What is the term for a schedule during which reinforcement is withheld following instances of the target behavior?

The correct term for a schedule during which reinforcement is withheld following instances of the target behavior is extinction. In the context of behavioral analysis, extinction refers to the process of discontinuing the reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior, which leads to a decrease in the frequency of that behavior over time. When reinforcement is no longer provided after the occurrence of the target behavior, the likelihood of that behavior occurring again diminishes.

Understanding extinction is essential because it is a fundamental concept in behavior modification. It highlights the importance of reinforcement in maintaining behavior. Once reinforcement is removed, the behavior may initially increase (an extinction burst) before it begins to decline. This process is crucial for practitioners when developing treatment plans aimed at reducing undesired behaviors.

This concept differs from punishment, which involves delivering a consequence to reduce a behavior, and withholding reinforcement, which can be a more ambiguous phrase lacking the clarity of the term extinction. Negative reinforcement is a separate concept altogether, where a behavior is strengthened by the removal of an aversive stimulus. These distinctions help clarify why extinction accurately describes the scenario presented in the question.