What does extinction mean in behavioral therapy?

In behavioral therapy, extinction refers specifically to the process of discontinuing the reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior. When a behavior that was once rewarded or reinforced is no longer reinforced, the likelihood of that behavior occurring again decreases over time. This is grounded in the principles of operant conditioning, where behaviors are influenced by their consequences.

By stopping the reinforcement, the individual learns that the behavior does not lead to the expected outcomes or rewards, leading to a decrease in that behavior. This process is essential in various therapeutic settings, particularly when addressing maladaptive or undesired behaviors.

For example, if a child throws a tantrum to gain attention and the parents begin to ignore the tantrums (ceasing to provide attention, which serves as reinforcement), over time, the child may stop throwing tantrums since it no longer results in the desired outcome.

The other options do not accurately describe the concept of extinction in this context. Celebrating changes or punishing behaviors involves different mechanisms that do not align with the principle of extinction, which focuses purely on the removal of reinforcement.