ASWB LCSW Social Work Clinical Practice Exam

What is the process of extinction in operant conditioning?

1. Reinforcing a behavior intermittently

2. Withholding reinforcement to decrease a behavior

3. Introducing a new behavior to replace an old one

4. Gradually increasing the level of response

The correct answer is: Withholding reinforcement to decrease a behavior

The process of extinction in operant conditioning refers to the gradual weakening of a behavior when it is no longer reinforced. In this context, withholding reinforcement means that the consequence that previously maintained the behavior is no longer provided. For instance, if a student receives praise for completing homework but then the teacher stops offering praise, the student may lose motivation and stop completing assignments over time. This aligns with the concept of extinction, where the absence of reinforcement leads to a decrease in the likelihood of the previously reinforced behavior occurring again. Reinforcing a behavior intermittently may maintain or even strengthen that behavior instead of leading to extinction. Introducing a new behavior to replace an old one refers to a different technique known as behavior modification or substitution, which is not the process of extinction. Gradually increasing the level of response can relate to shaping, another operant conditioning principle, which focuses on reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior rather than decreasing a behavior through extinction.