As a child, Paul was bitten by a spider and thereafter developed an intense phobia of them. In an effort to cure Paul's phobia, a psychologist gradually exposed him to spiders. After many sessions of having nonthreatening experiences with spiders, Paul's phobia was cured. This is an example of ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This is an example of extinction, where the conditioned response (phobia of spiders) is reduced or eliminated through repeated exposure to the conditioned stimulus (spiders) without any negative consequences.

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