How is reinforcement affected in the process of extinction?

Reinforcement plays a critical role in the process of extinction. When extinction is implemented, it involves the discontinuation of the reinforcement that was previously maintaining a behavior. As a result, the absence of reinforcement leads to a decrease in the frequency of the behavior over time. The individual learns that the behavior no longer yields the desired outcome or reinforcement, prompting a reduction in that specific behavior.

This change is grounded in the principles of behavior analysis, which emphasize the relationship between reinforcement and the occurrence of behaviors. When reinforcement is present, behaviors tend to increase or be maintained, but the removal of that reinforcement as part of the extinction process weakens the behavior, aligning with the expectations set forth by these principles.

In the context of the other options, it’s important to recognize that increasing the frequency of behavior or maintaining it at a consistent level would contradict the effects of extinction, as these would require reinforcement to be present. Similarly, stating that extinction has no effect on previously reinforced behaviors misrepresents the fundamental concept of how extinction operates, as it is specifically designed to alter the positive outcomes that were previously associated with the behavior.