Why the Obsessive-Compulsive Cycle Holds
This video presents the same text shown beside it, spoken and on screen. It adds nothing the text does not say.
State
The compulsion briefly relieves the distress the obsession causes, which reinforces the compulsion and guarantees the obsession returns.
Show
Checking the lock ends the doubt for a minute, and the relief makes checking more likely next time.
Watch for
This is negative reinforcement doing exactly what it does. The behavior is maintained by the relief, not by the fear.
Builds on
Unlocks
- Nothing yet depends on this.