Which term refers to the persistence of operant behavior when reinforcement is withheld (extinction) and is enhanced by intermittent reinforcement?

Which term refers to the persistence of operant behavior when reinforcement is withheld (extinction) and is enhanced by intermittent reinforcement?

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

Answer: (A)

Resistance to extinction is the persistence of operant behavior when reinforcement is withheld, and intermittent reinforcement strengthens this persistence. When a behavior has been reinforced on a partial schedule, the learner learns that reinforcement is not guaranteed, so the behavior tends to continue longer once reinforcement stops compared to a continuously reinforced history. This is known as the partial reinforcement extinction effect. For example, a rat that was reinforced on a variable schedule will keep pressing the lever longer during extinction than a rat reinforced every time. This concept is distinct from generalization (responding to similar stimuli) and discrimination (responding differently to different stimuli). It’s also different from an extinction burst, which is a temporary spike in responding at the start of extinction, not the overall lasting persistence after extinction begins.

Resistance to extinction is the persistence of operant behavior when reinforcement is withheld, and intermittent reinforcement strengthens this persistence. When a behavior has been reinforced on a partial schedule, the learner learns that reinforcement is not guaranteed, so the behavior tends to continue longer once reinforcement stops compared to a continuously reinforced history. This is known as the partial reinforcement extinction effect. For example, a rat that was reinforced on a variable schedule will keep pressing the lever longer during extinction than a rat reinforced every time. This concept is distinct from generalization (responding to similar stimuli) and discrimination (responding differently to different stimuli). It’s also different from an extinction burst, which is a temporary spike in responding at the start of extinction, not the overall lasting persistence after extinction begins.