Which of the following actions is an example of extinction?

B is the correct choice because extinction refers to the process of reducing or eliminating a behavior by no longer providing the reinforcement that previously maintained it. In this case, by ignoring a behavior that was previously reinforced, the individual is effectively withdrawing the reward or attention that reinforced that behavior, leading to its decline over time.

In the context of behavior modification, when an action that was once rewarded no longer receives reinforcement, the likelihood of that action occurring again diminishes. This aligns perfectly with the definition of extinction.

The other actions illustrate different methods of behavior management. Rewarding a child for good grades (the first option) involves providing positive reinforcement, which encourages the child to continue striving for academic success. Giving a child a time-out for misbehavior (the third option) serves as a form of punishment intended to decrease unwanted behavior, rather than eliminating it through lack of reinforcement. Verbally praising a student for participation (the fourth option) also acts as reinforcement, promoting further participation rather than leading to extinction of any behavior. Thus, none of these alternatives fit the concept of extinction as closely as ignoring the previously reinforced behavior does.