A bell has been paired with food a sufficient number of times such that now it elicits salivation in a dog. In subsequent trials, the bell sounds but is not followed by food. Eventually the dog will stop salivating to the sound of the bell. This illustrates _____ and has clinical implications for _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario illustrates the process of extinction, where a conditioned response (salivation) eventually goes away when the conditioned stimulus (the bell) is no longer followed by the unconditioned stimulus (food). This process has clinical implications for exposure therapy, which is a behavior therapy technique that uses extinction principles to treat anxiety disorders. In exposure therapy, the individual is gradually exposed to the feared stimulus (for example, a spider) without the negative consequence (for example, harm). Through repeated exposure, the fear response decreases (extinction). Therefore, choice D is the best answer.

A Bell Has Been Paired with Food a Sufficient Number