Nonreinforcement

Nonreinforcement is a term used in operant conditioning to describe the situation where a previously reinforced behavior no longer receives reinforcement. This absence of reinforcement can lead to a decrease in the frequency of the behavior. The process by which the behavior diminishes is known as extinction.

When a behavior is consistently reinforced, an individual or animal learns to associate that behavior with a rewarding outcome. If the reinforcement is then withdrawn, the established association weakens over time. Initially, upon the removal of reinforcement, there might be an extinction burst, where the behavior temporarily increases in frequency or intensity before declining. This burst is thought to be a final attempt to elicit the previously obtained reinforcement.

Nonreinforcement is a fundamental concept for understanding how behaviors are learned and unlearned. It is utilized in various applications, including behavior modification therapy, where unwanted behaviors are targeted by withholding reinforcement. For example, in treating phobias, a person's avoidance behavior might be maintained by the temporary relief from anxiety. Extinction of this avoidance would involve nonreinforcement of the escape behavior. Similarly, in training animals, discontinuing reinforcement for an undesired action can lead to its reduction. The effectiveness of nonreinforcement depends on factors such as the history of reinforcement for the behavior and the consistency with which reinforcement is withheld.