Final Answer:
Decreasing the probability of certain behaviors is to extinction (option c).
Step-by-step explanation:
Extinction, as a concept in behavioral psychology, involves the reduction or elimination of a behavior by withholding the reinforcement that previously maintained it. Similar to how positive reinforcement increases the likelihood of behaviors, extinction works inversely by decreasing the probability of behaviors by removing the reinforcing consequences associated with them. This process weakens the behavior over time, ultimately leading to its reduction or cessation.
Extinction differs from negative reinforcement, shaping, and generalization. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior, shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior, and generalization refers to the tendency for a behavior to occur in different situations or contexts. In contrast, extinction specifically addresses the reduction of behaviors by eliminating their previously reinforcing consequences. It's a critical technique used in behavior modification to alter or eliminate undesired behaviors by removing their reinforcing factors, ultimately leading to a decrease in their occurrence.
Therefore, in the analogy presented, just as positive reinforcement increases behavior, extinction (option c) is the process that decreases the probability of certain behaviors by removing their reinforcing elements, making it the appropriate counterpart.