Understanding Habituation in Psychology

Understanding Habituation in Psychology Theories Behavioral Psychology Print When and Why Does Habituation Occur? The more we encounter something, the less likely we are to react By Kendra Cherry facebook twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is an author, educational consultant, and speaker focused on helping students learn about psychology. Learn about our editorial policy Kendra Cherry Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on January 14, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on December 11, 2019 Studio MPM/Getty Images More in Theories Behavioral Psychology Cognitive Psychology Developmental Psychology Personality Psychology Social Psychology Biological Psychology Psychosocial Psychology In This Article Table of Contents Expand Overview Characteristics Causes Habituation in Relationships View All Back To Top Habituation is a decrease in response to a  stimulus  after repeated presentations. For example, a new sound in your environment, such as a new ringtone, may initially draw your attention or even become distracting. Over time, as you become accustomed to this sound, you pay less attention to the noise and your response to the sound will diminish. This diminished response is habituation. Examples Habituation is one of the simplest and most  common forms of learning. It allows people to tune out non-essential stimuli and focus on the things that really demand attention. Habituation is something that happens regularly in your everyday life, yet you are probably largely unaware of it. Habituation in Daily Life: Imagine that you are in your backyard when you hear a loud banging noise from your neighbors yard. The unusual sound immediately draws your attention, and you wonder what is going on or what might be making the noise. Over the next few days, the banging noise continues at a regular and constant pace. Eventually, you just tune out the noiseIts not only sound that prompts us to become habituated. Other senses can also be affected by habituation. Another example would be spritzing on some perfume in the morning before you leave for work in the morning. After a short period, you no longer notice the scent of your perfume, but others around you may notice the smell even after youve become unaware of it. There are also psychotherapy approaches that rely on habituation. In the treatment of phobias, for example, habituating people to the source of their fear is one way to help them overcome their phobia. In exposure therapy, people are progressively subjected to things that they fear. A person who is terrified of the dark, for example, might begin by simply imagining being in a dark room. Once they have become habituated to this experience, they will expose themselves to increasingly closer approximations to the real source of their anxiety until they finally confront the fear itself. Eventually, the individual can be habituated to the stimulus so that they no longer experience the fear response. Characteristics Some of the key characteristics of habituation include: Duration:  If the habituation stimulus is not presented for a long enough period before a sudden reintroduction, the response will once again reappear at full-strength, a phenomenon known as  spontaneous recovery. So if that noisy neighbors loud banging (from the example above) were to stop and start, youre less likely to become habituated to it.  Frequency:  The more frequently a stimulus is presented, the faster habituation will occur. If you wear that same perfume every day, youre more likely to stop noticing it earlier each time.  Intensity:  Very intense stimuli tend to result in slower habituation. In some cases, such as deafening noises like a car alarm or a siren, habituation will never occur (a car alarm wouldnt be very effective as an alert if people stopped noticing it after a few minutes).  Change:  Changing the intensity or duration of the stimulation may result in a reoccurrence of the original response. So if that banging noise grew louder over time, or stopped abruptl y, youd be more likely to notice it again. Why Habituation Occurs Habituation is an example of  non-associative learning, that is, theres no reward or punishment associated with the stimulus. Youre not experiencing pain or pleasure as a result of that neighbors banging noises. So why do we experience it? There are a few different theories that seek to explain why habituation occurs, including: Single-factor theory of habituation  suggests that the constant repetition of a stimulus changes the efficacy of that stimulus. The more we hear it, the less we notice it. It becomes uninteresting to our brains, in a way.Dual-factor theory of habituation  suggests that there are underlying neural processes that regulate responsiveness to different stimuli. So our brains decide for us that we dont need to worry about that banging noise because we have more pressing things on which to focus our attention. Habituation in Relationships Habituation is a concept often applied to perceptual phenomena, but it can also have a number of different real-world applications, including on social relationships. As we grow to know people better, it is only natural that we stop noticing every little thing and become increasingly habituated to both their good and bad qualities. You might grow accustomed to habits that you initially found irritating, or even become increasingly annoyed by things that you overlooked initially. In the beginning stages of any relationship, people tend to respond more readily. Every sensation is thrilling because it is new and unfamiliar. Unfortunately, this is not a state that can last forever. Eventually, habituation sets in and people stop noticing every little thing. While habituation can lead to the thrill of a new relationship wearing off over time, it is not necessarily a bad thing. The initial passion that tends to mark the outset of a relationship typically gives way to something deeper and more lasting - a deeper, more meaningful love that is marked by friendship, support, and respect in addition to passion. Habituation in relationships can become problematic, however, when it leads to taking the other person for granted. Long-term relationships can often fall victim to this problem. Over time, you might feel that your partner does not appreciate the things that you contribute to the relationship. Or perhaps it is your partner who feels that he or she is being overlooked. So what can you do to overcome habituation and bring some of the initial spark back into your relationship? Recall those feelings from the start of your relationship. Think about the things that you first noticed and loved about your partner. Consider the things you enjoy doing together as a couple. Taking the time to notice those qualities and reintroduce those activities is a good way to reconnect.Try something new. Routines and habits can be helpful, but they can often feel stifling. Look for ways to change things up and add the zing of novelty back to your relationship. Try new activities as a couple and explore things together. It can be an interesting way of building a strong connection, as well as a means to see your partner in a new light.Practice gratitude. As you spend more and more time around your partner, it can be all too easy to focus on the things about them that you find irritating. If you focus only on these qualities, it can be extremely difficult to remain satisfied and connected. Take the time to think about the things you love about your partner. What are the qualitie s you admire most about this person? What things attracted you the most when you first met? A Word From Verywell Habituation is a natural and normal part of our experience of the world. It allows us to function in environments where we are often inundated with sensory experiences and information. Rather than being overwhelmed by all of the things that clamor for our attention, habituation allows us to pay less attention to certain elements so that we can better focus on others.   How Hedonic Adaptation Robs You of Happinessâ€"and How to Change That