Extinction

Definition

Extinction is the process by which a previously conditioned response diminishes or disappears over time when the reinforcement or pairing with an unconditioned stimulus is removed. This concept is crucial in behaviorism, where it illustrates how learned behaviors can fade when the rewards or stimuli that maintain them are no longer present, impacting both behavioral patterns and cognitive processes during the Cognitive Revolution.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus over repeated trials, leading to a decline in the conditioned response.
2. In classical conditioning, extinction is not the same as forgetting; rather, it is a process where the conditioned response weakens due to lack of reinforcement.
3. The concept of extinction has influenced various therapeutic practices, particularly in treating phobias and other anxiety disorders by gradually exposing patients to feared stimuli without reinforcement.
4. Extinction can also be observed in operant conditioning, where behaviors diminish when they are no longer followed by reinforcements.
5. The reinstatement effect shows that even after extinction occurs, reintroducing the unconditioned stimulus can cause the previously extinguished response to re-emerge.

Review Questions

• How does extinction differ from forgetting in the context of conditioned responses?
  • Extinction differs from forgetting in that extinction involves a gradual reduction of a conditioned response due to the absence of reinforcement or pairing with an unconditioned stimulus. Forgetting refers to the inability to retrieve previously learned information over time. In extinction, the learned behavior is still present but diminished, while forgetting suggests a total loss of information. Therefore, extinction emphasizes the dynamics of learning processes rather than merely memory loss.
• Evaluate how extinction can be applied in therapeutic settings, especially in addressing maladaptive behaviors.
  • In therapeutic settings, extinction is effectively applied through techniques such as exposure therapy for phobias, where patients are gradually exposed to feared stimuli without any negative outcomes. This helps weaken the association between the stimulus and fear response. By removing reinforcement for maladaptive behaviors, therapists can facilitate behavior modification and promote healthier coping strategies. The understanding of extinction allows clinicians to develop structured interventions that target specific learned behaviors while minimizing adverse effects.
• Analyze the implications of extinction on cognitive processes during the Cognitive Revolution, focusing on its impact on learning theories.
  • During the Cognitive Revolution, the understanding of extinction highlighted the interplay between behavioral responses and cognitive processes in learning theories. As researchers began to consider internal mental states alongside observable behaviors, they recognized that extinction was not simply about behavioral decrease but also involved changes in cognition regarding expectations and predictions about future outcomes. This integration prompted a more nuanced view of learning that emphasized how knowledge and experience shaped behaviors, leading to advancements in cognitive psychology and theories around learning mechanisms.

Related terms

Conditioned Response: A learned response to a previously neutral stimulus that has been associated with an unconditioned stimulus.

Reinforcement: Any event that strengthens or increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, either through positive or negative means.

Behavior Modification: A therapeutic approach that applies principles of behaviorism to change maladaptive behaviors through reinforcement or extinction.