Final answer:
The discriminative stimulus for extinction, also known as the S delta, is a stimulus that signals the absence of reinforcement and prompts the extinction of a learned behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the context of psychology, the discriminative stimulus for extinction is also known as the S delta. It refers to a stimulus that signals the absence of reinforcement and indicates that the previously learned behavior will no longer be rewarded. When the S delta is presented, the organism will gradually stop responding to the conditioned stimulus.
For example, if a dog has been trained to associate a bell ring with food and has been consistently rewarded, the bell ring serves as the conditioned stimulus. However, if the bell ring is repeatedly presented without being followed by food, it becomes the S delta. Eventually, the dog will stop salivating in response to the bell ring.
In summary, the S delta is a stimulus that indicates the absence of reinforcement, leading to the extinction of a learned behavior.