What Is an Experiment?
What is a behavioral experiment trying to do?
It tests whether a thought or belief is true in real life.
“If I eat this food, I will feel out of control.” What part of an experiment is this?
A prediction.
What is the “test” part of a behavioral experiment?
Actually doing the behavior being predicted about.
What are “results” in a behavioral experiment?
What actually happened compared to the prediction.
What is a food or behavior rule in experiment terms?
A belief that can be tested.
What do we call the thought you have before testing something?
A prediction or hypothesis.
Why do ED thoughts feel so convincing in the moment?
Because anxiety and fear make them feel real and urgent.
Why is planning an experiment important?
It helps you observe what happens more clearly.
Why might results differ from predictions?
Because thoughts are not always accurate.
Why do ED rules feel hard to break?
Because they are tied to fear, anxiety, and control.
Why do we write predictions before doing an experiment?
So we can compare what we expected to what actually happens.
Why might someone avoid testing an ED prediction?
Because they expect something uncomfortable or overwhelming to happen.
What might someone notice during an experiment besides the outcome?
Thoughts, emotions, urges, and body sensations.
What does it mean if nothing feared actually happens?
The prediction may not be fully accurate.
What might someone predict will happen if they break a rule?
That something bad or overwhelming will happen.
What makes something an experiment instead of just an action?
It includes a prediction, a test, and reflection on the outcome.
Why is feeling out of control not the same as actually being out of control?
Feelings are internal experiences, not evidence of behavior.
Why is it important to stay in the situation long enough?
Because anxiety often rises and then decreases over time.
Why is discomfort still useful data?
Because it shows emotional response, not danger.
What is the experiment version of breaking a rule?
Testing what actually happens when the rule is not followed.
Why do experiments require uncertainty?
Because there is nothing to learn if the outcome is already known.
What keeps ED predictions from being challenged over time?
Avoidance and lack of real-life testing.
Why repeat experiments more than once?
To see if results stay consistent and build stronger evidence.
What is the most important takeaway from an experiment?
What was learned, not whether the prediction was right.
Why does flexibility act like an experiment?
Because it tests whether the rule is actually necessary or accurate.