Question

What is the term for the weakening of a conditioned response over time when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus?

• A. Acquisition
• B. Generalization
• C. Extinction
• D. Discrimination

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Extinction

Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus (CS) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (UCS), leading to a gradual decrease in the conditioned response (CR). For example, if a teacher claps (CS) without giving instructions, students may eventually stop responding. Extinction is a critical process in understanding how learned associations can be weakened or eliminated over time. Spontaneous recovery can occur even after extinction, where the conditioned response reappears after a period of no exposure.