Desensitization (psychology)

Desensitization (from Latin "de-" meaning "removal" and "sensus" meaning "feeling" or "perception") is a psychology term related to a treatment or process that diminishes emotional responsiveness to a negative or aversive stimulus after repeated exposure. This process typically occurs when an emotional response is repeatedly triggered, but the action tendency associated with the emotion proves irrelevant or unnecessary.

Psychologist Mary Cover Jones pioneered early desensitization techniques to help individuals "unlearn" (disassociate from) phobias and anxieties. Her work laid the foundation for later structured approaches to desensitization therapy, aimed at gradually reducing emotional reactions to previously distressing situations.

In 1958, Joseph Wolpe developed a ranked list of anxiety-evoking stimuli ordered by intensity to help individuals gradually adapt to their fears. Wolpe's "reciprocal inhibition" desensitization process is based on established psychology theories. These include Clark Hull's drive-reduction theory, which suggests that reducing a drive decreases anxiety, and Sherrington's concept of reciprocal inhibition, which proposes that certain responses can be inhibited by activating opposing responses.

Although medication is available for individuals with anxiety, fear, or phobias, empirical evidence supports desensitization with high rates of cure, particularly in clients with depression or schizophrenia.