Final answer:
B.F. Skinner, as a behaviorist, would likely respond to the woman's nervousness by conducting a functional analysis to address the behavior through reinforcement, avoiding emotional support or cognitive interventions.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a woman experiences high levels of nervousness before speaking in front of a large audience and decides she can't go through with the speech, and later explains to her husband that she was anxious, Skinner, as a behaviorist, might respond by conducting a functional analysis. Skinner would likely focus on the observable behaviors and the environmental factors that reinforce or diminish those behaviors. Instead of offering emotional support or cognitive restructuring, Skinner would analyze the contingency patterns, such as avoidance of the speech due to negative reinforcement (escaping the anxiety-provoking situation), and work on altering the environment or the behavior chain to reduce the anxious response through positive reinforcement of desired behaviors.
Public speaking can induce stress and aktivate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to a 'fight or flight' response. This response involves various physiological changes like an increased heart rate, perspiration, and heightened alertness, which can be overwhelming and lead to avoidance behaviors. Recognizing that modern psychological threats trigger the same response as physical threats of our ancestors, Skinner would aim to modify the woman's behavior through learning and reinforcement rather than focusing on the emotional aspect of anxiety.