Taking a person into the feared situation until anxiety subsides is called?

• A. Systematic desensitization
• B. Aversive conditioning
• C. Reinforcement
• D. Flooding/exposure

Answer: (D)

Flooding, or exposure therapy, involves directly and repeatedly exposing someone to the feared situation until the anxiety response diminishes. The idea is to trigger the fear long enough for habituation to occur, so the person’s anxiety decreases as they realize the feared outcome doesn’t happen or is manageable. This contrasts with systematic desensitization, which uses a gradual approach and relaxation techniques to build tolerance without an immediate confrontation. Aversive conditioning pairs a behavior with an unpleasant stimulus to discourage it, and reinforcement focuses on rewarding desirable behaviors, not reducing fear through direct exposure. So taking a person into the feared situation until anxiety subsides matches flooding/exposure.