As a child, Rahul was bitten by a spider and thereafter developed an intense phobia of them. His mother, in an effort to treat Rahul's phobia, eventually took him to a psychologist who gradually exposed him to spiders. After a few sessions of having nonthreatening experiences with spiders, Rahul was able to overcome his phobia. In the context of classical conditioning, this is an example of ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of extinction in classical conditioning, where the conditioned response (fear of spiders) decreases and eventually disappears after repeated exposure to the conditioned stimulus (spiders) without the unconditioned stimulus (being bitten) occurring again.

As a Child, Rahul Was Bitten by a Spider and Thereafter