Lois, who has a fear of elevators, watches as Carole gets on an elevator, goes up a floor, then comes back down and exits the elevator. Lois then imitates the actions performed by Carole. What is this type of therapy called?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The therapy being described is modeling. Lois watches someone else (Carole) engage in the feared behavior (riding the elevator) and then imitates that behavior, which serves as a form of therapy for her fear. Flooding involves prolonged exposure to the feared stimulus, while extinction involves reducing the frequency of a behavior by removing reinforcement. Catharsis involves releasing pent-up emotions. None of these therapies adequately describe the scenario presented.

Lois, Who Has a Fear of Elevators, Watches as Carole