What happens to a behavior that is no longer reinforced during an extinction process?

During the extinction process, when a behavior that has been previously reinforced is no longer followed by reinforcement, the expected outcome is that the frequency of that behavior decreases over time. This occurs because the individual learns that the behavior no longer results in the previously received consequences or benefits.

As the reinforcement is removed, the motivation for engaging in that behavior diminishes, leading to a gradual decline in its occurrence. It's important to note that there may be an initial increase in the behavior—sometimes referred to as an "extinction burst"—but overall, if the reinforcement stays absent, the behavior will trend downwards. Over time, consistently not reinforcing the behavior will typically lead to its eventual reduction or elimination, making this decrease the core aspect of the extinction process.

The other choices do not accurately reflect the principles of behavior modification. It does not remain unchanged, nor is it typically replaced by another behavior as a direct outcome of extinction alone. An initial increase might occur, but the correct understanding of the extinction process is that the behavior decreases in frequency when reinforcement is removed.