Final answer:
Dr. Payne would likely believe Terra's dissociative identity disorder is reinforced by anxiety reduction, as learning theory suggests behaviors that lessen discomfort are repeated. Dissociative identity disorder could be a coping mechanism from trauma, similar to avoidance in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), where learned behaviors are sustained by reduced anxiety. This concept could inform treatments targeting maladaptive coping strategies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dr. Payne, adhering to the learning perspective, would likely believe that his client Terra developed dissociative identity disorder as a result of behaviors being reinforced by anxiety reduction. In the context of learning theory, behaviors that reduce anxiety can be negatively reinforced, meaning that the behavior is more likely to be repeated in the future because it removes or diminishes an unpleasant stimulus, in this case, anxiety. Dissociative identity disorder (DID) could, therefore, be understood as a maladaptive coping mechanism that originated in response to trauma or stress, enabling the individual to escape from the reality of the anxiety-provoking situation. This perspective is further supported by research showing the strong association between trauma and dissociative disorders, such as DID, where dissociation serves as a psychological escape from the trauma.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another condition that is closely linked to trauma and could be relevant to learning perspectives of anxiety reduction. The avoidance behaviors seen in PTSD might also be sustained by the reduction in anxiety they provide, following similar reinforcement principles. Further, understanding the learning mechanisms in PTSD might lead to treatments that aim to modify the maladaptive coping mechanisms by gradually reducing the avoidance behaviors and addressing the traumatic memories.