Arjun, a college student, began smoking while preparing for his annua…

Arjun, a college student, began smoking while preparing for his annual examination. He felt relief from anxiety each time he smoked. He now wants to give up smoking and meets a behaviour therapist. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Arjun's smoking, which he wants to give up - Malfunctioning behaviour

Option (1) Arjun's smoking, which he wants to give up - Malfunctioning behaviour — Correct. Malfunctioning behaviours are behaviours that cause distress to the client. Arjun's smoking is the faulty behaviour he wants removed.

Option (2) Anxiety while preparing for the examination - Maintaining factor — Incorrect. The exam anxiety came first and led Arjun to smoke. It is the antecedent factor.

Option (3) Interviewing Arjun and his family members - Establishing operation — Incorrect. Interviewing the client and family is behavioural analysis. An establishing operation changes the reinforcing value of a consequence before the behaviour.

Option (4) Relief from anxiety after smoking - Antecedent factor — Incorrect. The relief after smoking keeps the habit going, so it is the maintaining factor. An antecedent factor comes before the behaviour.

NCERT (2026-27): “Method of Treatment …
Behavioural analysis is conducted to find malfunctioning behaviours, the antecedents of faulty learning, and the factors that maintain or continue faulty learning. Malfunctioning behaviours are those behaviours which cause distress to the client. Antecedent factors are those causes which predispose the person to indulge in that behaviour. Maintaining factors are those factors which lead to the persistence of the faulty behaviour. An example would be a young person who has acquired the malfunctioning behaviour of smoking and seeks help to get rid of smoking. Behavioural analysis conducted by interviewing the client and the family members reveals that the person started smoking when he was preparing for the annual examination. He had reported relief from anxiety upon smoking. Thus, anxiety-provoking situation becomes the causative or antecedent factor. The feeling of relief becomes the maintaining factor for him to continue smoking. …”

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 1

The correct answer is Option (1) → Arjun's smoking, which he wants to give up - Malfunctioning behaviour

Option (2) Anxiety while preparing for the examination - Maintaining factor — Incorrect. The exam anxiety came first and led Arjun to smoke. It is the antecedent factor.