When Veronica first quit smoking, she experienced cravings for cigarettes whenever she took a coffee break. Gradually, those cravings went away and she doesn't typically think of smoking when she has a coffee now. Sometimes, however, she still experiences a craving for cigarettes during a coffee break. What is the term used for the occasional craving that Veronica experiences now?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Spontaneous recovery refers to the reappearance of a conditioned response after it had been extinct. In this case, Veronica had successfully extinguished her craving for cigarettes during a coffee break, but sometimes experiences a sudden reappearance of that craving. This is an example of spontaneous recovery.

When Veronica First Quit Smoking, She Experienced Cravings for Cigarettes