Reciprocal Inhibition (Noun)
Meaning
A method of behavior therapy based on the inhibition of one response by the occurrence of another response that is mutually incompatible with it; a relaxation response might be conditioned to a stimulus that previously evoked anxiety.
Classification
Nouns denoting acts or actions.
Examples
- Reciprocal inhibition is a method of behavior therapy that has been used to treat anxiety disorders by teaching patients to associate relaxation with previously anxiety-provoking stimuli.
- The therapist used reciprocal inhibition to help the patient overcome her fear of public speaking by teaching her to relax while imagining herself in a public speaking situation.
- Reciprocal inhibition is based on the idea that two mutually exclusive responses, such as relaxation and anxiety, cannot occur at the same time.
- The goal of reciprocal inhibition is to condition a relaxation response to a stimulus that previously evoked anxiety, thereby reducing the anxiety response.
- By using reciprocal inhibition, the patient was able to reduce her anxiety in social situations and become more confident in her interactions with others.