Extinction
Definition
In psychology, extinction refers to the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response. This occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus.
Analogy
Think of extinction like a battery-operated toy. If you keep using it but stop replacing the batteries (the unconditioned stimulus), eventually, the toy (the conditioned response) will stop working.
Related terms
Unconditioned Stimulus: This is something that naturally and automatically triggers a response without any learning needed. For example, food can be an unconditioned stimulus if it leads to salivation.
Conditioned Response: This is a learned reaction or behavior caused by a conditioned stimulus. For instance, if every time you hear your alarm clock (a conditioned stimulus), you feel stressed (a conditioned response).
Operant Conditioning: A type of learning where behavior is controlled by consequences. Positive reinforcement encourages certain behaviors with rewards while negative reinforcement discourages them with punishments.
"Extinction" appears in:
Subjects (3)
Additional resources (1)
Practice Questions (8)
- What is extinction in the context of classical conditioning?
- In classical conditioning, what is meant by extinction?
- How does extinction occur in classical conditioning?
- What is an everyday example of extinction in classical conditioning?
- Which scientific concept corresponds to the term "extinction" in classical conditioning?
- In terms of Second Law of Thermodynamics, how could one relate the process of extinction in classical conditioning?
- Which scenario best illustrates the concept of 'extinction' in operant conditioning?
- How might one construct an experiment demonstrating extinction in operant conditioning?
Resources
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