This text investigates the clinical application of behavior therapy, specifically focusing on the systematic desensitization of neurotic behaviors through conditioning principles. Joseph Wolpe, a psychiatrist and pioneer in the field, draws upon his extensive clinical experience and experimental research to provide a structured framework for treating anxiety-based disorders. The book outlines the transition from traditional psychoanalytic models to a more empirical, learning-based approach to psychological intervention.

This work is regarded as a foundational text in the development of modern cognitive-behavioral therapy, providing a clear, clinical manual for practitioners. The material is dense and technical, serving primarily as a professional resource for clinicians and students of psychology interested in the historical and practical roots of behavioral intervention.