When a Doctor Performs a Mantaux Skin Test to Determine

question 12

Essay

When a doctor performs a Mantaux skin test to determine whether a patient has tuberculosis (TB), she exposes the patient to small amounts of protein from the microorganism that causes TB. The doctor reads the reaction to these proteins a few days later. If the patient has had previous TB antigen exposure (and infection), he or she will develop localized swelling at the site where the proteins were injected. The presence of swelling and the amount of swelling are observed and measured to determine whether the test is positive. Explain why this test measures a secondary (versus primary) exposure to antigens. Which aspects of this test demonstrate secondary exposure?

---

Definitions:

Positive Reinforcers

Stimuli that, when introduced after a behavior, increase the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.

Counterconditioning

A behavior therapy technique that involves replacing an unwanted response to a stimulus with a wanted response.

Behavior Therapy

A type of psychotherapy that focuses on changing undesirable behaviors through conditioning, without delving into the underlying psychological causes.

Aversive Conditioning

A behavior conditioning technique in which unpleasant stimuli are associated with undesirable behaviors to discourage those behaviors.