Final answer:
Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique commonly employed in the field of psychology to alleviate and overcome various fears, anxieties, and phobias. The correct answer is: b. help people overcome fears by exposing them to the feared object.
Step-by-step explanation:
Systematic desensitization is a therapeutic technique commonly employed in the field of psychology to alleviate and overcome various fears, anxieties, and phobias. The correct answer is: b. help people overcome fears by exposing them to the feared object. Systematic desensitization involves a gradual and controlled exposure to the anxiety-inducing stimulus in a systematic and incremental manner. This process is designed to replace the anxiety response with a relaxation response, allowing individuals to reassociate the feared object or situation with a more positive or neutral emotional state. This technique has been widely used to treat specific phobias, social anxiety, and other anxiety disorders. The other options (a. hypnotize people to recall past events and c. desensitize people to violence on television) do not accurately reflect the primary purpose and application of systematic desensitization.