Why Do Many People with Panic Disorder Continue to Believe

question 73

Multiple Choice

Why do many people with panic disorder continue to believe they are having a heart attack despite the fact that they never have had one?

• A) They continue to go through classical conditioned learning experiences each time they have a panic attack.
• B) They tend to engage in "safety behaviors" that they believe are the reason the catastrophe didn't happen.
• C) They tell themselves that physicians may have missed earlier heart attacks.
• D) They have such a high level of fear that learning is not possible.

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Definitions:

Learned Helplessness

A condition in which a person suffers from a sense of powerlessness, arising from persistent failure to succeed or escape from a difficult situation.

Fluid Abilities

Cognitive abilities that involve the capacity to think logically and solve problems in novel situations, independent of acquired knowledge.

Entity Theorists

Individuals who believe that personal attributes like intelligence or personality are fixed and unchangeable.

Incremental Theorists

Individuals who believe that personal attributes and abilities can be developed or improved through effort and perseverance.