The term extinction may be misleading, because

• A. it has been shown in subsequent studies that conditioned responses do not really die out, as they did with Pavlov's dogs.
• B. it applies only to natural selection.
• C. learning is relatively permanent, meaning things are not unlearned.
• D. once something is learned, it is always accessible.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of 'extinction' in the context of classical conditioning. Extinction refers to the gradual weakening and eventual disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.
2. Recognize that the term 'extinction' might be misleading because it suggests that the learned behavior is completely erased, which is not the case.
3. Consider the idea that learning is relatively permanent. This means that even if a conditioned response seems to disappear, it is not entirely unlearned and can reappear under certain conditions, such as spontaneous recovery.
4. Reflect on the fact that once something is learned, it is stored in memory and can be accessed again, even if it is not currently being demonstrated.
5. Conclude that the persistence of learned behaviors, despite apparent extinction, supports the notion that learning is a lasting change in behavior or knowledge, rather than a temporary one.