In behavioral terms, what does 'extinction' refer to?

In the context of behavioral psychology, 'extinction' specifically refers to the process of reducing or eliminating a behavior by removing the reinforcement that previously followed that behavior. When a behavior is consistently reinforced, it is likely to be repeated; however, if that reinforcement is no longer provided, the behavior will gradually diminish and may eventually cease altogether.

This understanding is grounded in operant conditioning, where behaviors are influenced by their consequences. If a previously reinforced behavior no longer receives that reinforcement (such as a reward or positive outcome), the individual learns that the behavior will not lead to the desired effect, leading to a decrease in that behavior over time.

The other choices do not accurately capture the concept of extinction. For instance, introducing new conditions or consequences would not inherently lead to the extinction of a behavior; rather, it may influence behavior in other ways or create new patterns. Similarly, reinforcing new behavior is a different process altogether that aims to increase rather than decrease behavior.