Billy has had the same mobile hanging above his crib since he was born. When his mother lays him down for a nap, Billy does not look at the mobile likely because he has become _________ to what was once a novel stimulus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Habituation occurs when an organism becomes familiar with a stimulus and reduces its response to that stimulus over time. Billy's lack of interest in the mobile suggests that he has habituated to it because it is no longer a novel stimulus for him. Sensitization, on the other hand, would increase his response to the stimulus, while dishabituation would involve a renewed response to the stimulus after habituation has occurred. "Gotten used to" is a less technical description of habituation.

Billy Has Had the Same Mobile Hanging Above His Crib