Systematic desensitization is a technique most closely associated with which therapeutic approach?

• A. Cognitive therapy
• B. Humanistic therapy
• C. Behavior therapy
• D. Psychoanalysis

Answer: (C)

Systematic desensitization is a behavior therapy technique that uses conditioning principles to reduce fear responses. It was developed for treating phobias and blends gradual exposure to feared stimuli with relaxation training. By building an anxiety hierarchy from mild to highly feared situations and pairing each step with a relaxed state, the feared response tends to diminish through extinction or reciprocal inhibition. This focus on changing observable behavior through learned associations and structured exposure is the hallmark of behavior therapy, rather than exploring unconscious conflicts or changing beliefs through cognitive or psychodynamic means.