What term describes the reduction of a behavior due to lack of reinforcement?

The term that describes the reduction of a behavior due to lack of reinforcement is known as extinction. In the context of behavioral psychology, extinction occurs when a previously reinforced behavior is no longer followed by the reinforcing consequences it used to receive. As a result, the frequency of that behavior decreases over time.

In essence, if an individual has learned to associate a certain behavior with a positive reinforcement—such as a reward for completing a task—and that reinforcement is removed or becomes unavailable, the likelihood of that behavior being repeated diminishes. This process is a fundamental concept in understanding operant conditioning, which emphasizes the role of consequences in shaping behavior.

For example, if a child is consistently praised for cleaning their room but then suddenly receives no acknowledgment for doing so, they may begin to clean their room less frequently. This decrease in the maintenance of the behavior due to the absence of reinforcement exemplifies the principle of extinction.