SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does systematic desensitization mean? 

• SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION (noun)
  The noun SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION has 1 sense:

1. a technique used in behavior therapy to treat phobias and other behavior problems involving anxiety; client is exposed to the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished

  Familiarity information: SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A technique used in behavior therapy to treat phobias and other behavior problems involving anxiety; client is exposed to the threatening situation under relaxed conditions until the anxiety reaction is extinguished

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

desensitisation procedure; desensitisation technique; desensitization procedure; desensitization technique; systematic desensitisation; systematic desensitization

Hypernyms ("systematic desensitization" is a kind of...):

behavior modification; behavior therapy (psychotherapy that seeks to extinguish or inhibit abnormal or maladaptive behavior by reinforcing desired behavior and extinguishing undesired behavior)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "systematic desensitization"):

exposure therapy (a form of behavior therapy in which a survivor confronts feelings or phobias or anxieties about a traumatic event and relives it in the therapy situation)