Mitzi's cat has learned to meow every time it hears the can opener because Mitzi opened the cat food using an electric can opener. The cat food now comes in pull-top cans, so the cat never receives food after hearing the can opener. Mitzi's cat stops meowing to the can opener, illustrating that which of the following has taken place?
A)shaping
B)extinction
C)a spontaneous recovery
D)negative reinforcement

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cat's behavior of meowing to the can opener stops because the can opener no longer signals the arrival of food. This process, where a conditioned response decreases and eventually disappears when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus, is known as extinction.

Mitzi's Cat Has Learned to Meow Every Time It Hears