Many persons avoid dentists and dental work. The present study explored the effects of systematic desensitization and social-modeling treatments with placebo and assessment control groups. Modeling was more effective than desensitization as shown by the number of subjects who went to a dentist. (Author)

A multivariate analysis of postanxiety measures showed no differences between the treatment groups but in comparison to the no-treatment control group both treatments were associated with significant anxiety reduction on four measures related to speech disturbance, extraneous body movement, and self-reported anxiety. (Author)

The author describes a counseling technique which: (1) is based upon behavior theory and treats acts and thoughts as operants, and anxiety as a respondent controlled by classical conditioning; (2) entails in vivo desensitization, requiring the construction of a hierarchy of anxiety-producing situations which can be enacted; (3) uses peer- or…