Virtual Reality Psychologist Hunter Hoffmann is shown here demonstrating the use of SpiderWorld, a three-dimensional virtual reality program that creates the very realistic sensation of seeing, and even touching, large spiders. Once experimental, virtual reality treatment has been shown to be effective in treating specific phobias and other disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder in combat veterans and in victims of terrorist attacks (Freedman & others, 2010; Opriş others, 2012).

Photo by Stephen Dagadakis, copyright Hunter Hoffman, www.vrpain.com, University of Washington Seattle.