Kiyoshi seeks professional help for his fear of spiders. In stages, his therapist shows him pictures, videos, and models of spiders, then a real dead spider, a small live spider in a jar, several live spiders in a jar, and finally a live spider loose in the room. At each stage, he makes sure that Kiyoshi is fully relaxed. This technique is known as __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The technique described in the scenario is systematic desensitization, a type of exposure therapy where the individual is gradually exposed to the feared object or situation in a controlled and safe environment while practicing relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety. Free association involves talking about whatever comes to mind without filtering or judgement, aversion therapy involves pairing the feared object or situation with a unpleasant stimulus, and transactional therapy focuses on improving communication and relationships. None of these techniques align with the scenario described.

Kiyoshi Seeks Professional Help for His Fear of Spiders