counterconditioning

n. an experimental procedure in which a nonhuman animal, already conditioned to respond to a stimulus in a particular way, is trained to produce a different response to the same stimulus that is incompatible with the original response. This same principle underlies many of the techniques used in behavior therapy to eliminate unwanted behavior in people.

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Psychology term of the day

January 19th 2025

holism

n. any approach or theory holding that a system or organism is a coherent, unified whole that cannot be fully explained in terms of individual parts or characteristics. The system or organism may have properties as a complete entity or phenomenon in addition to those of its parts. Thus, an analysis or understanding of the parts does not provide an understanding of the whole. —holistic adj.