In a behaviorist approach to treatment for a patient with a fear of rats, the patient is
A) urged to talk about this fear to determine why he feels this way.
B) repeatedly exposed to stimuli that are gradually more and more like rats.
C) asked to observe other people who are handling rats in a calm, relaxed manner.
D) given medication to help reduce his anxiety.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

A behaviorist approach would involve using exposure therapy, in which the patient is gradually exposed to the feared stimuli (rats) in a controlled setting, starting with stimuli that are less anxiety-provoking and gradually increasing to more rat-like stimuli. The goal is to replace the patient's fear response with a more relaxed one through repeated exposure. Talking about the fear or using medication would not be primary methods in a behaviorist approach.

In a Behaviorist Approach to Treatment for a Patient with a Fear