conditioning

[ kuhn-dish-uh-ning ]

noun

, Psychology.

1. Also called operant conditioning, instrumental conditioning. a process of changing behavior by rewarding or punishing a subject each time an action is performed until the subject associates the action with pleasure or distress.
2. Also called classical conditioning, Pavlovian conditioning, respondent conditioning. a process in which a stimulus that was previously neutral, as the sound of a bell, comes to evoke a particular response, as salivation, by being repeatedly paired with another stimulus that normally evokes the response, as the taste of food.

conditioning

/ kən-dĭsh′ə-nĭng /

1. See classical conditioning

Other Words From

• self-con·di·tion·ing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of conditioning¹

First recorded in 1915–20; condition + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

“The vast majority of officers are corrupted as a result of conditioning, manipulation, coercion and blackmail, while being badly trained, poorly led and inadequately supervised,” he adds.

From BBC

One of the features praised in 1996 was the decision to not install air conditioning.

From BBC

But even with his new and improved conditioning, Mara is far less agile than Kyle and susceptible to being beaten off the dribble by more athletic counterparts.

From Los Angeles Times

And aside from my desperate need for air conditioning, I almost lament my need to get back in my car to head home.

From Los Angeles Times

The offer: a job as the Clippers’ strength and conditioning coach if the team could persuade Leonard to join.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• assignment
• discipline
• drilling
• homework
• preparation
• repetition
• training
• tryout
• warmup
• workout