Tim would like to stop drinking alcohol, but he is finding it difficult to resist the urge to drink when he meets up with friends. Tim's therapist reassures him that if he can resist the urge to drink during these social events, his cravings for alcohol will diminish even further, eventually fading away. What process is Tim's therapist describing?
A) Avoidance
B) Systematic desensitization
C) Spontaneous dissipation
D) Extinction

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The therapist is describing the process of extinction, where the cravings for alcohol are expected to gradually diminish and eventually disappear as Tim resists the urge to drink in situations where he previously would have consumed alcohol. This process involves the weakening of a conditioned response (in this case, the urge to drink alcohol in social situations) over time when it is not reinforced.

Tim Would Like to Stop Drinking Alcohol, but He Is