---
title: "Exposure Therapy — AP Psychology Definition & Exam Guide"
description: "Exposure therapy treats anxiety, phobias, and PTSD by safely confronting feared stimuli until fear fades. Key behavioral treatment for AP Psych Unit 8."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/exposure-therapy"
type: "key-term"
subject: "AP Psychology"
---

# Exposure Therapy — AP Psychology Definition & Exam Guide

## Definition

Exposure therapy is a psychological treatment that helps people confront and reduce fear and anxiety by gradually exposing them to the feared object, situation or traumatic memory in a safe environment.

## Related Study Guides

- [8.7 Introduction to Treatment of Psychological Disorders](/ap-psych-revised/unit-8/intro-treatment-psychological-disorders/study-guide/8XWbrjoTS6oLziBpMuow)
- [8.8 Psychological Perspectives and Treatment of Disorders](/ap-psych-revised/unit-8/psychological-perspectives-treatment-disorders/study-guide/anATyQ6k5vzwx0d5Zjhl)

## Review

### Related Terms

- [Systematic Desensitization](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/systematic-desensitization): A type of exposure therapy where a patient is exposed to an anxiety-producing stimulus while simultaneously being engaged in some type of relaxation.
- [Flooding](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/flooding): A form of exposure therapy where instead of gradual exposure, the person is immediately exposed to their greatest fear until they learn that it's not harmful.
- [Habituation](/ap-psych-revised/key-terms/habituation): The process by which an organism reduces its response to repeated presentations of non-threatening stimuli; this concept underlies how exposure therapy works.