Extinction is a behavioralBehavioral refers to one of the seven dimensions of Applie... intervention where reinforcement of a previously reinforced behaviorBehavior refers to any activity or action that living organ... is withheld, with the goal of reducing or eliminating the occurrence of that behavior. Over time, if the behavior no longer produces the desired reinforcement, the frequencyFrequency or Count is a simple measure of how often a par... of the behavior will decrease. It’s important to note that extinction does not involve punishment but rather the removal of the reinforcing consequences that previously maintained the behavior.
Example:
A child frequently screams for attention. In the past, the parent would respond by giving attention (e.g., comforting or talking to the child). If the parent begins to ignore the screaming and no longer provides attention when the child screams, the behavior may initially increase (known as an extinction burstAn Extinction Burst refers to a temporary increase in the fr...), but eventually, the screaming will decrease as the child learns that it no longer results in attention.