Final answer:
Individuals are gradually introduced to their feared object in a controlled manner in a process known as systematic desensitization, a psychological method for reducing fear through exposure and extinction of the conditioned response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process by which individuals are gradually introduced to the object they fear so that the fear can be extinguished is known as systematic desensitization. This therapeutic technique involves exposing the individual to the feared object or context without any danger, in order to overcome their anxiety. It typically includes relaxation techniques and a gradual exposure to the fear, starting with the least frightening and moving towards the most frightening scenarios.
An example of systematic desensitization might be for a person who fears spiders. The therapist would start by asking them to imagine a spider, then later to look at pictures of spiders, followed by watching a video of spiders, until finally, the person might be able to be in the presence of a live spider without experiencing crippling fear.
In Pavlovian or classical conditioning terms, this involves the weakening of the conditioned response. Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus (e.g., the sight of a spider) is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus (the fearful experience), leading to a decrease in the conditioned fear response.