The Application of the Principles of Classical Conditioning to the Therapeutic Situation (Systematic Desensitization and Aversive Counter Conditioning)
As humans there are countless things in this world we are afraid of such as snakes, the water, or the dark. Some of us fear these things a little more than most and our fear is considered to be a phobia. Millions of people in the world suffer from phobias, but there are a few different ways to combat these phobias. One of these therapeutic methods is: Systematic desensitization.
According to dictionary.com systematic desensitization is defined as a treatment for phobias in which the patient is exposed to progressively more anxiety-provoking stimuli and taught relaxation techniques.
Lets say I am deathly afraid of snakes, and every time I see a snake I get panic attacks. If I were to go to counseling for my phobia the counselor would more than likely use the therapeutic process of systematic desensitization. My counselor would first get me in a relaxed state and from across the room present a picture of a snake. He would assure me that the I'm fine and in no real danger. He would then gradually move closer with the picture and keep assuring me that I'm safe. Eventually he may get close enough to let me hold it.
After I am able to be around pictures of snakes without my panic attacks being triggered the counselor may bring a real snake. Of course at first it will be all the way across the room, but it will move closer little by little and the professional will keep assuring me that it's not going to harm me and that I'm safe. Eventually I will maybe even touch the snake. After I am able to do all these previously mentioned things without having a panic attack I have successfully over com my fear of snakes. Below is a visual representation of someone over coming of phobia of spiders through systematic desensitization. As you can see the girl has a phobia of spiders. She first is presented with a picture of a spider and eventually she is able to hold a spider. She is over coming her fear of spiders in the same exact same way that I over came my fear of snakes, through systematic desensitization!
According to dictionary.com systematic desensitization is defined as a treatment for phobias in which the patient is exposed to progressively more anxiety-provoking stimuli and taught relaxation techniques.
Lets say I am deathly afraid of snakes, and every time I see a snake I get panic attacks. If I were to go to counseling for my phobia the counselor would more than likely use the therapeutic process of systematic desensitization. My counselor would first get me in a relaxed state and from across the room present a picture of a snake. He would assure me that the I'm fine and in no real danger. He would then gradually move closer with the picture and keep assuring me that I'm safe. Eventually he may get close enough to let me hold it.
After I am able to be around pictures of snakes without my panic attacks being triggered the counselor may bring a real snake. Of course at first it will be all the way across the room, but it will move closer little by little and the professional will keep assuring me that it's not going to harm me and that I'm safe. Eventually I will maybe even touch the snake. After I am able to do all these previously mentioned things without having a panic attack I have successfully over com my fear of snakes. Below is a visual representation of someone over coming of phobia of spiders through systematic desensitization. As you can see the girl has a phobia of spiders. She first is presented with a picture of a spider and eventually she is able to hold a spider. She is over coming her fear of spiders in the same exact same way that I over came my fear of snakes, through systematic desensitization!
Another form of helping individuals over come their bad habits is aversive counter conditioning. In aversive counter conditioning a pleasurable response is paired with an unpleasant response. The best example of this I can think of is when small children have problems with biting their nails and sucking on their thumbs, and their parents buy a certain type of nail polish that gives them an unpleasant taste in their mouth. This unpleasant taste is triggered when the substance comes in contact with saliva. After the child repeatedly bites his or her nails and repeatedly sucks his or her's thumb the child will eventually start associating the bad taste with sucking their thumb or biting on their nails, and this will condition them to stop.
Below I have posted two links. The first link is to an online journal article that gives another example of aversive counter conditioning. The example they give has to do with training dogs. The second link is to youtube video that shows how systematic desensitization helps a girl over come her fear of spiders.
Links:
http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Aversive%20Conditioning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkd7zcvFQ5w
Below I have posted two links. The first link is to an online journal article that gives another example of aversive counter conditioning. The example they give has to do with training dogs. The second link is to youtube video that shows how systematic desensitization helps a girl over come her fear of spiders.
Links:
http://www.alleydog.com/glossary/definition.php?term=Aversive%20Conditioning
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nkd7zcvFQ5w