Sally likes Jon and readily agrees whenever he asks her out. She likes Sim less than she likes Jon and accepts a date with him occasionally. When she falls in love with Edgar, she informs both Jon and Sim that she will no longer go out with them. Jon quickly stops asking her out, but Sim persists for several months. Sim's behavior illustrates _____.
A) the partial reinforcement effect
B) the peak shift effect
C) an extinction burst
D) spontaneous recovery

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sim's behavior illustrates the partial reinforcement effect, where behaviors that are occasionally reinforced are more resistant to extinction than those that are consistently reinforced. Since Sally occasionally accepted dates with Sim, his persistence in asking her out, even after being rejected, is due to the partial reinforcement he received earlier.

Sally Likes Jon and Readily Agrees Whenever He Asks Her