Systematic Desensitization Research Paper

Behavior Management: The Effectiveness of Systematic Desensitization on Various Phobias

Human behavior is complex and difficult to predict and control. Many theories of behavior modification exist today with an abundance of research to support claims, but which one is most effective? Past research provides support for the effectiveness of systematic desensitization as well as flooding and fading when used to treat phobias. (Ost, 1978, p. 379, Rudestam & Bedrosian, 1977, p. 23). Systematic desensitization is in essence Guthrie’s threshold technique. Guthrie theorized that repeatedly exposing a stimulus that elicits an unwanted response, fist at a low intensity as to not elicit the unwanted response, with gradual increases in intensity, would

eventually inhibit the unwanted response caused by the stimulus. (Lefrancois, 2012, p.52). Guthrie’s thinking was that by slowly associating a stimulus without triggering the unwanted response, a new habit would be formed, one that doesn’t involve the unwanted response (Lefrancois p.53).

As it relates to phobias, the goal of systematic desensitization is to eventually replace an unwanted response of fear with a relaxed response (Lefrancois, p. 55, 115). In order to begin phobia treatment using systematic destination, an anxiety hierarchy must be created. This contextualizes an individual’s phobia to provide a better understanding to the stimuli and situations that trigger the unwanted fear response (Lefrancois, p. 115, Rudestam & Bedrosian, p. 25). Systematic desensitization typically involves relaxing the body and mind to a calm state and then slowly introducing the stimulus that causes the unwanted behavior (Lefrancois, p. 45, 115, Rudestam & Bedrosian, p. 23). Flooding, otherwise known as Guthrie’s fatigue technique, involves continued persistence of a stimulus in order to eventually diminish the unwanted response (Lefrancois, p. 52). Fading on the other hand involves generalization and discrimination to eventually change the associated response of a specific stimuli (Lefrancois, p. 106-107, Ost, p. 379). To answer the question if systematic desensitization works better that than other behavior

modification techniques for phobia treatment, a comparison of past research has been performed.
Rudestam and Bedrosian (1977) explored both systematic desensitization and flooding, expressing an interest in how two very different techniques can both be effective at modifying behavior. The authors hypothesized that behavior modification would be more effective with phobias concerning more concrete, specific stimuli (such as phobias of animals or spider) and less effective on agoraphobias and more general phobias (such as social phobias) (p. 24). The data from this study did support the authors hypothesis that behavior modification worked better for specific phobias, presumably due to the ability to more accurately visually represent a specific phobia (it is easier to show a picture of a spider and illicit fear in someone with a phobia of spiders than it is to show a picture of a crowd and illicit fear for someone with social phobia) (p. 28). In contrast to past research suggesting that systematic desensitization is more effective than flooding, this study found that flooding actually decreased heartrate and GSR arousal slightly more than systematic desensitization (p. 28). On the other hand, data from the self-reports of the study suggest that both the participants and the therapist performing the treatments believed that systematic desensitization worked better than flooding (p. 30). Overall both forms of treatment were effective.
Research conducted by Ost (1978) attempted to compare the effectiveness of reducing phobic responses by using systematic desensitization and fading.

The fading in this study used images of both the phobic stimulus and pleasant, relaxing images that were superimposed on one another which the participant had control over viewing (p. 379). The goal of this study was to establish a comparison of specific phobia treatment between systematic desensitization, fading, and a control no treatment group (p. 379). Ost hypothesized that both forms of treatment would work equally well and the control group receiving no treatment would improve the least (p. 379). Overall the results from this study did support the hypothesis that both forms of treatment work better than no treatment with very few significant differences between the results of fading and systematic desensitization treatments (p. 387). The author notes the need for further research of fading and its application to social phobias and agoraphobia (p.

389).
After comparing the results offered in both articles it seems all three forms of behavior management were effective at treating phobias. Although no major differences were found between treatment results, it is interesting that the results of self-reports tended to favor systematic desensitization over flooding and fading (Rudestam & Bedrosian, 1977, p. 30, Ost, 1978, p. 387). Since the results suggest that any of the three forms of treatments were effective, and systematic desensitization was more enjoyable, perhaps systematic desensitization is the better form of specific phobia treatment.