Systematic-desensitization is an effective behavioral treatment for phobic behaviors. Based on principles of classical conditioning, it is performed by repeatedly exposing an individual to a conditioned stimulus which would normally elicit a phobic response. An exposure hierarchy is established which consists of a series of exposure thresholds with gradually increasing intensity, the individual will progress through each successive threshold until even the most intense exposure no longer elicits a fear response. By this process the classically conditioned fear response undergoes extinction. Even more effective, is the use of systematic-desensitization in combination with operant conditioning. Rather than merely exposing the individual to
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Because escape prevention can elicit resistance from the individual undergoing desensitization, especially in the case of developmentally disabled individuals, the development of a method of desensitization that does not rely on escape prevention is highly desirable. While the effectiveness of systematic-desensitization is well established, this research provides new, valuable, insight because it documents a treatment which does not utilize escape …show more content…
This type of design is ideal for measuring the effectiveness of systematic-desensitization because it allows measurement of progress at each successive step in the exposure hierarchy.
The independent variable was proximity of a preferred object to an animatronic figure, with seven total levels. In three baseline sessions the preferred object was placed immediately adjacent to the animatronic figure, in fifteen intervention sessions the preferred object was placed at six successfully closer proximities to the animatronic figure, ranging from six meters to one meter, decreasing by one meter at each progressive exposure threshold. Rich was allowed access to the preferred object contingent on his remainder within the required proximity to the animatronic figure. He was permitted to leave the session at any time as long as he relinquished his access to the preferred object.
An “approach probe” was performed at the beginning and end of each session; Rich was asked by his therapist to approach the animatronic figure at a distance of one meter, the actual distance rich maintained from the animatronic was recorded. Every 60 seconds a “touch probe” was performed; Rich’s therapist requested that Rich touch the animatronic, the proportion of successful touches were measured.
Results and
Because escape prevention can elicit resistance from the individual undergoing desensitization, especially in the case of developmentally disabled individuals, the development of a method of desensitization that does not rely on escape prevention is highly desirable. While the effectiveness of systematic-desensitization is well established, this research provides new, valuable, insight because it documents a treatment which does not utilize escape …show more content…
This type of design is ideal for measuring the effectiveness of systematic-desensitization because it allows measurement of progress at each successive step in the exposure hierarchy.
The independent variable was proximity of a preferred object to an animatronic figure, with seven total levels. In three baseline sessions the preferred object was placed immediately adjacent to the animatronic figure, in fifteen intervention sessions the preferred object was placed at six successfully closer proximities to the animatronic figure, ranging from six meters to one meter, decreasing by one meter at each progressive exposure threshold. Rich was allowed access to the preferred object contingent on his remainder within the required proximity to the animatronic figure. He was permitted to leave the session at any time as long as he relinquished his access to the preferred object.
An “approach probe” was performed at the beginning and end of each session; Rich was asked by his therapist to approach the animatronic figure at a distance of one meter, the actual distance rich maintained from the animatronic was recorded. Every 60 seconds a “touch probe” was performed; Rich’s therapist requested that Rich touch the animatronic, the proportion of successful touches were measured.
Results and