Systematic Desensitization is a process that combines relaxation with imagined scenarios to reduce anxiety and is based on which conditioning principle?

Systematic Desensitization is a process that combines relaxation with imagined scenarios to reduce anxiety and is based on which conditioning principle?

• A. Classical conditioning
• B. Operant conditioning
• C. Social learning theory
• D. Pavlovian conditioning

Answer: (A)

Systematic desensitization rests on classical conditioning. The technique pairs a calming, relaxed response with imagined, progressively feared situations. Through repeated pairings, the fear cue begins to elicit relaxation instead of anxiety, so the anxiety response is weakened or replaced. This is different from operant conditioning, which uses reinforcement or punishment to shape behavior, and from social learning theory, which involves modeling. While Pavlovian conditioning is basically another way of naming classical conditioning, the key idea here is the forming of an association between relaxation and the fear-inducing stimuli to produce a learned calm response.

Systematic desensitization rests on classical conditioning. The technique pairs a calming, relaxed response with imagined, progressively feared situations. Through repeated pairings, the fear cue begins to elicit relaxation instead of anxiety, so the anxiety response is weakened or replaced. This is different from operant conditioning, which uses reinforcement or punishment to shape behavior, and from social learning theory, which involves modeling. While Pavlovian conditioning is basically another way of naming classical conditioning, the key idea here is the forming of an association between relaxation and the fear-inducing stimuli to produce a learned calm response.