Final answer:
In OCD, obsessions are unwanted and intrusive thoughts that cause distress, while compulsions are the repetitive behaviors enacted to reduce the distress from obsessions. The correct answer is option: C. compulsions refer to behaviors, while obsessions refer to thoughts and urges
Step-by-step explanation:
The key difference between an obsession and a compulsion in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) lies in their nature and how they manifest in the individual's life. Obsessions refer to intrusive and unwanted thoughts, impulses, or images that cause significant anxiety or distress. Individuals with OCD usually find these obsessive thoughts to be disturbing and often irrational, yet they cannot control their occurrence.
On the other hand, compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that the person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession or according to rules that must be applied rigidly. These behaviors are intended to reduce the distress caused by the obsessions or to prevent a feared event or situation; however, these compulsions are not connected in a realistic way with what they are designed to prevent or are clearly excessive.
In summary, while obsessions are related to thoughts and urges, compulsions are the behaviors that individuals engage in, often as an attempt to mitigate or manage the distress or perceived danger associated with their obsessions.