1. In behavior modification or classical or operant conditioning, a progressive decrease in the frequency of a response that is not positively reinforced; the withdrawal of reinforcers known to maintain an undesirable behavior. See conditioning. 2. SYN: absorbance. [L. extinguo, to quench]
- visual e. SYN: pseudo-hemianopia.
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1) the process of becoming extinct <the \extinction of a species> also the condition or fact of being extinct
2) the process of eliminating or reducing a conditioned response by not reinforcing it
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n.
(in psychology) the weakening of a conditioned reflex that takes place if it is not maintained by reinforcement. This is used as a method of treatment when undesirable behaviour (e.g. destructiveness) is reduced simply by withdrawing whatever rewards it (e.g. the fuss made by other people).
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ex·tinc·tion (ek-stinkґshən) in psychology, the disappearance or reduction in frequency of a conditioned response as a result of nonreinforcement; also, the process by which the disappearance is accomplished.Medical dictionary. 2011.