Which type of reinforcement is most resistant to extinction?

Intermittent reinforcement is considered the most resistant to extinction because it provides rewards for desired behaviors only some of the time, rather than consistently. This unpredictability creates a stronger and more persistent behavior pattern among learners. When a behavior is reinforced intermittently, individuals learn that the reward may come at any moment, which encourages them to continue the behavior in the hope of receiving the reward eventually.

In contrast, continuous reinforcement, which provides a reward every time a desired behavior occurs, can lead to quicker extinction of the behavior once the reinforcement stops. Immediate and delayed reinforcement, while having their own impacts on behavior, do not inherently increase resistance to extinction in the same way that intermittent reinforcement does. Intermittent reinforcement cultivates a sustained engagement in the behavior because of the uncertainty involved, making it more difficult for the individual to stop the behavior even in the absence of rewards for some time.