Question

Eileen works in a crowded downtown neighborhood. She constantly worries that her car will be stolen while she is at work, and repeatedly goes back and checks to see that it is locked before finally arriving at the office, frequently late. Her therapist explains that returning to her car so often is a way to reduce the anxiety created by her obsessive thoughts. This is _________

Answer 1

Eileen's repeated checking of her car is a compulsion, which is a repetitive behavior meant to reduce the anxiety stemming from obsessive thoughts, characteristic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Step-by-step explanation:

Eileen's behavior can be described in terms of psychological concepts related to anxiety and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that individuals feel driven to perform in response to an obsession, or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. The purpose of these compulsions is typically to reduce anxiety or prevent a dreaded event, and although these actions may not be connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to prevent, they serve to alleviate anxiety in the short term.

In Eileen's case, her repeated checking of her car is a compulsion that temporally reduces the anxiety caused by her obsessive thoughts about the car being stolen. Her compulsion disrupts her daily life, causing her to arrive late at work. This pattern is characteristic of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), a common and long-lasting disorder where a person has uncontrollable, reoccurring thoughts (obsessions) and behaviors (compulsions) that they feel the urge to repeat over and over.

Understanding the mechanisms of OCD and undergoing appropriate treatment, including cognitive-behavioral therapy or medication, can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life.