Habituation

Habituation

Habituation is a process of becoming less reactive to a stimulus after repeated exposure to it(Explore Psychology,2024).

When is it used?

Importance

Positive Effects

It allows people to filter out irrelevant stimuli while focusing on important stimuli. Helps to modify the feat structure as individuals learn that a fear response will not last forever and that they can remain in control of themselves and their emotions (Monson & Shnaider, 2014).

Habituation is used every day by humans without us even knowing it. Habituation is also used in therpay to help individuals become less reactive to a a particular stimuli which may be causing harm, distress, or limiting functioning.

While habituation often happens in everyday life without us noticing, it can also be utilized deliberately to help people change behavior or reduce psychological distress. Below are the ways habituation can be used in therapy.1.Exposure therapy 2.Sensory Integration therapy 3.Habit Reversal Training (Monson & Shnaider, 2014)

Example

Negative effects

A person who lives by the expressway may initially be disturbed by the sounds of passing traffic, but over time, they become habituated to the noise and no longer find it disruptive.

It can lead to desensitization of stimuli and a lack of responsiveness to important stimuli (Explore Psychology, 2024).

References

Explore Psychology. (2024, January 25). What is habituation? Definition, examples, and effects - Explore Psychology. https://www.explorepsychology.com/what-is-habituation- definition-examples-and-effects/ Monson, C. M., & Shnaider, P. (2014). Theory underlying trauma- focused interventions. Treating PTSD with cognitive-behavioral therapies: Interventions that work. (pp. 11-19, Chapter viii, 132 Pages). American Psychological Association, American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14372-002