What is the term for engaging in a series of progressively intimate encounters to reduce anxiety related to sexual performance?

The term that best describes engaging in a series of progressively intimate encounters to reduce anxiety related to sexual performance is systematic desensitization. This therapeutic technique is grounded in the principles of behavior therapy and is utilized to help individuals address their fears or anxieties through gradual exposure.

Systematic desensitization involves exposing a person to the anxiety-provoking stimulus in a controlled manner while simultaneously employing relaxation techniques. The goal is to gradually reduce the individual's anxiety response to the specific situation—in this case, sexual performance—by creating a hierarchy of situations that range from least to most anxiety-inducing. As the person becomes more comfortable in less threatening situations, they can progress to more intimate encounters, helping to diminish anxiety and improve performance.

The other options refer to different therapeutic approaches. Behavioral activation focuses on increasing engagement in positive activities to combat depression, exposure therapy is generally used for phobias and anxiety disorders through direct exposure rather than a sequential approach, and cognitive restructuring involves changing unhelpful thoughts but does not specifically address the anxiety associated with physical encounters in a step-by-step manner. These distinctions underline why systematic desensitization is the most appropriate term for the described process.