Howard's cat meows incessantly, and Howard frequently, but not always, gives in and feeds her. Howard decides to stop reinforcing this problem behavior, so he ignores his cat whenever the cat starts meowing. When Howard initiates this extinction procedure, what is likely to happen?
A) The cat's meowing will quickly stop altogether.
B) The cat's meowing will temporarily decrease, but then it will increase.
C) The cat's meowing will temporarily increase, but then it will decrease.
D) The cat will leave and find a new home.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an extinction procedure is initiated, there is often an initial increase in the behavior (extinction burst) before it eventually decreases.

Howard's Cat Meows Incessantly, and Howard Frequently, but Not Always