Peter has a phobia for dogs. The behavior therapist has him relax and just think about dogs, and occasionally shows him pictures of dogs. The next session will involve going to the pet store to observe dogs through a glass, and the next week a trip to a kennel. In every instance Peter must maintain a relaxed response. This type of behavior therapy is known as
A)aversion-hierarchy conditioning.
B)systematic desensitization.
C)higher-order conditioning.
D)stimulus generalization conditioning.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The behavior therapy described involves the systematic desensitization technique, which gradually exposes the individual to the feared stimulus (in this case, dogs) in a relaxed state. The exposure increases in intensity over time, starting from imagining the stimuli, progressing to pictures, then observing through glass, and eventually exposure in real life situations. Aversion-hierarchy conditioning involves associating the feared stimulus with an unpleasant outcome, while higher-order conditioning involves the pairing of a neutral stimulus with a conditioned stimulus. Stimulus generalization conditioning involves extending the fear response to similar but not identical stimuli.

Peter Has a Phobia for Dogs