A therapist treating a man with a dog phobia first trains him in progressive muscle relaxation, then constructs a ranked list of feared situations from looking at a photograph of a dog to petting a calm dog, and pairs relaxation with each step in ascending order. Which technique is being used?
- A Systematic desensitization ✓
- B Flooding
- C Token economy
- D Cognitive restructuring
Correct answer: A. Systematic desensitization
Explanation
Systematic desensitization, developed by Joseph Wolpe, combines three elements: training in deep muscle relaxation, construction of an anxiety hierarchy, and graded pairing of relaxation with successive hierarchy items based on reciprocal inhibition. Flooding differs by exposing the patient to the most feared stimulus immediately without relaxation or grading, which is why option B is the key distractor. Token economy is operant conditioning using reinforcers.
Reference: Kaplan and Sadock's Synopsis of Psychiatry, 12th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.