When learning one response interferes with learning a second association to a stimulus, behaviorally, ________ has occurred.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described is known as blocking, where a preexisting association to a stimulus inhibits the formation of a new association. This was first described in classical conditioning experiments where a conditioned stimulus (CS) was paired with an unconditioned stimulus (US) to produce a conditioned response (CR). Later, when a second CS was introduced along with the original CS, the second CS did not elicit a CR even when paired with the US. This is because the original CS had "blocked" the formation of a new association.

When Learning One Response Interferes with Learning a Second Association