Which statement best describes extinction of a behavior?

• A. Reinforcing the behavior on a decreasing schedule.
• B. Removing all reinforcers to reduce a behavior.
• C. Punishing the behavior with a timeout.
• D. Introducing a competing behavior to replace it.

Answer: (B)

Extinction happens when you stop providing reinforcement for a behavior that has been reinforced in the past, so the behavior gradually decreases as the consequence that maintained it is removed. Removing all reinforcers means no attention, no treats, no access to desired items, and no other rewards when the dog performs the behavior, so the behavior loses its appeal and fades away over time. It’s common to see an extinction burst at first, where the dog may seem to intensify the behavior briefly before it declines, but with consistent non-reinforcement the behavior should decrease. This is different from increasing the interval of reinforcement, which still provides some reinforcement and therefore doesn’t constitute extinction. It’s also not about punishment or about teaching a new competing behavior, which involve different strategies.