In counter-conditioning, what is learned successfully?

Counter-conditioning is a behavioral therapy technique used in the field of psychology to modify an individual's response to a certain stimulus. The primary goal is to replace an undesirable emotional response to a stimulus with a more desirable one. This is achieved by conditioning a new response that is incompatible with the original response.

When a new incompatible response is learned, it effectively creates a situation where the original negative response (such as fear or anxiety) is diminished or eliminated because the individual cannot experience both responses simultaneously. For example, if a person is afraid of dogs, counter-conditioning would involve gradually exposing them to dogs in a controlled way while simultaneously pairing the experience with positive stimuli, such as treats or affectionate behaviors. As a result, the fear response is counter-conditioned to a pleasant response.

The other options do not fit the essence of counter-conditioning as they either suggest reinforcing old behaviors, failing to account for the necessity of the new response being incompatible with the old one, or imply a basic reflexive action rather than a learned emotional response. The focus of counter-conditioning is specifically on learning a new response that allows for better emotional regulation in response to previous triggers.