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Extinction (Psychology)
The eradication of a behavior. Behaviors will become extinct naturally if they are not rewarded in some manner. However, the schedule of reinforcement of a given behavior will determine how easily the behavior will become extinct. For example, if a conditioned response has been created with a regular and predictable reward or punishment, then the absence of that reward or punishment will quickly lead to extinction. If, however, the reward or punishment has been applied intermittently (or irregularly), then experiencing the conditioned stimulus sets up an expectancy for reward or punishment, which maintains the behavior and makes it more resistant to extinction. Another way of extinguishing a behavior is by making a person accustomed to the stimulus that produces the behavior, without responding. Many psychological ...