Eric Responds to His Partner's Disapproval with Counterattacks

question 59

Multiple Choice

Eric responds to his partner's disapproval with counterattacks. "You're calling me messy? You're the one who never cleans up your plates after dinner!" Which of the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse" does this illustrate?

• A) Criticism
• B) Contempt
• C) Stonewalling
• D) Defensiveness

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Definitions:

Secondary Reinforcement

A type of reinforcement that has acquired its reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers, such as money or praise.

Variable-Interval Schedule

A type of reinforcement schedule where reinforcements are provided at unpredictable time intervals, promoting steady response rates.

Postreinforcement Pause

A moment of no response or inactivity that occurs just after reinforcement in a fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement in operant conditioning.

Fixed Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule in operant conditioning where a response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses, promoting a high and steady rate of responding.