PSYB45H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Reinforcement
Document Summary
Extinction: a behaviour that had been reinforced for a period of time was no longer reinforced and the behaviour stopped occurring. Behavioural definition: a behaviour that has been previously reinforced, no longer results in the reinforcing consequences, and, therefore, the behaviour stops occurring in the future. As long as a behaviour is reinforced, even intermittently, it will continue to occur. If a behaviour is no longer followed by a reinforcing consequence, the person will stop engaging in that behaviour. When a behaviour stops occurring because it is no longer reinforced, it has undergone extinction or has been extinguished. Extinction burst: increase in the frequency, duration, or intensity of the unreinforced behaviour during the extinction process. This is a natural characteristic of an extinction situation. Novel behaviours (behaviours that did not typically occur in a particular situation) may occur for a brief period when the behaviour is no longer reinforced. Aggressive behaviour is often seen when extinction is used.
