Desensitization without hierarchical presentation and concomitant relaxation

Abstract

The consequences of eliminating both the procedures of training in deep muscle relaxation and hierarchical presentation of aversive imagery counterposed with muscle relaxation, were investigated in the experimental group desensitization of examination anxiety experienced by tertiary level students. It was found that the experimental condition of random presentation of aversive imaginal stimuli counterposed with a passage of time during which no specific activities were scheduled, resulted in a significant reduction of examination anxiety equal to that achieved by a standardized systematic desensitization (SD) procedure. Furthermore, this reduction of anxiety achieved by the experimental condition was maintained at an average four-week follow-up conducted at the completion of examinations. The extent to which these findings contradict current rationales of process underlying the efficacy of SD was discussed. An alternative rationale which accommodates the diversity of findings in the literature relating to SD and which also applies to other desensitization techniques, such as flooding and implosion, was proposed.