A boy is afraid of spiders. His therapist asks him to develop a list of the situations in which spiders create anxiety for him, from the least to the most threatening. Next, he is taught how to relax and let go of tension. Finally, while relaxed, he is asked to imagine the least threatening situation on the list. The procedure used by the boy's therapist is called:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The procedure used by the therapist involves developing a hierarchy of situations in which spiders create anxiety, using relaxation techniques, and then imagining progressively more anxiety-provoking situations while in a relaxed state. This is a classic description of systematic desensitization, which is a form of behavior therapy used to help individuals confront and overcome specific fears or phobias. The other options listed (flooding, skills training, and aversion therapy) do not match the approach used in this scenario.

A Boy Is Afraid of Spiders