What is operant extinction?

Operant extinction refers to the process by which a previously reinforced behavior is weakened and ultimately disappears due to the discontinuation of reinforcement. When a behavior that was once rewarded no longer receives reinforcement, the likelihood of that behavior occurring decreases over time.

In this context, when we talk about the removal of reinforcers, it specifically means stopping the reward or positive outcome that follows the behavior. As individuals or animals learn that their actions no longer yield the expected consequences, they gradually stop engaging in that behavior. By focusing on this concept, it's understood that the absence of reinforcement is what leads to the decline of the behavior.

This understanding is rooted in the principles of behaviorism, particularly in the study of operant conditioning, where behaviors are influenced by the consequences that follow them.