Which technique involves altering thoughts to influence behavior?

• A. Self-monitoring
• B. Cognitive restructuring
• C. Stimulus control
• D. Relaxation training

Answer: (B)

Altering thoughts to influence behavior is the idea behind cognitive restructuring. This technique comes from cognitive-behavioral approaches and focuses on identifying automatic or unhelpful thoughts, checking whether they’re accurate or helpful, and replacing them with more balanced, realistic ones. By shifting the way you think about a situation, your emotions and actions follow in a healthier direction. For example, changing a thought like “I’ll fail if I try” to “I can try, learn from mistakes, and improve with effort” can reduce anxiety and promote proactive behavior. In contrast, self-monitoring is about tracking what you do, stimulus control changes the environmental cues that trigger behavior, and relaxation training targets physiological arousal rather than the content of your thoughts.