Is There Such Thing as Absolute Extinction

Extinction is the disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is not reinforced. Extinction can occur in all types of behavioral conditioning, but it is most often associated with operant conditioning.

Is there such thing as absolute extinction in psychology?

Extinction is the disappearance of a previously learned behavior when the behavior is not reinforced. Extinction can occur in all types of behavioral conditioning, but it is most often associated with operant conditioning.

Why is extinction not unlearning?

Extinction Doesn’t Erase Previous Learning Because of the possibility of spontaneous recovery and dependance on context, psychologists now believe that extinction is not an unlearning process. Rather, it is a form of new learning, called extinction learning​7​.

Sarah Jenkins

Sarah Jenkins

Senior Technology Editor & AI Specialist

Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.

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