Janice has a phobia of dogs and decides to consult with a behaviour therapist in order to get some help. The therapist first teaches her a muscle relaxation technique. After she has learned this, they create a list of increasingly fearful situations involving dogs. Starting with the least feared situation, the therapist has Janice imagine it and then use her relaxation training to eliminate any anxiety that arises. This therapist is using the general technique called systematic desensitization, and the list that they have created is an example of ____________.

Question

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The list of increasingly fearful situations involving dogs that the therapist and Janice create is an example of a stimulus hierarchy, which is a key component of the systematic desensitization technique. This approach involves gradually exposing the client to the feared object or situation in a controlled manner, starting with the least frightening and moving towards the most frightening, while using relaxation techniques to manage anxiety.

Janice Has a Phobia of Dogs and Decides to Consult