Kaplan and Sadocks Synopsis of Psychiatry Test Bank Related

Review Kaplan and Sadocks Synopsis of Psychiatry Test Bank related questions and content

A child who has been physically abused becomes emotionally distressed when told that the parent will no longer be allowed to visit. Which principle of social learning theory explains the child’s response?

  • A. The child views the abuse as more desirable than the parent leaving
  • B. The parent has fostered a fear in the child that increases when they are apart.
  • C. The child believes they are responsible for the parent being punished.
  • D.
    The parent has likely told the child that they deserved the abuse as punishment.
Correct Answer: C

Rationale: The correct answer is C: The child believes they are responsible for the parent being punished. According to social learning theory, individuals learn behaviors through observation and modeling. In this scenario, the child has internalized the belief that they are the cause of the parent's punishment due to the abuse. This leads to feelings of guilt and distress when the parent is no longer allowed to visit.

A: The child does not view abuse as desirable; it is a harmful behavior.
B: While fear may be present, the core issue lies in the child's belief of responsibility.
D: The parent blaming the child for the abuse does not align with the principles of social learning theory.