Final answer:
Zubin's reduced reaction to the smell of the nearby chicken barn is an example of Habituation, where exposure to a stimulus over time leads to decreased sensitivity to that stimulus.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Zubin first moved in near the chicken barn, the smell was likely very offensive to him. However, over time he stopped finding the smell as bothersome. This change is an example of Habituation, a form of non-associative learning where an individual becomes accustomed to a stimulus after repeated exposure. Unlike sensitization, which would lead to an increased response to a stimulus, habituation results in a decreased response. For instance, prairie dogs habituate to the sounds of human footsteps when these are not associated with danger, leading them to stop sounding an alarm. This learning process is crucial as it allows animals, including humans, to ignore non-threatening stimuli, thereby conserving their reactions for important signals.