Former President Ronald Reagan Once Commented at a Press Conference

question 64

Multiple Choice

Former president Ronald Reagan once commented at a press conference that the best way to combat the spread of AIDS in the US was to prohibit everyone from having sexual contact for 5 years. What would be the success of such a program if it were possible to carry out?

• A) It would "cure" the population of HIV/AIDS. Everyone that had it would become noninfectious through medication, and no new cases would occur, since sexual contact is the only mode of transmission for this virus.
• B) It would be a failure. This "program" wouldn't eliminate IV drug use or transmission of HIV from mother to child. Sexual transmission isn't the ONLY mode of transmission for this virus.
• C) It would be a failure. Many HIV positive individuals survive for longer than 5 years, even without treatment. Once sexual contact resumed, sexual transmission would also resume.
• D) It would be a failure. This "program" wouldn't eliminate IV drug use or transmission of HIV from mother to child. Sexual transmission isn't the ONLY mode of transmission for this virus, AND many HIV positive individuals survive for longer than 5 years, even without treatment. Once sexual contact resumed, sexual transmission would also resume.
• E) It would be a success. If no one had sex for five years, the virus would have nowhere to go and would die out. HIV only exists in a person for approximately this amount of time.

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Definitions:

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A hypothetical or experimental procedure aiming to increase physiological or emotional arousal through the administration of substances.

Confederate

A supposed participant in a research study who actually is working with the experimenters, unknown to the real participants.

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A psychological theory suggesting that increased self-awareness leads to greater adherence to social standards and personal values.

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