptive functioning." 
C) "Behavior is maladaptive when it is identified as inappropriate in the context of one's culture." 
D) "Behavior is maladaptive when it results in change within an otherwise stable subsystem."

Question 8

A mother tells her teenager that for college tuition to be paid,the teenager must quit smoking.They develop a written agreement stipulating time frames and consequences.This is an example of which technique of behavior modification?

Accepted Answer

A) Shaping 
B) Modeling 
C) Contracting 
D) Premack principle

Question 9

During a smoking cessation group,the community health nurse explains that in their effort to quit smoking,a reciprocal inhibition approach will be used.The nurse should give the group which example of this technique?

Accepted Answer

A) "Before you can smoke,you must first take a half-hour walk." 
B) "When you have the urge to smoke,imagine being short of breath." 
C) "You'll receive $1 for each cigarette not smoked and forfeit $2 for each cigarette smoked." 
D) "When you have the urge to smoke,hold your breath and then rhythmically breathe."

Question 10

An adolescent comes from a family where physical and verbal abuse prevails.The adolescent bullies and fights with classmates at school.Which of the following is the probable source of this behavior?

Accepted Answer

A) Shaping 
B) Modeling 
C) Premack principle 
D) Reciprocal inhibition

Question 11

When seeking special privileges,a child always chooses to ask the mother rather than the father.The father is more apt to disagree with the child's requests,whereas the mother usually consents.Which component of operant conditioning explains the child's choice?

Accepted Answer

A) Conditioned stimuli 
B) Unconditioned stimuli 
C) Aversive stimuli 
D) Discriminative stimuli

Question 12

A client is in therapy with a nurse practitioner for the treatment of arachnophobia.The nurse practitioner decides to use the technique of flooding.Which intervention best exemplifies flooding?

Accepted Answer

A) Giving rewards for demonstrating a decrease in fear of spiders 
B) Encouraging the client to sit through the movie Spiderman 
C) Accompanying the client to a 1-hour visit to the local zoo's spider room 
D) Offering a computer program that progressively presents anxiety-producing spider scenarios

Question 13

An adolescent client was recently admitted to the psychiatric unit because of impulsivity and acting-out behavior at school.Which nursing action should the nurse implement first?

Accepted Answer

A) Redirect the client to activities to decrease stress. 
B) Explain the unit rules and consequences of breaking the rules. 
C) Place the client on close observation to ensure a trusting relationship. 
D) Administer an antianxiety medication.

Question 14

Per behavioral theory,the treatment of phobic symptoms involves which action?

Accepted Answer

A) Manipulation of the environment 
B) Use of desensitization 
C) Use of family therapy 
D) Uncovering of past events

Question 15

A 2-year-old engages in frequent temper tantrums that usually result in the parents giving in to demands.During family therapy,which is the best nursing statement when counseling the parents?

Accepted Answer

A) "You are shaping your child's behavior." 
B) "Your child has modeled your behavior." 
C) "You are positively reinforcing your child's behavior." 
D) "You are negatively reinforcing your child's behavior."

Question 16

A kindergarten rule states that if unacceptable behavior occurs,a child's personalized fish will be moved to the sea grass.Children who behave keep their fish out of the sea grass.The school nurse identifies this intervention is based on which principle of behavior therapy?

Accepted Answer

A) Classical conditioning 
B) Conditioned response 
C) Positive reinforcement 
D) Negative reinforcement

Question 17

Which assumption is most reflective of a behavioral theory model?

Accepted Answer

A) Mental illness is characterized by structural and biochemical alterations. 
B) Thought processes influence behaviors. 
C) All personality development has a social context. 
D) There is a basic relationship between stimulus and response.

Question 18

Parents decide to try the nurse practitioner's suggestion of time-out when their child misbehaves.Which is the nurse practitioner's best statement when teaching the parents?

Accepted Answer

A) "Correct your child's behavior by spanking for a specified time period." 
B) "Ignore the child's negative behavior." 
C) "Add positive reinforcement for acceptable behavior." 
D) "Temporarily move your child to an area where behavior is not being reinforced."

Question 19

During hospitalization,an attention-seeking client has repeatedly cut herself.After threatening to cut herself again,the nurse states,"Here are some Band-Aids so you won't bleed on the sheets." Which is the underlying reason for this nurse's response?

Accepted Answer

A) The nurse is using an aversive stimulus in response to the client's manipulative cutting behavior. 
B) The nurse is using negative reinforcement in response to the client's behavior. 
C) The nurse is working to extinguish the client's manipulative behavior. 
D) The nurse lacks empathy for the client's recurring self-injurious behavior.

Question 20

A nurse recognizes which intervention within a behavioral therapy program is best?

Accepted Answer

A) A child is given a popsicle for staying dry and clean. 
B) A child is put in time-out after soiling his or her undergarments. 
C) A child is allowed to remain in soiled undergarments. 
D) A child is taught the advantages of staying dry and clean.

Exam 18: Behavior Therapy