Search results
Results from the WOW.Com Content Network
Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like negatively reinforced behavior, B and C, reinforcement after extinction and more.
Extinction in psychology weakens and eliminates a response by withholding a previous association or reinforcer. Learn how this process works and its practical uses.
Understand the definition of extinction. Understand how to implement extinction based on behavior function. Understand the effect of extinction on rate of behavior. Understand generalization and maintenance as it relates to behavior reduction.
In psychology, extinction refers to the gradual weakening of a conditioned response that results in the behavior decreasing or disappearing. In other words, the conditioned behavior eventually stops. For example, imagine that you taught your dog to shake hands.
Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus (remember, that’s the bell in Pavlov’s experiment) is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus (the food). Over time, the conditioned response (drooling) weakens and eventually disappears.
Extinction is useful for reducing unwanted behaviors by removing their reinforcement, while positive reinforcement is key for promoting and establishing desirable behaviors through rewarding outcomes.
In order for extinction to work effectively, it must be done consistently. Extinction is considered successful when responding in the presence of an extinction stimulus (a red light or a teacher not giving a bad student attention, for instance) is zero.