Making someone who is afraid of snakes handle dozens of snakes in an effort to get the person to overcome the fear is called ________.
A) flooding
B) systematic desensitization
C) aversive conditioning
D) paradoxical intent

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Flooding is a form of exposure therapy that involves exposing an individual to their fears or phobias in a controlled environment until the fear response extinguishes. The person is flooded with the stimulus that causes fear until the fear subsides. In the given scenario, making someone handle dozens of snakes is an example of flooding. Systematic desensitization is different from flooding as it involves gradually exposing the person to the feared stimulus in a step-by-step process. Aversive conditioning involves pairing an unpleasant stimulus with the feared object or behavior, while paradoxical intent involves deliberately exaggerating the symptoms of anxiety or fear to overcome them.

Making Someone Who Is Afraid of Snakes Handle Dozens of Snakes