A pet dog loves to go for rides in the family car. Every time it sees someone take out a set of keys, it goes to the garage door and waits expectantly. When grandma, who is afraid of dogs, comes to visit for two weeks in the summer, the family decides not to let the dog ride in the car during her stay. By the end of grandma's visit, the dog has stopped going over to the garage door when someone takes out a set of keys. The best explanation for this change in behavior is that ________.
A) counterconditioning has occurred
B) grandma has produced external inhibition in the dog
C) the original conditioned stimulus is no longer present
D) the original conditioned response has been extinguished

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The best explanation for the dog's change in behavior is that the original conditioned response (going to the garage door when someone takes out a set of keys) has been extinguished due to the lack of reinforcement (being taken for a car ride) during grandma's visit.

A Pet Dog Loves to Go for Rides in the Family