PROBLEM Leitenberg, et aE. ( 3 ) , and Oliveau, et al. ( 6 ) have reported experiments which, cumulatively, suggest that the beneficial effects of systematic desensitization depend on knowledge that one is "in therapy." Snake-avoidant Ss who experienced desensitization operations but who were unaware of the presumed therapeutic value of them did not benefit to the same degree as did Ss who knew that the operations were intended to be therapeutic. McGlynn, Reynolds and Linder (6) reported an experiment in which a similar instructional manipulation had no impact on the outcome of desensitization operations. Mouse-avoidant Ss who were told that the Es were studying physiological reactions improved to the same extent as did Ss who were told that the Es were studying a therapeutic technique. While
The study assessed the extent to which heart-rate responsivity in the presence of a snake is correlated with behavioral avoidance of a snake. College students described, by a commonly used method, as either snake-avoidant or nonavoidant were exposed to a snake and to a neutral stimulus while their heart rates were monitored. Those Ss who were not behaviorally avoidant responded to the snake and to the neutral stimulus in essentially the same way. Those who were behaviorally avoidant showed less heart-rate responsivity to the neutral stimulus than to the snake. However, this difference was marginal and of insufficient magnitude to argue that snake-avoidant volunteer Ss are meaningful surrogates for clinically phobic patients. The results indict the value of dozens of previous experiments.
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