Ritu, an eight-year-old girl, is very afraid of going near dogs. Her therapist first arranges for her to watch her cousin, a girl of her own age, play calmly with a pet dog for several sessions. Only after this is Ritu asked to go near the dog herself. Which principle of behavioural techniques is the therapist mainly using?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Vicarious learning procedures
Option (1) Vicarious learning procedures — Correct. Vicarious learning means <strong>learning by watching others</strong>. Ritu sees a child like herself stay calm with the dog, and <strong>this observation prepares her</strong> to approach the dog herself.
Option (2) Classical conditioning through pairing of stimuli — Incorrect. Classical conditioning changes behaviour by <strong>pairing one stimulus with another</strong> again and again. No such pairing is made with Ritu; the dog is not linked to any new stimulus for her.
Option (3) Operant conditioning with contingencies of reinforcement — Incorrect. Operant conditioning changes behaviour through its <strong>consequences</strong>, such as rewards for a wanted response. Ritu is given no reward or other consequence for her own behaviour.
Option (4) Reducing the arousal level of the client — Incorrect. Reducing arousal means bringing down the client's anxiety, for example through <strong>relaxation procedures</strong>. Ritu is not taught to relax here; she only <strong>watches another child</strong>.
NCERT (2026-27): “Behavioural Techniques |