What is the behavior reduction technique involving withholding access to preferred items?

The correct answer is C, which refers to tangible extinction. This behavior reduction technique involves withholding access to preferred items or activities that an individual typically finds reinforcing. By doing so, the individual is less likely to engage in behaviors that were previously reinforced by access to those tangible items.

When preferred items are withheld consistently in response to undesirable behaviors, the goal is to decrease those behaviors over time. The absence of reinforcement – in this case, access to those valued tangible items – serves as a mechanism for reducing the occurrence of behaviors that the individual may be using to gain access to those items.

This method can be particularly effective when employed in conjunction with other strategies, as it addresses the motivation behind the undesired behavior directly related to access to preferred items. The primary focus is on ensuring that the removal of the preferred items is done thoughtfully and consistently to produce the desired behavior change.

The other options mentioned do not accurately describe this concept. For example, behavior modification is a broader term that encompasses various techniques, while preference withholding is not a recognized term in behavior analysis.