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Using humor in systematic desensitization to reduce fear
W L Ventis1, G Higbee, S A Murdock
1Department of Psychology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795, USA. wlvent@wm.edu
The Journal of General Psychology
|August 17, 2001
Summary
Humor desensitization effectively reduced spider phobia in students, matching traditional methods. This approach offers therapeutic and advertising applications for fear reduction.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Therapy
Background:
- Phobias, such as arachnophobia, significantly impact quality of life.
- Systematic desensitization is a common therapeutic technique for phobia treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of humor desensitization compared to traditional systematic desensitization for reducing spider fear.
- To explore the potential of using humor in fear reduction strategies.
Main Methods:
- Forty students with high spider fear were recruited.
- Participants were assigned to systematic desensitization, humor desensitization, or a control group.
- A 24-item behavioral approach test with an American tarantula was used for assessment over 6 sessions.
Main Results:
- Both systematic desensitization and humor desensitization groups showed significant fear reduction compared to controls.
- No significant difference in fear reduction was found between the two desensitization methods.
- Effectiveness was measured across three distinct assessment metrics.
Conclusions:
- Humor desensitization is as effective as traditional systematic desensitization in reducing specific phobias like arachnophobia.
- Incorporating humor into therapeutic interventions presents a viable alternative for fear reduction.
- Findings suggest potential applications in clinical therapy and marketing for products eliciting fear.
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