Systematic Desensitization Therapy for Phobias

Pavlov's discovery

Classical or Pavlovian conditioning, investigating how the brain works

Classical conditioning

Pavlov's discovery, a way of studying association and responses to stimuli

Association

Fundamental to the Lockean theory of mind and behaviorist emphasis

Systematic desensitization therapy

Treatment for phobia, conditioning relaxation response to feared situations

Joseph Wolpe

First explored systematic desensitization therapy as a treatment for phobia

Gordon Paul

Conducted classic research on systematic desensitization therapy

Phobia

Irrational, troublesome fear; fear of enclosed spaces or open situations

Behaviorist

Views fear as a response to a stimulus situation

Conditioning

Method to combat fear by conditioning a different response to a situation

Relaxation response

Conditioned response to feared objects or situations in systematic desensitization therapy

Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Fusion of cognitive and behavioristic concepts in therapy

Spontaneous improvement

Improvement for unknown reasons, common without treatment

Control group

Group of clients who do not receive treatment, used for comparison

Double-blind controls

Used to control for spontaneous improvement, expectations, and biases

Experimental evaluation

Evaluation of systematic desensitization therapy using double-blind control procedures

Insight-oriented psychotherapy

Traditional therapy focused on gaining insight into irrational fear

Attention-placebo

Placebo control for psychotherapy, no insight or conditioning procedures

Dependent variable

Measurement of speech anxiety reduction in systematic desensitization therapy

Physiological measures

Measurements of sweating, heart rate, etc. as indicators of anxiety level

Behavioral measures

Observations of behavioral indicators of speech anxiety

Cross-checks

Different observers checking and comparing behavioral measures

Follow-up measures

Measures taken after six weeks to assess maintenance of anxiety reduction

Therapists' expectations

Initial skepticism of therapists regarding systematic desensitization therapy

Confounding problem

Potential bias due to therapists' experience and confidence in insight therapy

Research literature

Supports the effectiveness of systematic desensitization therapy for phobia