SYSTEMATIC DESENSITIZATION THERAPEUTICALLY ORIENTED INSTRUCTIONS AND SELECTIVE POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

The relative contributions of therapeutically oriented instructions and selective positive verbal reinforcement to systematic desensitization therapy were investigated. Thirty-two female college students with marked fear of snakes were divided into four treatment groups. All Ss were given systematic desensitization therapy. In addition, Group 1 was given therapeutic instructions and praise; Group 2 was given instructions but no praise; Group 3 was given no therapeutic instructions but was given praise; and Group 4 was given neither instructions nor praise. All four groups improved significantly in their ability to approach the snake; however, an analysis of variance for a factorial design indicated that only instructions had a significant effect; the reinforcement and interaction factors were not significant. © 1969.