Difficulty: Hard

Average Score: 25%

A child receives attention from their parent when they cry at home. Which example illustrates extinction of the crying behavior?

Rationale

The crying behavior stops when the parent no longer responds to it.

Extinction in behavioral psychology refers to the process where a previously reinforced behavior diminishes over time when the reinforcement is no longer provided. In this scenario, the crying behavior ceases when the parent discontinues giving attention in response to the child's crying at home.

A (The crying behavior is extended to crying during outside activities.) YOUR ANSWER

This choice describes generalization, where a behavior learned in one situation is exhibited in a different but similar context. Extending the crying behavior to outside activities demonstrates a lack of specificity in the behavior's expression rather than extinction.

B (The crying behavior stops when the child is punished for doing it.) YOUR ANSWER

This option refers to the suppression of behavior through punishment, not extinction. Punishment involves introducing a consequence to reduce the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, which differs from the process of extinction.

C (The crying behavior stops when the parent no longer responds to it.) CORRECT

As mentioned earlier, this choice accurately represents the concept of extinction in behavior modification. When the parent ceases to reinforce the crying behavior with attention, the behavior gradually decreases in frequency until it ultimately stops.

D (The crying behavior is repeated at a relative's home.) YOUR ANSWER

This scenario illustrates the renewal of behavior in a new environment, known as the renewal effect. The crying behavior reemerging at a relative's home indicates that the behavior persists in certain contexts, which contrasts with the concept of extinction.

Conclusion

Extinction is a fundamental principle in behavior modification where a previously reinforced behavior diminishes when the reinforcement is withheld. In the context of a child crying for attention at home, the crying behavior ceases to occur when the parent no longer responds to it. This process highlights the importance of understanding reinforcement dynamics in shaping and modifying behaviors.

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