A rat has been trained in an operant conditioning chamber to press a lever to get a food pellet. Following the acquisition trials, the researcher then withheld reinforcement for lever pressing and eventually the rat stopped responding. This example illustrates:
A) the effect of negative reinforcement.
B) the effect of punishment by application.
C) learned helplessness.
D) extinction.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The scenario described in the question is an example of extinction. Extinction occurs when a previously reinforced behavior, such as lever pressing, is no longer followed by reinforcement and, as a result, the behavior gradually stops occurring. This is what happened to the rat in the scenario described, as it stopped pressing the lever when reinforcement was withheld.

A Rat Has Been Trained in an Operant Conditioning Chamber