What technique involves withholding social reinforcement for a behavior for a fixed duration?

The correct answer is planned ignoring. This technique is used to modify behavior by purposefully not providing social reinforcement in response to inappropriate or undesired behavior. By withholding attention or social reinforcement from an individual for a designated period, the intention is to decrease the occurrence of the behavior since the individual learns that engaging in that behavior does not yield any positive or reinforcing consequence.

In the context of behavior management, planned ignoring is particularly effective for behaviors that are maintained by social attention. For instance, a child who acts out to gain attention may reduce such behavior when they discover that their efforts do not result in any acknowledgment or interaction from caregivers or peers. The fixed duration aspect is important here as it helps to clearly define when the individual can expect social reinforcement again, making it a structured approach to behavior modification.

Although other options represent strategies that involve changes in reinforcement or response, they do not precisely align with the definition of withholding social reinforcement for a fixed duration as effectively as planned ignoring does. Understanding this technique is critical for individuals working in behavior analysis, as it promotes the reduction of undesired behaviors while ensuring that appropriate behaviors can still be recognized and reinforced when they occur.