What is the term for the decrease in frequency of a previously reinforced behavior when reinforcement is discontinued?

The correct term for the decrease in frequency of a previously reinforced behavior when reinforcement is discontinued is extinction. This concept is fundamental in the field of behavioral psychology and refers specifically to the process whereby a behavior that has been previously reinforced no longer receives the reinforcement that maintained its occurrence. As a result, the behavior gradually diminishes in strength and frequency.

In the context of applied behavior analysis, when reinforcement is removed, individuals often exhibit an increase in the behavior temporarily, known as an extinction burst, before the behavior begins to decrease. This highlights the importance of understanding the extinction process when modifying behaviors in individuals, especially in therapeutic settings.

The other terms listed, while related to behavior in different contexts, do not specifically describe the process of diminishing a previously reinforced behavior due to the removal of reinforcement. For example, reinforcement refers to the process that increases the likelihood of a behavior, resurgence involves the re-emergence of a previously reinforced behavior after reinforcement is discontinued for another behavior, and suppression typically relates to reducing the likelihood of a behavior without necessarily removing reinforcement.