Fear and Anxiety Reduction Procedures

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts related to fear and anxiety reduction procedures, helping to solidify the student's understanding of behavior modification techniques and therapeutic strategies.

Fear

A complex emotional response to a perceived threat, often involving autonomic nervous system arousal and escape or avoidance behavior.

Anxiety

A bodily reaction characterized by autonomic nervous system arousal, commonly associated with feelings of apprehension and unease.

Operant Behavior

A behavior that is modified by its consequences, typically involving reinforcement or punishments.

Respondent Behavior

Reflexive responses that are elicited by specific stimuli, often described in terms of conditioned stimuli (CS) and conditioned responses (CR).

Systematic Desensitization

A behavioral therapy technique where a patient gradually confronts a fear-inducing stimulus while practicing relaxation techniques.

In Vivo Desensitization

A therapeutic technique that involves gradual, real-life exposure to a feared stimulus while employing relaxation methods.

Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR)

A relaxation technique that involves sequentially tensing and relaxing different muscle groups to reduce overall tension.

Diaphragmatic Breathing

A deep breathing technique that engages the diaphragm, resulting in slower, more relaxed breathing patterns.

Attention-Focusing Exercises

Techniques that direct focus away from anxiety-inducing stimuli, often used in relaxation strategies such as meditation.

Hierarchy of Fear-Producing Stimuli

A ranked list of situations or stimuli that evoke varying levels of fear, used to guide desensitization processes.

Reciprocal Inhibition

A process described by Wolpe, where relaxation responses inhibit fear responses during systematic desensitization.

Positive Reinforcement

A process by which a behavior is strengthened by the consequence of presenting a stimulus after the behavior occurs.

Flooding

A treatment method involving prolonged exposure to a feared stimulus at full intensity until anxiety decreases.

Modeling

A therapeutic approach where an individual learns to overcome a fear by observing someone else successfully face the same fear.

Behavioral Relaxation Training

A method of relaxation that involves assuming specific postures to promote a relaxed state without tensing muscles.