When Kathryn was visiting her grandmother one summer, a snake crawled onto the front porch and bit her.Since then, Kathryn has been dreadfully afraid of snakes.Which technique would a behavioral therapist most likely use in this situation to help Kathryn get rid of her phobia?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Systematic desensitization is a behavioral therapy technique used to treat phobias by gradually exposing the person to the feared object or situation in a safe and controlled manner until the fear response is reduced or eliminated. In this case, the therapist would slowly expose Kathryn to pictures or videos of snakes, then perhaps to a toy snake, and finally to a real snake in a safe and controlled environment, helping her to overcome her fear gradually over time. Modeling, operant conditioning, and reinforcement may also be used in conjunction with systematic desensitization to help reinforce positive behaviors and outcomes.

When Kathryn Was Visiting Her Grandmother One Summer, a Snake