Describe the technique of systematic desensitization

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Systematic desensitization, developed by Joseph Wolpe, has three key elements. The first is relaxation training (usually progressive muscle relaxation) and is used to induce a calm state through the contraction and relaxation of all of the major muscle groups. The second component is the construction of a hierarchy of fears ranging from very mild to very frightening stimuli. The third part is the learning process, namely, the pairing of the feared stimulus with the relaxation response. Wolpe had his clients carry out the pairing in their imagination. Evidence supports the effectiveness of this treatment for fears and phobias, although the specific mechanism that leads to the fear reduction is not clear.