What is the term for gradual exposure therapy used to treat phobias?

• A. Systematic desensitization
• B. Flooding
• C. Aversion therapy
• D. Modeling

Answer: (A)

Systematic desensitization combines learning to relax with gradual, controlled exposure to feared situations. The approach builds a fear hierarchy—from easily tolerated to most anxiety-provoking—and the person practices relaxation techniques while slowly confronting each item on the list. By pairing the relaxation state with exposure, the body learns to experience the feared stimulus without the intense anxiety, weakening the fear response over time through gradual habituation and reciprocal inhibition. This is why it fits phobias well: you present the fear in small, manageable steps rather than all at once, helping the person regain control.

Flooding would rush straight to the most frightening stimulus without gradual steps, which is more intense and less tolerable for many individuals. Aversion therapy pairs the behavior with an unpleasant consequence to deter it, not for reducing fear. Modeling relies on watching someone else cope before attempting it oneself, rather than the client directly managing exposure with their own relaxation skills.