What is fear conditioning and how does extinction work?

What is fear conditioning and how does extinction work?

Fear conditioning is a learning process where a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a fearful event. Extinction occurs when the conditioned response diminishes after repeated exposure to the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus.

Can you give me an example of fear conditioning?

Sure! A classic example is Pavlov's dogs, where a bell (neutral stimulus) was rung before food (unconditioned stimulus), leading the dogs to salivate (conditioned response) at the sound of the bell alone.

How does extinction differ from habituation?

Extinction involves the reduction of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus, while habituation is a decrease in response to a repeated, benign stimulus.

What are some real-life applications of fear extinction?

Fear extinction is used in therapies for phobias and PTSD, helping individuals reduce their fear responses through controlled exposure.

Is fear conditioning reversible?

Yes, fear conditioning can be reversed through extinction training, where the conditioned response is diminished over time.