Define extinction in both classical and operant conditioning.

Define extinction in both classical and operant conditioning.

• A. In classical conditioning, extinction is the strengthening of the conditioned response; in operant conditioning, extinction is the reinforcement of the operant behavior.
• B. In classical conditioning, extinction is the reinforcement of the conditioned response; in operant conditioning, extinction is the removal of reinforcement.
• C. In classical conditioning, extinction is the strengthening of the conditioned response; in operant conditioning, extinction is the introduction of a new reinforcement.
• D. In classical conditioning, extinction is the diminishing of the conditioned response when the CS is presented without the US; in operant conditioning, extinction is the discontinuation of reinforcement leading to the decrease of the operant behavior.

Answer: (D)

Extinction is the weakening of a learned response when the expected outcome no longer follows the behavior or cue. In classical conditioning, extinction happens when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, so the conditioned response gradually diminishes because the CS no longer predicts the US. This reflects new learning that the association has ended, and the response can sometimes reappear briefly later through spontaneous recovery. In operant conditioning, extinction occurs when reinforcement for a behavior stops, leading to a gradual decrease in the behavior because the consequence no longer reinforces it (often with a brief extinction burst at first). The other options don’t fit because they describe strengthening, new reinforcement, or reinforcement of the conditioned stimulus, which are not what extinction entails.

Extinction is the weakening of a learned response when the expected outcome no longer follows the behavior or cue. In classical conditioning, extinction happens when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, so the conditioned response gradually diminishes because the CS no longer predicts the US. This reflects new learning that the association has ended, and the response can sometimes reappear briefly later through spontaneous recovery. In operant conditioning, extinction occurs when reinforcement for a behavior stops, leading to a gradual decrease in the behavior because the consequence no longer reinforces it (often with a brief extinction burst at first). The other options don’t fit because they describe strengthening, new reinforcement, or reinforcement of the conditioned stimulus, which are not what extinction entails.