Question

Gina is so fearful of taking tests for college courses that she experiences mild anxiety when registering for a course, intense anxiety when studying for a test, and extreme anxiety when answering actual test questions. Her greatest fear, however, is experienced while waiting for a professor to hand the tests out to the class.

During the process of systematically desensitizing her test anxiety, the therapist is likely to ask Gina first to imagine:

a. Answering questions on a college test
b. Studying for a test
c. Waiting for a professor to hand a test out to a class
d. Registering for a college course

Answer 1

The therapist is likely to ask Gina to first imagine registering for a college course, as this is the scenario that induces the least anxiety for her.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gina's experience with test anxiety is a situation where systematic desensitization, a technique often used in cognitive-behavioral therapy to help individuals overcome phobias and anxiety, can be useful. In Gina's case, her therapist would likely start with the least anxiety-provoking scenario and gradually work up to the most fear-inducing situation.

Since registering for a course causes her only mild anxiety, it is a logical starting point for therapy. Thus, the therapist is likely to ask Gina first to imagine registering for a college course, which is option (d), before progressing to more anxiety-inducing scenarios such as studying, waiting for the test to be handed out, and actually taking the test.

Answer 2

The correct answer is letter D

Explanation: During the process of systematically desensitizing her test anxiety, the therapist is likely to ask Gina first to imagine is to registering for a college course.