What is the term for the discontinuing of reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior, resulting in a decline in frequency?

• A. Extinction Burst
• B. Extinction
• C. Extraneous Variable
• D. Fixed Interval

Answer: (B)

Extinction is the discontinuing of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior, which over time leads to a decline in how often that behavior occurs. After reinforcement stops, you may see an extinction burst—a brief spike in responding—before the rate finally drops. The term extinction burst describes that temporary surge, not the lasting decline. An extraneous variable is any uncontrolled factor that can influence behavior or results, and a fixed interval is a reinforcement schedule where reinforcement is delivered after a set amount of time, not the withdrawal of reinforcement. So the description matches extinction.