Extinction Training

Definition

Extinction training is a process in which the conditioned response to a previously learned stimulus is weakened and eventually eliminated by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus.

Related terms

Spontaneous Recovery:

The reappearance of an extinguished conditioned response after a period of rest or time has passed.

Counterconditioning:

A technique that replaces an unwanted response with a more desirable one through pairing the conditioned stimulus with a new unconditioned stimulus.

Renewal Effect: When an extinguished conditioned response reappears when the individual is in a different context or environment than where extinction training occurred.