A kitten that initially startles at a washing machine gradually ignores it after living near it for weeks. Habituation occurs without any reward or punishment; the animal simply learns through repeated, uneventful exposure that the stimulus is irrelevant. Habituation is critical during early socialization periods when young animals are most receptive to new experiences. It differs from desensitization in that it happens naturally at whatever intensity the stimulus occurs, while desensitization is a structured, gradual process. Habituation can reverse (spontaneous recovery) if the stimulus is absent for a long time. It also depends on the stimulus being truly neutral; a negative experience during the process can create sensitization instead.