In the context of operant conditioning, which of the following statements about extinction is most accurate?

• A. Extinction only works if the behavior is reinforced intermittently.
• B. Extinction is most effective when it is consistently applied without reinforcement of the unwanted behavior.
• C. Extinction increases the frequency of the unwanted behavior over time.
• D. The key to success with extinction is to combine it with punishment for faster results.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of extinction in operant conditioning. Extinction occurs when a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced, leading to a decrease in that behavior over time.
2. Step 2: Recognize that extinction is most effective when the reinforcement for the unwanted behavior is completely and consistently withheld, rather than intermittently.
3. Step 3: Note that intermittent reinforcement can make extinction more difficult because the behavior has been reinforced unpredictably, which can cause the behavior to persist longer before it decreases.
4. Step 4: Understand that extinction does not inherently increase the frequency of the unwanted behavior over time; however, an initial increase called an extinction burst may occur before the behavior decreases.
5. Step 5: Realize that combining extinction with punishment is not necessary for extinction to be effective, and relying on punishment can introduce other complications; consistent non-reinforcement alone is the key to successful extinction.