Ken used to drool at the smell of peanut butter cookies as they baked, and he couldn't wait to sink his teeth into that first cookie. However, Ken's new roommate makes terrible peanut butter cookies, and the smell of them baking is no longer associated with a wonderful taste experience. Consequently, Ken finds that the smell of the cookies no longer makes him drool in anticipation. Which classical conditioning process does this illustrate?

Question

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This scenario illustrates classical conditioning and extinction. Ken had learned to associate the smell of peanut butter cookies with the positive experience of eating delicious cookies. However, the bad taste experience with his roommate's cookies has led to the extinction of this association. As a result, the smell of cookies no longer elicits the same response of drooling in anticipation.

Ken Used to Drool at the Smell of Peanut Butter