ACSM Behavioral Strategies 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which principle suggests that exercise behavior is influenced by interactions between the person, their behavior, and the environment?
- Stimulus generalization
- Reciprocal determinism (Correct answer)
- Operant conditioning
- Classical conditioning
Correct answer: Reciprocal determinism
Reciprocal determinism, from Social Cognitive Theory, states that personal factors, behavior, and environment continuously influence each other.
Question 2: Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement to increase exercise behavior?
- Giving a reward after completing a workout
- Removing a chore obligation when exercise is completed (Correct answer)
- Penalizing a missed workout financially
- Praising effort after a difficult session
Correct answer: Removing a chore obligation when exercise is completed
Negative reinforcement increases behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus when the desired behavior occurs.
Question 3: A client avoids the gym because they feel self-conscious about their appearance. This is MOST closely related to:
- Exercise self-efficacy
- Social physique anxiety (Correct answer)
- Body image satisfaction
- Outcome expectancy
Correct answer: Social physique anxiety
Social physique anxiety is the concern about others evaluating one's body, which can be a significant barrier to gym attendance.
Question 4: Motivational interviewing is grounded in which foundational principle?
- The therapist directs the client toward correct behavior
- Change is imposed through structured education
- Ambivalence about change is normal and can be resolved collaboratively (Correct answer)
- Rewards are provided for achieving behavioral milestones
Correct answer: Ambivalence about change is normal and can be resolved collaboratively
MI recognizes that ambivalence is a normal part of change and uses collaborative conversation to help clients resolve it toward positive behavior.
Question 5: Which technique involves a client writing down a formal agreement specifying exercise goals, rewards, and consequences?
- Self-monitoring log
- Contingency contract (Correct answer)
- Imagery script
- Cognitive restructuring worksheet
Correct answer: Contingency contract
A contingency contract is a written agreement between the client and professional outlining behavioral goals and associated rewards or consequences.
Question 6: Increasing a client's physical activity by setting small, achievable weekly targets before progressing is an example of:
- Massed practice
- Shaping (Correct answer)
- Extinction
- Punishment
Correct answer: Shaping
Shaping reinforces successive approximations of the target behavior, gradually building toward the final goal.
Question 7: Which of the following BEST represents the concept of 'outcome expectancy' in behavior change?
- Believing you can perform 30 minutes of walking
- Expecting that regular exercise will reduce your blood pressure (Correct answer)
- Planning your exercise schedule for the week
- Tracking calories burned during a workout
Correct answer: Expecting that regular exercise will reduce your blood pressure
Outcome expectancy is the belief that performing a behavior will lead to a specific result.
ACSM Behavioral Strategies 4
Which principle suggests that exercise behavior is influenced by interactions between the person, their behavior, and the environment?