Which term describes a procedure that combines extinction and reinforcement to change the frequency of a target behavior?

Which term describes a procedure that combines extinction and reinforcement to change the frequency of a target behavior?

• A. Extinction Burst
• B. Differential Reinforcement
• C. Positive Punishment
• D. Negative Punishment

Answer: (B)

Differential reinforcement is the approach that changes how often a target behavior occurs by witholding reinforcement for that behavior while providing reinforcement for another, more appropriate behavior. By extinguishing the undesired response and simultaneously reinforcing an alternative response, the overall frequency of the target behavior tends to decrease as the substitute behavior increases. For example, when a student shouts out, you stop reinforcing shouting and instead reinforce raising a hand with praise or a token. This combination of extinction for the target and reinforcement for a different behavior is what differential reinforcement describes. The other options refer to different processes—extinction burst is a pattern seen when extinction starts, positive punishment adds an aversive consequence after a behavior, and negative punishment removes a valued stimulus after a behavior—without the component of reinforcing an alternative behavior to reduce the target behavior.

Differential reinforcement is the approach that changes how often a target behavior occurs by witholding reinforcement for that behavior while providing reinforcement for another, more appropriate behavior. By extinguishing the undesired response and simultaneously reinforcing an alternative response, the overall frequency of the target behavior tends to decrease as the substitute behavior increases. For example, when a student shouts out, you stop reinforcing shouting and instead reinforce raising a hand with praise or a token. This combination of extinction for the target and reinforcement for a different behavior is what differential reinforcement describes. The other options refer to different processes—extinction burst is a pattern seen when extinction starts, positive punishment adds an aversive consequence after a behavior, and negative punishment removes a valued stimulus after a behavior—without the component of reinforcing an alternative behavior to reduce the target behavior.