Systematic Desensitization
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Transcript of Systematic Desensitization
SYSTEMATIC
DESENSITIZATION
Maya Bhattacharya
General Psychology Honors
November 5, 2012
AFTER
DESENSITIZATION…
DEFINITION
“Systematic desensitization, also
desensitization therapy, is a
technique used to treat phobias
and other extreme or erroneous
fears based on principles of
behavior modification” (4).
Basically, it’s a therapy procedure
for reducing anxiety, fears and
phobias (what you’re scared of) to
the point that you can “face your
worst fear”.
A Few Common Phobias:
• Acrophobia (Fear of heights)
• Claustrophobia (Fear of enclosed
spaces)
• Nyctophobia (Fear of the dark)
• Arachnophobia (Fear of spiders)
• Ophidiophobia (Fear of snakes)
• Trypanophobia (Fear of
injection/medical needles)
• Nosophobia (Fear of having a
disease)
Phobias can be considered as
anxiety disorders, as fear causes
anxiety.
SEL F - ADM INISTERED SYSTEM ATIC
DESENSITIZATION P ROCEDU RE
1. Relaxation
2. Constructing an anxiety hierarchy
3. Pairing relaxation with the situations
described in your anxiety hierarchy
Guide to Psychology: http://www.guidetopsychology.com/sysden.htm
Here’s a sample hierarchy:
• Talking about spiders
• Looking at a picture of a spider
• Looking at an actual spider not
moving, in a cage, from a distance
• Looking at an actual spider, not
moving, in a cage, getting closer
• Looking at a moving spider in a cage
• Looking at a moving spider outside
of a cage
• Reaching for the spider
• Petting the spider
• Holding the spider in your hands
WHY DON’T WE LIVE WITH
OUR FEARS?
What if your fears are:
• Distracting you from your daily life
• Not allowing you to progress (fear of speaking in public or social anxieties)
• Causing you to become physically ill?
SOCIAL ANXIETIES
FOR EXAMPLE…
WHO’S IDEA WAS IT?
1950s
WHAT TO DO NOW
BY…
Using humor! Have
laughter in your life –
humor really achieves
results
Using the techniques we
discussed today!
REFERENCES
Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Desensitization.aspx
Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders: http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-
Z/Systematic-desensitization.html
About.com Phobias:
http://phobias.about.com/od/introductiontophobias/tp/Ten-Common-
Phobias.htm
Theories in Psychology:
http://theoriesinpsychologyf10.wikispaces.com/Classical+Conditioning+%26+Syst
ematic+Desensitization
PICTURE CREDITS
http://www.minddisorders.com/photos/systematic-desensitization-866.jpg
http://www.buzzle.com/img/articleImages/398337-2312-55.jpg
http://shynesssocialanxiety.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/overcoming-fear-progressive-
desensitization.jpg
http://www.simswyeth.com/wp-content/uploads/glossophobia.jpg
http://www.psychologynoteshq.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/spider-550x367.jpg
http://www.simplypsychology.org/systematic-desensitisation.jpg
http://www.primarypsychiatry.com/userdocs/ArticleImages/1105pp4.gif
http://www.betterparenting.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/fight-fears.jpg
http://conceptart.org/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=1468256&d=1335423450
If you would like to discuss any psychology topics, including desensitization, feel free to speak with me in
class or email me at: [email protected].