Erik Dated Mandy, Who Was a Brunette, for About Six

question 164

Multiple Choice

Erik dated Mandy, who was a brunette, for about six months. He found Mandy nice but rather boring. He then dated Angele, who was very spontaneous, funny, exciting, and had reddish-brown hair. Now that he and Angele have broken up, Erik goes out with his friends on the weekends and approaches only girls with red hair. Erik's friend, a behaviorist, suggests that Erik's behavior illustrates the _____.

• A) peak shift effect
• B) partial reinforcement effect
• C) shaping effect
• D) systematic desensitization effect

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Definitions:

Reaction Formation

Reaction formation is a defensive process wherein unacceptable emotions or impulses are turned into their opposites to avoid conscious recognition.

Sublimation

A psychological defense mechanism where socially unacceptable impulses or idealizations are transformed into socially acceptable actions or behavior.

Projecting

A defense mechanism where one attributes one's own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to others.

Identifying

The process of recognizing and labeling specific elements or characteristics as belonging to a certain category.