What does "extinction" mean in the context of ABA?

In the context of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), extinction refers to the process of discontinuing reinforcement for a behavior that has previously been reinforced. When reinforcement is no longer provided, the frequency of that behavior is expected to decrease over time. This process highlights the relationship between reinforcement and behavior; when a behavior is no longer rewarded, individuals are less likely to engage in that behavior.

For instance, if a child has learned to shout for attention and receives reinforcement when they do so, removing that reinforcement (ignoring the shouting) would be considered extinction. Over time, as the shouting is no longer met with attention, the child is likely to shout less frequently. This understanding is key in behavior modification strategies within ABA.

The other options touch on related concepts but do not accurately define extinction. Introducing new behaviors through reinforcement pertains to strengthening different actions rather than reducing an existing one. Teaching a suitable alternative behavior aligns more with behavior replacement strategies rather than the specific technique of extinction. Immediate elimination of all behaviors does not accurately represent the gradual process that extinction entails, which focuses specifically on decreasing a specific behavior rather than all behaviors within a context.