PsychologyJuly 16, 2026
habituation
/həˌbɪtʃuˈeɪʃən/
Definition
The process by which an animal becomes less responsive to a repeated stimulus after being exposed to it multiple times.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'habituationem,' which comes from 'habitare' (to dwell or keep). It entered English to describe the psychological process of becoming accustomed to a persistent influence or situation.
In the news
In this article, habituation is cited as a key factor that must be accounted for when selecting animal subjects to ensure that research results are not biased by an animal's familiarity with experimental environments.
Canine Science Is Biased Toward the Western World
Read the full article ↗Association for Psychological Science – APS