A case study is reported in which systematic desensitization techniques were used for treatment of stuttering. Following Brutten and Shoemaker’s (1967) hypothesis that stuttering behavior is a learned disorder predicated upon speech anxieties, desensitization procedures were successfully employed in substantially decreasing this behavior. Limitations to the study are outlined, and suggestions are made regarding further research.

21 rats were tested in a shuttle box in which crossing terminated distinctive cues. Experimental Ss which had previously been exposed to these same cues paired with frustrative nonreward crossed significantly more times than controls. These results were interpreted as supporting the position that stimuli associated with frustrative nonreward may come to elicit a learned drive of conditioned frustration.