counterconditioning

[ koun-ter-kuh n-dish-uh-ning ]
/ ˌkaʊn tər kənˈdɪʃ ə nɪŋ /

noun Psychology.

the extinction of an undesirable response to a stimulus through the introduction of a more desirable, often incompatible, response.

Origin of counterconditioning

First recorded in 1960–65; counter- + conditioning

Example sentences from the Web for counterconditioning

  • If he could live through it, countermeasures could be taken, counterconditioning could be set up.

    The Status Civilization |Robert Sheckley

British Dictionary definitions for counterconditioning

counterconditioning
/ (ˌkaʊntəkənˈdɪʃənɪŋ) /

noun

psychol the conditioning of a response that is incompatible with some previously learned response; for example, in psychotherapy an anxious person might be taught relaxation, which is incompatible with anxiety

Medical definitions for counterconditioning

counterconditioning
[ koun′tər-kən-dĭshə-nĭng ]

n.

Any of a group of conditioning techniques used to replace a negative conditioned response to a stimulus with a positive response.