No longer providing attention following a behavior that was previously followed by attention is known as what?

• A. Extinction
• B. Attention Extinction
• C. Escape Extinction
• D. Extinction Burst

Answer: (B)

Attention extinction occurs when the reinforcement that was maintaining a behavior—attention in this case—is no longer provided after the behavior. If a behavior previously followed by attention no longer produces that outcome, the behavior is being extinguished for attention. Over time, the behavior should decrease because the appetitive consequence (attention) is removed. You might see a brief extinction burst at first, where the behavior increases temporarily before it dies down. To apply this, consistently withhold attention after the target behavior and reinforce alternative, appropriate behaviors that earn attention.