Which term describes the process by which a previously reinforced behavior is weakened by withholding reinforcement?

Which term describes the process by which a previously reinforced behavior is weakened by withholding reinforcement?

• A. Punishment
• B. Contiguity
• C. Extinction
• D. Positive punisher

Answer: (C)

Extinction is the process where a behavior that used to be reinforced fades away when reinforcement is no longer given. When the consequence that followed the behavior is removed, the behavior become less likely to occur over time. For example, if a rat presses a lever to get food and food stops being delivered, the lever-pressing behavior gradually declines. This is different from punishment, which would introduce something aversive after the behavior to reduce it, or from contiguity, which is about the timing between a behavior and its consequence. A positive punisher would be adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease the behavior.

Extinction is the process where a behavior that used to be reinforced fades away when reinforcement is no longer given. When the consequence that followed the behavior is removed, the behavior become less likely to occur over time. For example, if a rat presses a lever to get food and food stops being delivered, the lever-pressing behavior gradually declines. This is different from punishment, which would introduce something aversive after the behavior to reduce it, or from contiguity, which is about the timing between a behavior and its consequence. A positive punisher would be adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease the behavior.