Cherise finds out that she is being transferred to an office located on the tenth floor of a building. The problem is that she fears heights so much that she never goes above the third floor in any building

Her therapist teaches her how to relax deeply while imagining looking out over a balcony. As her therapy progresses, Cherise imagines herself on higher and higher floors. This technique is called ______________.
A) systematic desensitization
B) aversive conditioning
C) flooding
D) transference

Answer: A
Rationale: Systematic desensitization is a technique in which gradual exposure to a feared stimulus or situation is blended with relaxation training. This would not be an example of flooding, because flooding involves going straight to the most challenging part of the exposure process. For example, if Cherise was undergoing flooding, her therapist might take her to the top of a skyscraper.