Which of the following is an example of the use of extinction with operant conditioning?
A) A mother ignores her child's temper tantrum so that the behavior ultimately goes away.
B) A mother gives in to her child's demands for candy by buying the child some chocolate so as to quiet him or her.
C) A mother spanks a child when he or she starts throwing a tantrum.
D) A mother gives a child chocolate prior to him or her asking for it so as to keep a tantrum from occurring in the first place.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Extinction involves the removal of positive reinforcement after a behavior in order to decrease the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. In this case, the mother is ignoring the child's temper tantrum, which means she is not providing positive reinforcement (e.g. attention, giving in to demands) for the behavior. Over time, the child may stop engaging in the behavior because it is no longer effective in getting attention or desired outcomes.

Which of the Following Is an Example of the Use