What is the term for pairing a triggering stimulus with a new response to change the resulting behavior?

• A. Insight Therapy
• B. Psychoanalytical Resistance
• C. Eclectic Approach
• D. Counter-Conditioning

Answer: (D)

Counterconditioning is a behavioral technique in which the triggering cue is paired with a new response that is incompatible with the old one, so the cue comes to elicit the new response instead of the previous reaction. Through repeated pairings, the original reaction weakens as the alternative response strengthens. For example, a fear cue can be paired with relaxation or positive experiences so that calmness arises when the trigger is present. This approach is used to modify anxiety, phobias, or other maladaptive responses. The other options describe different psychotherapy concepts—insight-focused therapy aims for understanding, psychoanalytic resistance is a defense mechanism, and an eclectic approach blends methods from various theories.