A Boy Is Afraid of Spiders

question 91

Multiple Choice

A boy is afraid of spiders. His therapist asks him to develop a list of the situations in which spiders create anxiety for him, from the least to the most threatening. Next, he is taught how to relax and let go of tension. Finally, while relaxed, he is asked to imagine the least threatening situation on the list. The procedure used by the boy's therapist is called:

• A) flooding.
• B) skills training.
• C) aversion therapy.
• D) systematic desensitization.

---

Definitions:

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

A mental disorder characterized by unwanted recurring thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions).

Anorexia Nervosa

A psychological and potentially life-threatening eating disorder characterized by self-imposed starvation and excessive weight loss.

Aversive Conditioning

A behavioral training technique where an undesirable behavior is paired with an unpleasant stimulus to reduce its occurrence.

Emetic Drug

A medication intended to induce vomiting in a patient, used in cases of certain types of poisoning or drug overdose.