Which of the following defines escape conditioning?

Escape conditioning is a type of learning where an individual acquires behaviors that enable them to terminate an unpleasant or aversive stimulus that is already present. This form of conditioning typically involves a scenario where a subject is exposed to an adverse situation, and through their actions, they can remove or stop that discomfort.

For example, if a person receives a mild shock (unpleasant stimulus) and learns that pressing a lever stops the shock, they are undergoing escape conditioning by learning the behavior that leads to an immediate cessation of the unpleasant stimulus. This is distinct from avoidance conditioning, where the individual learns to perform a behavior to prevent the unpleasant stimulus from occurring in the first place.

Thus, the correct answer captures the essence of escape conditioning, as it focuses on the acquisition of new behaviors aimed at ending an aversive experience.