counterconditioning

American

[kaun-ter-kuhn-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.

counterconditioning British

/ 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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of counterconditioning

First recorded in 1960–65; counter- + conditioning

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

counterconditioning

If you identify the trigger, a program of counterconditioning helps the dog approach the feared object.

From Slate ● Apr. 2, 2021

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

From The Status Civilization by Robert Sheckley

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023