Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

What occurs during the extinction of a conditioned response?

1. Strengthening of the conditioned response

2. Weakening of the conditioned response

3. Reinforcement of behavior

4. Formation of new associations

The correct answer is: Weakening of the conditioned response

During the extinction of a conditioned response, weakening of the conditioned response occurs. Extinction refers to the process where the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, leading to a decrease in the conditioned response over time. For example, if a dog has learned to associate the sound of a bell with food (resulting in salivation), repeatedly ringing the bell without presenting food will eventually lead the dog to stop salivating in response to the bell. This process highlights the principle that behaviors can diminish when they are no longer reinforced. In the context of classical conditioning, extinction is not just the forgetting of the behavior but a reduction in its strength due to the lack of reinforcement from the unconditioned stimulus. Therefore, the correct response reflects the fundamental understanding of extinction as a reduction in the strength of learned associations, rather than the strengthening of the response, reinforcement of behavior, or formation of new associations.