Habituation
The Habituation information sheets are designed to help clinicians to explain the concept of habituation and its role in exposure therapy.
Habituation
This Habituation handout explains how facing your fears can help reduce anxiety, while avoiding or escaping your fears keeps them going.
Overview
Traditional models of exposure therapy are based on the behavioral principle of habituation. In an exposure trial, habituation occurs when a person's fear response to a stimulus decreases after repeated exposures to that stimulus. The Habituation information handout explains the concept of habituation and its importance in exposure therapy. It discusses key topics including expectations (e.g., appraisals and predictions) when fear escalates, the role of avoidance in maintaining fear, and the effects of exposure.
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