Systematic desensitization was developed to address which type of problem?

• A. Treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• B. Cure autism spectrum disorder
• C. Reduce fears and phobias
• D. Enhance memory consolidation

Answer: (C)

The idea behind systematic desensitization is to reduce fear responses by pairing gradual exposure to feared things with relaxation training. This behavioral approach is designed to address fears and phobias, helping a person learn to stay calm as they confront progressively more challenging stimuli. It works by creating a hierarchy of feared situations, teaching a relaxation technique, and then slowly working through the hierarchy while maintaining a relaxed state, so the anxiety response is weakened over time. This makes it suited for reducing phobias and other excessive fears, unlike treatments aimed at ADHD, autism, or memory processes.