Final answer:
Extinction in operant conditioning arises when the anticipated reinforcement is no longer provided following the behavior. It is more rapid in fixed interval schedules, where reinforcement is expected at specific times, and slower in variable ratio schedules, where reinforcement is unpredictable.
Step-by-step explanation:
In operant conditioning, extinction occurs because reinforcement no longer follows the behavior. The concept of operant conditioning, as introduced by B. F. Skinner, includes various forms of reinforcement schedules that affect how behaviors are learned and how they persist over time. Continuous reinforcement involves rewarding a behavior every time it occurs, whereas different schedules may reward behaviors less consistently. Extinction is observed when the expected reinforcement is withheld or no longer presented after the behavior occurs, leading to a decrease or complete halt in the conditioned response.
For example, in a fixed interval reinforcement schedule, like the case where June presses a button for pain relief medication and is only rewarded at fixed time intervals, extinction of the behavior will occur quickly if the reinforcement (medication) stops being administered at those intervals. In contrast, with a variable ratio schedule, where reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of responses, extinction tends to occur more slowly because the expectation for reinforcement is less certain.