You get a cup of coffee from a vending machine each morning. Two mornings in a row, the machine accepts your coins but does not supply coffee. The next day you bring a thermos of coffee with you. Your reaction to the vending machine illustrates that ______________ has occurred.
A) discrimination
B) extinction
C) negative reinforcement
D) spontaneous recovery

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Your reaction to the vending machine illustrates extinction, which occurs when a conditioned response (expecting coffee after inserting coins) decreases in frequency and eventually disappears after the conditioned stimulus (inserting coins) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (receiving coffee).

You Get a Cup of Coffee from a Vending Machine