What is negative reinforcement? Explain the extinction of a negatively reinforced behavior.
What is negative reinforcement? Explain the extinction of a negatively reinforced behavior.
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Negative reinforcement is a process in which an undesirable behavior is strengthened or maintained by removing or avoiding an aversive stimulus (something unpleasant or negative) after the behavior occurs. In other words, the behavior is reinforced by the termination or escape from an aversive situation or consequence.
The extinction of a negatively reinforced behavior occurs when the behavior no longer leads to the removal or avoidance of the aversive stimulus. In this situation, the behavior becomes ineffective in producing the desired outcome (avoiding the unpleasant stimulus), and as a result, the behavior is likely to decrease in frequency or eventually stop altogether.
For example, consider a child who avoids doing homework by throwing tantrums. If the parents consistently give in and allow the child to stop doing homework whenever the child throws a tantrum (negative reinforcement), the tantrum behavior is reinforced. However, if the parents consistently refuse to allow the child to escape homework regardless of the tantrums (extinction), the tantrum behavior will eventually diminish because it no longer leads to the avoidance of homework (the aversive stimulus).
During the extinction process, the negatively reinforced behavior may initially increase in intensity or frequency (known as an “extinction burst”) before it eventually decreases and stops. This is because the behavior was previously effective in removing the aversive stimulus, and the organism may try harder to produce the same effect before ultimately giving up.
The extinction of a negatively reinforced behavior is achieved by consistently withholding the removal or avoidance of the aversive stimulus, even when the behavior occurs. This process requires patience and consistency, as the behavior may persist for some time before it eventually extinguishes.
Negative reinforcement is a concept in operant conditioning, a type of learning described by B.F. Skinner. It involves the removal of an unpleasant or aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood that a behavior will be repeated.
In other words, a behavior is strengthened because it results in the elimination or reduction of something undesirable.
Example: Imagine a scenario where a person experiences a loud, annoying noise (aversive stimulus) whenever they leave their seatbelt unfastened in a car. Buckling the seatbelt stops the noise. Over time, the person is likely to buckle the seatbelt promptly to avoid the noise, thus the behavior of fastening the seatbelt is negatively reinforced.
Extinction of a Negatively Reinforced Behavior
Extinction in operant conditioning refers to the process by which a previously reinforced behavior is weakened and eventually stops occurring when the reinforcement is no longer provided.
In the context of negative reinforcement, extinction occurs when the aversive stimulus is no longer removed following the behavior. When the behavior no longer results in the removal of the unpleasant condition, the behavior will gradually diminish.
Example of Extinction: Continuing with the seatbelt example, suppose the car’s warning system malfunctions and the noise persists even when the seatbelt is fastened. The person’s behavior of fastening the seatbelt is no longer effective in stopping the noise. Over time, the person may stop fastening the seatbelt promptly because the behavior no longer removes the aversive stimulus (the noise), leading to the extinction of the negatively reinforced behavior.
Key Points in the Extinction Process:
Negative reinforcement is when a behavior is strengthened by the removal of an aversive stimulus. During the extinction of a negatively reinforced behavior, the aversive stimulus is no longer removed after the behavior.