Which technique involves presenting the feared object at full intensity to overcome fear?

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

Answer: (A)

Flooding is a form of exposure therapy where the feared object or situation is confronted at full intensity from the start. The aim is to trigger the anxiety and show that the feared outcome doesn’t happen, so the fear response diminishes through extinction and habituation as exposure continues. This approach can produce rapid relief, though it is intense and not suitable for everyone. By contrast, systematic desensitization uses a gradual exposure plan paired with relaxation to build tolerance step by step, while aversive conditioning relies on pairing the behavior with an unpleasant consequence, and reinforcement uses rewards to shape behavior rather than directly reducing fear through exposure.