SYSTEMATIC DESENSITISATION AND THE TREATMENT OF PHOBIA: IT ’S APPRAISAL AND APPLICABILITY AT HOME AND - SCHOOL

Abstract

Behaviour therapy has come to mean the application of a diversity of techniques and procedures that are rooted in a variety of theories of learning to change the behaviour of the clients. This p a p e r appraises systematic desensitization as a behavioural procedure for the treatment of phobia. It examines the techniques at work by discussing the initial interview and what follows, the various alternatives to desensitization such as: in vivo desensitization, contact desensitization, automated desensitization, self-directed desensitization and self-control desensitization and, of course, the criticism of desensitization procedure. It finally looks at the application of systematic desensitization at home and at school and concludes that systematic desensitization seems to be the choice of most therapists when treating phobia.