Variable schedules of reinforcement have been shown to produce greater resistance to extinction compared to fixed schedules of reinforcement.

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This is a well-established finding in the field of behavior analysis. When an individual is reinforced on a variable schedule (meaning the reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses or an unpredictable amount of time has passed), they tend to continue responding even if the reinforcement is no longer delivered. This is because the uncertainty of when the reinforcement will be delivered keeps the individual motivated to continue responding. In contrast, if an individual is reinforced on a fixed schedule (meaning the reinforcement is delivered after a set number of responses or a set amount of time has passed), they are more likely to stop responding if the reinforcement is no longer delivered because they quickly learn the predictability of the reinforcement and become less motivated to continue responding.

Variable Schedules of Reinforcement Have Been Shown to Produce Greater