What term is used when a reinforcer is no longer provided after a response?

The correct term for the phenomenon when a reinforcer is no longer provided after a response is extinction. In behavioral psychology, extinction occurs when the previously reinforced behavior decreases in frequency or stops altogether because the reinforcement is no longer available.

This is often observed in situations where behaviors are learned through operant conditioning. For example, if a child receives praise (the reinforcement) for cleaning their room but eventually that praise is withdrawn, the child may stop cleaning their room as a response to the lack of reinforcement. Over time, without consistent reinforcement, the behavior fades away.

Understanding extinction is crucial in the context of behavior modification and learning theories as it highlights the importance of reinforcement in maintaining desired behaviors.