The ability to differentiate danger and safety through associative processes emerges early in life. Understanding
the mechanisms underlying associative learning of threat and safety can clarify the processes
that shape development of normative fears and pathological anxiety. Considerable research has used
fear conditioning and extinction paradigms to delineate underlying mechanisms in animals and human
adults; however, little is known about these mechanisms in children and adolescents. The current paper
summarizes the empirical data on the development of fear conditioning and extinction. It reviews
methodological considerations and future directions for research on fear conditioning and extinction
in pediatric populations.