Final answer:
In classical conditioning, extinction is the process by which a conditioned stimulus loses its association with an unconditioned stimulus, leading to the weakening and disappearance of the conditioned response.
Step-by-step explanation:
In classical conditioning, when a conditioned stimulus (CS) loses its relationship to a given unconditioned stimulus (UCS), the conditioned response (CR) diminishes and ultimately disappears. This process is known as extinction.
Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus. The gradual weakening and disappearance of the conditioned response is observed during extinction.
For example, if you repeatedly ring a bell (CS) without giving a dog food (UCS) that is usually associated with the bell, the dog's conditioned response of salivating (CR) will eventually diminish and disappear.