Shanika has been diagnosed with body dysmorphic disorder. Her therapist is treating the disorder by having her reveal her imagined defect, a small skin blemish, in public without concealing it with clothing or makeup. Her therapist is using a technique called _________ to treat Shanika.
A) systematic desensitization
B) aversive counterconditioning
C) a "shame attacking" exercise
D) exposure therapy

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The technique described in the scenario is exposure therapy. The therapist is gradually exposing Shanika to the situation that causes her anxiety, in this case, revealing her small skin blemish in public, so that she can learn to tolerate and eventually overcome her anxiety. Systematic desensitization involves gradually exposing the individual to the feared object or situation while they are in a relaxed state, aversive counterconditioning involves pairing the feared object or situation with unpleasant sensations or experiences, and a "shame attacking" exercise involves deliberately engaging in a behavior that is feared to be shameful or embarrassing to desensitize the individual to the shame associated with it.

Shanika Has Been Diagnosed with Body Dysmorphic Disorder