Comparison of counterconditioning and self-control models of systematic desensitization in test anxiety reduction and treatment generalization
Date
1977
Authors
Parks, Donald Hugh
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Although a number of empirical studies support the effectiveness of systematic desensitization in anxiety reduction, various theoretical models have been advanced to explain its efficacy. TWo such explanations are Wolpe's traditional counterconditioning paradigm and Goldfried's conceptualization of desensitization based on a self-control model. The present study compared the theoretical and procedural differences of these two models. Using test anxiety as a target behavior, an experimental comparison was made between the two models for treatment effectiveness in the reduction of test anxiety and the generalization of anxiety reduction to general and nontargeted anxieties. Test-anxious university students were assigned to one of three conditions: counterconditioning desensitization, self-control desensitization, and a delayed-treatment control. The effectiveness of each treatment condition was assessed by four measures of test anxiety (two self-report and two performance measures) and one self-report measure for both general and nontargeted anxieties. The results showed that both counterconditioning and self-control desensitization were more effective in reducing self-report test anxiety and nontargeted anxieties than the control condition. The two desensitization procedures did not differ significantly from one another on any of the measures. The finding that subjects in both desensitization conditions reported significant reductions in nontargeted anxieties was interpreted as support for Goldfried's theoretical model of systematic desensitization as training in a general anxiety-coping skill. Implications for further research were discussed.