Which extinction procedure blocks or masks the sensory consequences that the behavior typically produces?

Which extinction procedure blocks or masks the sensory consequences that the behavior typically produces?

• A. Punishment
• B. Extinction
• C. Sensory extinction
• D. Reinforcement

Answer: (C)

This question targets how extinction can address automatic reinforcement by cutting off the internal sensory feedback the behavior normally provides. When a behavior is maintained by sensory consequences produced by the act itself, you use sensory extinction to block or mask that internal reinforcement so the behavior is no longer reinforced by those sensations. By removing or dulling the sensory payoff, the behavior is less likely to continue. This differs from plain extinction, which withholds reinforcement from the environment but doesn’t specifically target automatic, sensory feedback. Punishment introduces an adverse outcome to decrease a behavior, and reinforcement would increase the behavior, so neither fits the idea of blocking the internal sensory consequences driving the behavior.

This question targets how extinction can address automatic reinforcement by cutting off the internal sensory feedback the behavior normally provides. When a behavior is maintained by sensory consequences produced by the act itself, you use sensory extinction to block or mask that internal reinforcement so the behavior is no longer reinforced by those sensations. By removing or dulling the sensory payoff, the behavior is less likely to continue.

This differs from plain extinction, which withholds reinforcement from the environment but doesn’t specifically target automatic, sensory feedback. Punishment introduces an adverse outcome to decrease a behavior, and reinforcement would increase the behavior, so neither fits the idea of blocking the internal sensory consequences driving the behavior.