Suppose That Dorothy and Tim Are Out to Lunch Together

question 142

Multiple Choice

Suppose that Dorothy and Tim are out to lunch together, and both are on restricted-calorie diets. Which of the following would be the best example of counterregulation?

• A) Dorothy notices that Tim has ordered a cheeseburger (and broken his diet), and therefore she feels that she has "permission" to break her diet too. She then goes ahead and orders a cheeseburger for herself.
• B) After ordering a cheeseburger for lunch, Dorothy thinks to herself, "well, my diet is already blown for the day; I might as well order a dessert too." She then goes ahead and orders a deluxe chocolate milkshake.
• C) Dorothy orders a cheeseburger and milkshake for lunch, and thus blows her diet for the day. When Tim starts to order a similar lunch, though, Dorothy chastises him and tells him that he should try to eat a less fattening lunch.
• D) After ordering a cheeseburger and milkshake for lunch, and thus blowing her diet for the day, Dorothy feels remorseful and decides to go to the gym and skip dinner that night.

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Definitions:

Sociologist

A social scientist who studies the social behaviors, structures, and functions within human societies to understand societal influences and patterns.

Differential Reinforcement

A behavior modification technique where positive behavior is rewarded and negative behavior is not, encouraging the desirable behavior.

Deviant Behavior

Conduct that deviates from widely-held norms or values within a society, often causing negative reactions from others.

Burgess-Akers's Social Learning Theory

A perspective that emphasizes the role of socialization in learning deviant and criminal behavior through the observation of others.