Massed versus spaced desensitization of fear

Twenty Ss with fears of various animals, reptiles and insects were given desensitization treatment for their fears under conditions of massed and spaced practice. The results showed a highly significant drop in fear due to treatment, and the learned reductions in fear were more efficiently acquired under distributed practice conditions. This accords well with evidence accumulated in other types of learning tasks. The therapists were not highly trained, and some implications of the use of untrained therapists are discussed.