Habituation Psychology

For example, a child initially reacts strongly to a loud noise but gradually becomes less startled by it after repeated exposure.

Learning habituation involves a decrease in response to a repeated stimulus, while conditioning involves learning to associate a stimulus with a specific response.

Reverse habituation refers to the process of breaking free from desensitization to a stimulus, typically to become more aware of it again. Habituation occurs when we grow accustomed to repeated stimuli, like background noise, and stop noticing them. Reverse habituation involves deliberately paying attention to these previously ignored stimuli to regain awareness.

For example, someone practicing mindfulness might focus on sounds they've tuned out, like a clock ticking, to enhance their present-moment awareness. It’s often used in mindfulness practices, sensory training, or therapeutic contexts to heighten awareness and connection to the environment.