Final answer:
Exposure therapy gradually exposes individuals to their fears in a controlled manner to reduce the fear response, and can be done traditionally or through virtual reality exposure therapy. It is connected to the principle of learned helplessness, which is an outcome of repeated uncontrollable negative experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Therapy aimed at addressing fears, such as fear of flying, arachnophobia (fear of spiders), or glossophobia (fear of public speaking), often employs a technique called exposure therapy. This form of therapy progressively exposes individuals to the stimuli that provoke their fears in a controlled and gradual manner. The goal is to reduce the fear response over time, as repeated exposure in a safe environment can lead to habituation, where the individual becomes less reactive to the fear-inducing stimulus. Virtual reality exposure therapy is a modern adaptation of this approach where immersive digital environments are used to simulate the feared situations. This allows for a gradual buildup of tolerance to the feared object or scenario without the logistical challenges or risks associated with real-world exposure. Additionally, exposure therapy is closely linked to the concept of learned helplessness, wherein repeated exposure to an uncontrollable, harmful event can lead to a state of resignation or failure to act upon later opportunities to escape or evade the negative circumstance, exemplified by the classic experiments with dogs by psychologist Martin Seligman.