What is the primary goal of extinction in behavior modification?

The primary goal of extinction in behavior modification is indeed to eliminate inappropriate behavior by ignoring it. Extinction is based on the principle that behaviors that are no longer reinforced will decrease over time. In this context, when a specific behavior is ignored—meaning that it no longer receives the reinforcement that previously maintained it—individuals are likely to stop engaging in that behavior.

For example, if a child throws a tantrum to gain attention and the caregivers consistently ignore the tantrum, the child may eventually learn that this behavior does not result in the desired outcome. Over time, the tantrum behavior is expected to diminish as a result of not being reinforced by the attention.

The effectiveness of extinction relies on consistent application; if the inappropriate behavior is intermittently reinforced (even if it is sometimes ignored), it may persist or even escalate. Therefore, using extinction specifically aims to reduce or eliminate inappropriate and maladaptive behaviors by withholding reinforcement, making it an essential strategy in behavior modification.