2026 Sport and Recreation Management Practice Test - Comprehensive Exam Prep

Extinction in reinforcement theory means withholding reinforcement to reduce a behavior. When the consequence that previously followed a behavior is no longer provided, the behavior is less likely to be repeated over time. This applies whether the reinforcement was positive (adding something desirable) or negative (removing something aversive); what matters is that the reinforcement stops. Sometimes you’ll see a brief spike in the behavior before it fades, called an extinction burst. This is different from punishment, which adds an aversive consequence to decrease a behavior, whereas extinction simply removes the reinforcement. It’s also not about ignoring all behaviors, but about not reinforcing the specific behavior you want to reduce.