To stop a behavior in operant conditioning, what is typically done?

To stop a behavior in operant conditioning, what is typically done?

• A. Increase reinforcement to stop behavior
• B. Use punishment to stop behavior
• C. Take away reinforcement to stop behavior
• D. Use hypnosis to stop behavior

Answer: (C)

In operant conditioning, behavior is shaped by its consequences: reinforcement makes a behavior more likely, while when the reinforcement that has been maintaining a behavior is removed, the behavior tends to decline and eventually stop. This removal of the maintaining consequence is called extinction. So, to stop a behavior, the typical approach is to take away the reinforcement that has been sustaining it. For example, if a student only behaves well to receive praise, stopping the praise will reduce that behavior over time. It’s worth noting that punishment can also reduce behavior, but extinction—removing the reinforcing consequence—is the standard method described here. Increasing reinforcement would make the behavior stronger, and hypnosis isn’t part of operant conditioning.

In operant conditioning, behavior is shaped by its consequences: reinforcement makes a behavior more likely, while when the reinforcement that has been maintaining a behavior is removed, the behavior tends to decline and eventually stop. This removal of the maintaining consequence is called extinction. So, to stop a behavior, the typical approach is to take away the reinforcement that has been sustaining it. For example, if a student only behaves well to receive praise, stopping the praise will reduce that behavior over time. It’s worth noting that punishment can also reduce behavior, but extinction—removing the reinforcing consequence—is the standard method described here. Increasing reinforcement would make the behavior stronger, and hypnosis isn’t part of operant conditioning.