counterrespondent

A counterrespondent is a term used in behavioral psychology, specifically within the framework of operant conditioning and Respondent conditioning, to describe a stimulus that elicits a response that is opposite to the response elicited by another stimulus. This concept is most commonly observed in the context of classical conditioning, where a conditioned stimulus (CS) has been paired with an unconditioned stimulus (UCS) to elicit a conditioned response (CR). A counterrespondent stimulus would then be a stimulus that, when presented, evokes a response that is the functional opposite of the CR.

For example, if a bell (CS) has been conditioned to elicit salivation (CR) in a dog through pairing with food (UCS), a stimulus that elicits a decrease in salivation, such as a bitter taste (a form of counterrespondent stimulus), could be considered a counterrespondent in relation to the bell. The idea is that the counterrespondent stimulus opposes the physiological or emotional state brought about by the conditioned stimulus.

The concept helps in understanding how complex behavioral and physiological reactions can be modulated or reversed. It is not a universally standard term in all behaviorist literature but is useful for describing specific inhibitory or opposing conditioned responses. The effectiveness and application of counterrespondents are often studied in contexts like aversion therapy or the extinction of unwanted conditioned responses.