A rat has been trained in an operant-conditioning chamber to press a lever to get a food pellet. Following the acquisition trials, the researcher then withheld reinforcement for lever pressing and eventually the rat stopped responding. This example illustrates:
A)the effect of negative reinforcement.
B)the effect of punishment by application.
C)learned helplessness.
D)extinction.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario describes the process of extinction, which occurs when a previously-reinforced behavior (lever pressing in this case) is no longer followed by the reinforcing consequence (food pellet). In other words, the behavior gradually decreases and eventually stops altogether. The absence of reinforcement in this scenario is not an example of negative reinforcement or punishment by application, as no aversive stimulus is being presented or removed. Additionally, there is no evidence of learned helplessness, which would describe a scenario where the rat had previously experienced uncontrollable aversive events that led to a lack of response to subsequent opportunities to control the environment.

A Rat Has Been Trained in an Operant-Conditioning Chamber to Press