CED Fundamentals of Psychology Practice Test 2025 - Free Psychology Exam Practice Questions and Study Guide

The correct term for the gradual weakening of a response due to repeated exposure to a conditioned stimulus is extinction. In the context of classical conditioning, extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is presented without the unconditioned stimulus over time, leading to a decrease in the conditioned response. For example, if a bell (the conditioned stimulus) is repeatedly rung without presenting food (the unconditioned stimulus), the dog will eventually stop salivating in response to the bell.

This process highlights how learned behaviors can diminish under specific conditions, demonstrating the principle that behaviors can be unlearned when the associations that form them are disrupted. Understanding extinction is crucial for grasping broader concepts in psychology, such as behavioral modification and therapeutic techniques.

The other terms have distinct meanings within the field of psychology. Habituation refers to the decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated exposure, but it generally pertains to non-conditioned stimuli. Generalization involves responding similarly to different stimuli that are associated with the conditioned stimulus, while conditioning refers to the process of learning associations between stimuli. Each of these concepts contributes to our understanding of learning and behavior, but they do not specifically address the gradual weakening of a conditioned response like extinction does.