Final answer:
The scenario where a dog is trained to associate a non-moving skateboard with food, and then the food is removed, exemplifies the process of classical conditioning and eventually extinction.
Step-by-step explanation:
A dog barks at skateboards. The trainer lets the dog see a skateboard that is not moving and immediately presents food. She then removes the skateboard and immediately stops giving food. This is an example of classical conditioning.
In the process described, the skateboard starts as a neutral stimulus, which, when paired with the presentation of food (an unconditioned stimulus), eventually becomes a conditioned stimulus. The dog begins to associate the skateboard with the arrival of food, a positive response. This association is strengthened every time the pairing occurs. However, when the food (unconditioned stimulus) is no longer presented with the skateboard (conditioned stimulus), the dog will experience a process known as extinction, where the conditioned response (expecting food) begins to weaken and eventually ceases.
This scenario is akin to the experiments by Pavlov, where a neutral stimulus (such as a tone) was paired with an unconditioned stimulus (like food) to elicit a conditioned response. Over time, if the unconditioned stimulus is removed, the animal will stop exhibiting the conditioned response to the neutral stimulus alone. It's an important concept in understanding how animals, including humans, learn through association.