Which behaviour would be most difficult to extinguish

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Intermittent reinforcement schedules tend to make a behavior more resistant to extinction than continuous reinforcement. This is because the individual learns that the behavior may not always result in a reward, and so keeps performing it in the hope of being reinforced again in the future. In contrast, behaviors that are consistently reinforced (as in choice B) or shaped (as in choice C) may be easier to extinguish because the individual knows exactly when to expect a reward or punishment, and can modify their behavior accordingly. Parental reinforcement (as in choice A) may also be easier to extinguish if the individual learns new information or beliefs that conflict with their parent's view.

Which Behaviour Would Be Most Difficult to Extinguish