What is the term for the behavior reduction procedure that withholds attention after a problem behavior?

What is the term for the behavior reduction procedure that withholds attention after a problem behavior?

• A. Time-out
• B. Attention extinction
• C. Extinction
• D. Punishment

Answer: (B)

Withholding attention after a problem behavior targets reducing that behavior by removing the social reinforcement it relies on. This approach, called attention extinction, means you ignore the problem behavior—no eye contact, no verbal reaction, no feedback—so the behavior no longer produces attention. If the behavior is maintained by attention, this lack of reinforcement leads to a gradual decrease, though you may see a brief initial rise known as an extinction burst. Time-out differs in that it temporarily removes the person from the situation or from access to reinforcement for a short period, reducing overall reinforcement exposure rather than just withholding attention. Extinction, more broadly, means withholding reinforcement for the behavior in general; attention extinction is extinction applied to attention as the reinforcer. Punishment would introduce an adverse consequence to decrease the behavior, rather than simply withholding reinforcement.

Withholding attention after a problem behavior targets reducing that behavior by removing the social reinforcement it relies on. This approach, called attention extinction, means you ignore the problem behavior—no eye contact, no verbal reaction, no feedback—so the behavior no longer produces attention. If the behavior is maintained by attention, this lack of reinforcement leads to a gradual decrease, though you may see a brief initial rise known as an extinction burst. Time-out differs in that it temporarily removes the person from the situation or from access to reinforcement for a short period, reducing overall reinforcement exposure rather than just withholding attention. Extinction, more broadly, means withholding reinforcement for the behavior in general; attention extinction is extinction applied to attention as the reinforcer. Punishment would introduce an adverse consequence to decrease the behavior, rather than simply withholding reinforcement.