What term describes the persistence of behavior when reinforcement is intermittently provided rather than continuously?

What term describes the persistence of behavior when reinforcement is intermittently provided rather than continuously?

• A. Resistance to Extinction
• B. Generalization
• C. Discrimination
• D. Extinction

Answer: (A)

Intermittent reinforcement makes the behavior harder to extinguish. When reinforcement isn’t given every time, the subject learns that reinforcement is not guaranteed, so the response tends to continue longer even after reinforcement stops. This persistence is described as resistance to extinction, a phenomenon enhanced by the Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect. If reinforcement were continuous, extinction would happen quickly; with intermittent reinforcement, the decline in responding is slower. The other terms don’t capture this persistence: extinction is simply the process of stopping reinforcement and observing the behavior fade, while generalization and discrimination involve responding to stimuli rather than the durability of the response without reinforcement.

Intermittent reinforcement makes the behavior harder to extinguish. When reinforcement isn’t given every time, the subject learns that reinforcement is not guaranteed, so the response tends to continue longer even after reinforcement stops. This persistence is described as resistance to extinction, a phenomenon enhanced by the Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect. If reinforcement were continuous, extinction would happen quickly; with intermittent reinforcement, the decline in responding is slower. The other terms don’t capture this persistence: extinction is simply the process of stopping reinforcement and observing the behavior fade, while generalization and discrimination involve responding to stimuli rather than the durability of the response without reinforcement.