Psychology / Unit 12 Psych 1346 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Why the Obsessive-Compulsive Cycle Holds
Captions available
The idea
The compulsion briefly relieves the distress the obsession causes, which reinforces the compulsion and guarantees the obsession returns.
In practice
Checking the lock ends the doubt for a minute, and the relief makes checking more likely next time.
Where people slip
This is negative reinforcement doing exactly what it does. The behavior is maintained by the relief, not by the fear.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.
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