Question

Your friend is anxious about public speaking. She has decided to make a list of 10 progressive steps in the speaking process that will increase her anxiety. She reads her list and practices saying "relax" to herself. She proceeds down her list until she has examined all 10 items. She is_________--

Answer 1

She is trying systematic desensitization.

Step-by-step explanation:

Systematic desensitization is a treatment for phobias. In this case, this phobia is called glossophobia (fear of public speaking). This treatment's aim is to remove the fear response of the particular phobia by substituing with a relaxed response from a stimulus. This terapy is used in behavioural therapy. It usually consists on three steps: the first is to teach the patient how to relax (deep muscle relaxation, breathing exercises, etc). Then, a chart of the phobia's fear heriarchy is developed: like the girl from the exercise, a 10 item list starting from the least fearsome to the most. And then, the patient works it's way up the fear hierarchy, using the relaxation techniques taught beforehand. Just like the girl in the exercise.