In Wolpe's systematic desensitization for a flying phobia, what would be the first item in the anxiety hierarchy?

• A. Imagining that she is calling the airlines for reservations.
• B. Being on a plane during takeoff.
• C. Standing in a crowded airport lounge.
• D. Listening to a safety briefing on a headset.

Answer: (A)

In systematic desensitization, you create a ladder of feared situations from least to most distressing and start with the step that provokes the smallest amount of anxiety, so you can practice relaxation and coping skills before facing tougher triggers. Imagining that she is calling the airlines for reservations is a purely mental task that doesn’t place her in an actual flying situation, so it would induce only a tiny amount of anxiety. It allows the person to begin practicing relaxation in a safe, controllable context, making it the natural starting point for the hierarchy.

The other options involve progressively more direct exposure to flying cues: being in a crowded airport lounge introduces environmental and social triggers; listening to a safety briefing on a headset adds flight-related information exposure; and being on a plane during takeoff is a real, high-intensity experience. These would follow after the initial, lowest-anxiety step.