Which term describes an event that reduces the likelihood of emitting a behavior because it signals foregone reinforcement, often used in learning theory?

Which term describes an event that reduces the likelihood of emitting a behavior because it signals foregone reinforcement, often used in learning theory?

• A. Punishment
• B. Reinforcement
• C. S-Delta (S∆)
• D. Extinction

Answer: (C)

S-Delta (S∆) is the signal that reinforcement is not available for a given behavior in a particular context. When this cue is present, the learner expects that performing the behavior won’t be followed by a reinforcer, so the likelihood of emitting that behavior drops in the presence of the cue. It’s a signaling concept used in learning theory to explain how foregone reinforcement lowers responding in specific situations. This differs from punishment, which introduces an aversive consequence after a behavior, and from extinction in general, which refers to withholding reinforcement after a behavior that used to produce it; the key idea here is that the cue itself signals that reinforcement is not forthcoming, reducing the behavior.

S-Delta (S∆) is the signal that reinforcement is not available for a given behavior in a particular context. When this cue is present, the learner expects that performing the behavior won’t be followed by a reinforcer, so the likelihood of emitting that behavior drops in the presence of the cue. It’s a signaling concept used in learning theory to explain how foregone reinforcement lowers responding in specific situations. This differs from punishment, which introduces an aversive consequence after a behavior, and from extinction in general, which refers to withholding reinforcement after a behavior that used to produce it; the key idea here is that the cue itself signals that reinforcement is not forthcoming, reducing the behavior.