Garcia Effect
Definition
The Garcia Effect, also known as conditioned taste aversion, refers to the development of a strong association between a particular food and illness or discomfort. This effect is named after psychologist John Garcia who discovered it.
Analogy
Imagine eating your favorite ice cream flavor and then getting sick afterwards. Even if the sickness was not caused by the ice cream, you might still feel nauseous at the thought of that flavor in the future. That's the Garcia Effect in action!
Related terms
Classical Conditioning: A learning process where two stimuli are repeatedly paired; a response that is first elicited by the second stimulus is eventually elicited by the first stimulus alone.
Aversion Therapy: A form of psychological treatment where patients are exposed to stimuli while simultaneously being subjected to some form of discomfort with an aim to create an aversion to harmful stimuli.
Learned Helplessness: A mental state in which an organism forced to bear aversive stimuli becomes unable or unwilling to avoid subsequent encounters with those stimuli, even if they are escapable.
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