What term describes a situation where ignoring a behavior leads to a decrease in that behavior over time?

The situation described in the question refers to the concept of "extinction," which is a key principle in behavioral psychology. Extinction occurs when a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced, leading to a gradual decrease in the frequency of that behavior over time. In simpler terms, if a behavior that was once met with attention or a positive response is ignored, it is likely to diminish because the reinforcement that maintained it is absent.

For instance, if a child throws a tantrum to get attention and the parents consistently ignore the tantrum, the lack of attention can lead to a reduction in that behavior. This process highlights the importance of reinforcement in behavioral change and illustrates how behaviors can fade when they are not supported by any form of consequence.

Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, involves providing a reward or positive outcome following a desired behavior to increase its occurrence. Negative reinforcement is about removing an aversive stimulus to increase a behavior, and punishment involves introducing an aversive consequence or removing something desirable to decrease a behavior. None of these terms accurately describe the scenario where ignoring a behavior leads to a decrease in that behavior. Thus, the correct term for this situation is extinction.