Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Clinical Practice Exam

The correct choice highlights that walking away from someone when feeling angry does not classify as a respondent behavior. Respondent behaviors are automatic responses that occur in reaction to specific stimuli, often linked to emotional or physiological responses.

Crying when feeling sad, sexual arousal when seeing someone attractive, and sweating when becoming anxious all represent examples of respondent behaviors. These actions are involuntary and occur without conscious thought, triggered directly by emotional or environmental stimuli. For instance, crying is a direct emotional reaction to sadness, while sweating is a physiological response to anxiety that happens as the body's fight-or-flight response activates.

In contrast, walking away from someone when angry is more of an operant behavior. This response reflects a conscious decision to avoid further interaction or conflict, often based on past experiences and the desire to either protect oneself or manage the situation. It involves an element of choice and learned behavior, distinguishing it from the automatic nature typical of respondent behaviors. Thus, walking away represents a learned coping mechanism rather than an immediate physiological response to a stimulus.