Desensitization
- Pronunciation
- /de-sen-si-ti-ZAY-shun/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Desensitization
- Plural
- Desensitizations
Definition
A process of reducing an organism's response to a stimulus by repeated exposure to that stimulus.
Etymology
From Latin 'de-', meaning 'away', and 'sens-', meaning 'feeling'
Example
Insects can undergo desensitization to insecticides after repeated exposures.
Related Terms
- Tolerance
- Exposure
Usage Notes
Desensitization is a form of learning that involves a decrease in response strength over time.