What does classical counterconditioning aim to change?

Classical counterconditioning is a behavioral technique specifically designed to modify the emotional or physiological response that an animal has toward a particular stimulus. In this process, an animal learns to associate a previously negative or fear-inducing stimulus with a positive experience, such as food or play. This shift in association can help alleviate anxiety, fear, or unwanted responses, effectively transforming the animal's reaction from one of distress to one of comfort or neutrality.

This method is particularly effective in veterinary settings, where animals may have negative associations with specific sounds, environments, or people due to past experiences. By carefully pairing these stimuli with positive experiences, the goal is to change the underlying emotional response, leading to a calmer and more confident animal.

Changing the frequency of an animal's behaviors, their physical ability to perform tasks, or the reinforcement schedule used in training does not align with the primary objective of classical counterconditioning, which is focused on altering emotional responses rather than modifying behavior in those other ways.