Which of the following is one of the three rules of systemic desensitization?

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Systematic desensitization works by pairing relaxation with gradual exposure to feared stimuli, so the brain learns to stay calm in the face of anxiety. A key element that makes this approach effective is repetition: exposure must be repeated, with practice reinforcing the relaxed response each time. This repeated practice builds tolerance and helps the fear lose its grip over time. While gradually facing the fear is a part of the method, the emphasis on repeated exposure captures the mechanism that drives lasting change. Prolonged exposure isn’t the defining rule, and simply naming the technique isn’t a separate rule either.