What term describes acts that are irresistible and carried out in a repetitive/ritualistic manner in response to the obsession?

What term describes acts that are irresistible and carried out in a repetitive/ritualistic manner in response to the obsession?

• A. Obsessions
• B. Compulsions
• C. PTSD
• D. Phobias

Answer: (B)

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, with the aim of reducing distress or preventing a feared outcome. They feel irresistible, and the act is carried out to neutralize the anxiety sparked by the obsession. Obsessions are the intrusive, unwanted thoughts or urges that trigger these rituals. For example, a person might have a persistent fear of contamination (an obsession) and respond by washing hands repeatedly (a compulsion). These behaviors are usually time-consuming and can impair functioning, reinforcing the cycle of anxiety. PTSD involves trauma-related symptoms like flashbacks and hyperarousal, while phobias are excessive fears of specific objects or situations, not the persistent obsession–compulsion pattern described here.

Compulsions are repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, with the aim of reducing distress or preventing a feared outcome. They feel irresistible, and the act is carried out to neutralize the anxiety sparked by the obsession. Obsessions are the intrusive, unwanted thoughts or urges that trigger these rituals. For example, a person might have a persistent fear of contamination (an obsession) and respond by washing hands repeatedly (a compulsion). These behaviors are usually time-consuming and can impair functioning, reinforcing the cycle of anxiety. PTSD involves trauma-related symptoms like flashbacks and hyperarousal, while phobias are excessive fears of specific objects or situations, not the persistent obsession–compulsion pattern described here.