Final answer:
Sensory extinction is the reduction in a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus, while response blocking involves physically preventing the conditioned response.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between sensory extinction and response blocking relates to behavioral learning processes. Sensory extinction occurs when the conditioned response decreases after repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus. If we consider Tiger the cat, extinction would happen if the sound of the can opener, which had been previously associated with food, no longer led to Tiger being fed, and she gradually stopped responding to the sound. On the other hand, response blocking would involve physically preventing the conditioned response from occurring—for example, by holding Tiger back from running towards the kitchen when the can opener is used.
Both concepts are important in understanding how individuals learn and unlearn behaviors through classical conditioning, employing different methods to modify behavior.