Which reinforcement pattern makes extinction harder?

Which reinforcement pattern makes extinction harder?

• A. Continuous reinforcement
• B. Variable or intermittent reinforcement
• C. No reinforcement
• D. Punishment-only schedules

Answer: (B)

Extinction happens when a behavior that used to be reinforced no longer is reinforced, so the behavior tends to drop off. The pattern of reinforcement determines how stubborn that drop-off is. If every response is reinforced (continuous reinforcement), stopping reinforcement leads to a quick collapse of the behavior because there’s no reward to continue for. In contrast, when reinforcement is intermittent or variable—only some responses are rewarded and the timing is unpredictable—the behavior tends to persist much longer. This is the partial reinforcement extinction effect: the learner keeps responding because reinforcement is not guaranteed, and the uncertainty makes extinction harder. A relatable example is gambling: rewards arrive unpredictably, so people keep engaging even when payouts become rare. The unpredictable, sporadic reinforcement strengthens persistence, making extinction harder.

Extinction happens when a behavior that used to be reinforced no longer is reinforced, so the behavior tends to drop off. The pattern of reinforcement determines how stubborn that drop-off is. If every response is reinforced (continuous reinforcement), stopping reinforcement leads to a quick collapse of the behavior because there’s no reward to continue for. In contrast, when reinforcement is intermittent or variable—only some responses are rewarded and the timing is unpredictable—the behavior tends to persist much longer. This is the partial reinforcement extinction effect: the learner keeps responding because reinforcement is not guaranteed, and the uncertainty makes extinction harder. A relatable example is gambling: rewards arrive unpredictably, so people keep engaging even when payouts become rare. The unpredictable, sporadic reinforcement strengthens persistence, making extinction harder.