72. A child receives attention from their parent when they cry at home. Which example illustrates extinction of the crying behavior?
Answer: C
The crying behavior stops when the parent no longer responds to it.
Extinction of the crying behavior occurs when the reinforcement that maintains that behavior is removed. In this case, when the parent stops responding to the child's cries, the crying behavior diminishes as it is no longer reinforced.
A) The crying behavior is extended to crying during outside activities.
This option illustrates a generalization of the crying behavior rather than extinction. The child is still receiving attention through crying, just in different contexts, which does not reduce the behavior.
B) The crying behavior stops when the child is punished for doing it.
This option describes punishment rather than extinction. Punishment may decrease the frequency of the crying behavior, but it does not involve the removal of reinforcement, which is the key component of extinction.
C) The crying behavior stops when the parent no longer responds to it.
This option accurately represents extinction. By not responding to the crying, the parent removes the reinforcement that maintains the behavior, leading to a decrease in the crying over time.
D) The crying behavior is repeated at a relative's home.
This option indicates that the behavior continues but does not address whether it is reinforced or extinguished. The crying behavior persists in a new environment, suggesting that it is still being reinforced rather than extinguished.
Conclusion
Option C is definitively correct as it captures the essence of extinction, where the behavior ceases due to the absence of reinforcement. The other options either describe scenarios that involve reinforcement, punishment, or generalization of behavior, which do not apply to the concept of extinction.