Which process involves decreasing a behavior by withholding reinforcement?

The process of extinction focuses on decreasing a behavior by withholding reinforcement that previously maintained that behavior. When a behavior is consistently reinforced and then the reinforcement is no longer provided, the individual is less likely to engage in that behavior over time. This approach relies on the principle that behaviors are shaped and maintained by the consequences they produce; thus, by removing reinforcement, the behavior is effectively diminished.

In this context, reinforcement refers to any event that follows a behavior and increases its future occurrence. By stopping this reinforcement, the behavior can gradually fade away as the individual learns that the behavior no longer produces the expected outcome.

Other options describe different concepts: reinforcement involves increasing a behavior through positive or negative consequences, punishment refers to introducing a consequence that aims to reduce a behavior, and intervention is a broader term that encompasses various techniques to change behavior but does not specify the method of withholding reinforcement.