One of the many theories about alcoholism is the learning and reinforcement theory, which explains alcoholism by considering alcohol ingestion...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
One of the many theories about alcoholism is the learning and reinforcement theory, which explains alcoholism by considering alcohol ingestion as a reflex response to some stimulus and as a way to reduce an inner drive state such as fear or anxiety. Characterizing life situations in terms of approach and avoidance, this theory holds that persons tend to be drawn to pleasant situations and repelled by unpleasant ones. In the latter case, alcohol ingestion is said to reduce the tension or feelings of unpleasantness and to replace them with the feeling of euphoria generally observed in most persons after they have consumed one or more drinks.
Some experimental evidence tends to show that alcohol reduces fear in the approach-avoidance situation. Conger trained one group of rats to approach a food goal and, using aversion conditioning, trained another group to avoid electric shock. After an injection of alcohol the pull away from the shock was measurable weaker, while the pull toward the food was unchanged.
The obvious troubles experienced by alcoholic persons appear to contradict the learning theory in the explanation of alcoholism. The discomfort, pain, and punishment they experience should presumably serve as a deterrent to drinking. The fact that alcoholic persons continue to drink in the face of family discord, loss of employment, illness, and other sequels of repeated bouts is explained by the proximity of the drive reduction to the consumption of alcohol; that is, alcohol has the immediate effect of reducing tension while the unpleasant consequences of drunken behavior come only later. The learning paradigm, therefore, favors the establishment and repetition of the resort to alcohol.
In fact, the anxieties and feelings of guilt induced by the consequences of excessive alcohol ingestion may themselves become the signal for another bout of alcohol abuse. The way in which the cue for another bout could be the anxiety itself is explained by the process of stimulus generalization: conditions or events occurring at the time of reinforcement tend to acquire the characteristics of state of anxiety or fear, the emotional state itself takes on the properties of a stimulus, thus triggering another drinking bout.
The role of punishment is becoming increasingly important in formulating a cause of alcoholism based on the principles of learning theory. While punishment may serve to suppress a response, experiments have shown that in some cases it can serve as a reward and reinforce the behavior. Thus if the alcoholic person has learned to drink under conditions of both reward and punishment, either type of condition may precipitate renewed drinking.
Ample experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that excessive alcohol consumption can be learned. By gradually increasing the concentration of alcohol in drinking water, psychologists have been able to induce the ingestion of larger amounts of alcohol by an animal than would be normally consumed. Other researchers have been able to achieve similar results by varying the schedule of reinforcement—that is, by requiring the animal to consume larger and larger amounts of the alcohol solutions before rewarding it. In this manner, animals learn to drink enough to become dependent on alcohol in terms of demonstrating withdrawal symptoms.
The primary purpose of the passage is to
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| One of the many theories about alcoholism is the learning and reinforcement theory, which explains alcoholism by considering alcohol ingestion as a reflex response to some stimulus and as a way to reduce an inner drive state such as fear or anxiety. | What it says: There's a theory that alcoholism happens because drinking becomes an automatic response to triggers, and people drink to reduce bad feelings like fear or anxiety. What it does: Introduces the main theory the passage will discuss Source/Type: Factual statement about a scientific theory Connection to Previous Sentences: This is our opening - establishes the central concept Visualization: Stimulus → Automatic drinking response → Reduced anxiety/fear What We Know So Far: There's a learning theory about alcoholism involving automatic responses What We Don't Know Yet: How this theory works in detail, what evidence supports it Reading Strategy Insight: Note the clear, straightforward introduction - no jargon yet |
Why It's Wrong:
• The passage focuses exclusively on learning and reinforcement theory without mentioning or comparing it to other theories
• The opening "One of the many theories" acknowledges other theories exist but doesn't discuss them
• No comparative analysis is provided throughout the passage
Why It's Wrong:
• The passage goes beyond just discussing behaviors to arguing that alcoholism IS learned
• The extensive experimental evidence serves to prove a point, not just explain behaviors
• The author resolves contradictions and shows how the theory accounts for all aspects of alcoholism
Why It's Right:
• The author systematically builds evidence that alcoholism develops through learning processes
• Experimental evidence at beginning (Conger) and end (animal studies) proves alcoholism can be learned
• The author addresses and resolves potential objections to strengthen the argument
• The progression moves from theory to evidence to proof that learning creates alcoholic behavior
Why It's Wrong:
• While fear and anxiety are discussed, they're just part of a broader argument about learned behavior
• The passage covers much more than just fear/anxiety - includes punishment, rewards, stimulus generalization
• This choice is too narrow to capture the full scope of the passage
Why It's Wrong:
• This choice treats the passage as merely presenting evidence rather than making an argument
• The experimental evidence serves to support the argument that alcoholism is learned, not as the primary purpose itself
• The passage includes theoretical explanations and problem-solving, not just evidence presentation