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From: Steve Hood
Date: 10/10/02
Time: 9:38:46 AM
Remote Name: 199.33.133.50
Hello again, Judy.
Let me try to respond to the issues you just raised:
Three of the key, operative words in the VR desensitization quote are "carefully and gradually." This can help minimize the possibility of misuse. Desensitization techniques should not be used by clinicians who are an ego-trip to use their power to overwhelm their clients. I don't think this is what Van Riper had in mind.
Back in the 1060's there was debate among the "Client centered Rogerians" and the "behaiorally oriented Skinnerians." Those on the Skinnerian side of the coin reinforced the positives and punished the negatives. In the language area, there were some horror stories of kids who were deprived of food for not performing with improvement in selected target responses (e.g., better syntax, or longer utterances, etc.) In the stuttering area, electric shock was used as a punisher.
I guess there are always risks of "shady practices."
Personally, however, I do not think desensitization therapy fits into this catergory when done properly. And in this case, the operative words are "done properly."