What term describes the phenomenon where reinforcement in one setting decreases the target behavior in another setting?

The phenomenon where reinforcement in one setting leads to a decrease in the target behavior in another setting is known as behavior contrast. This occurs when an individual experiences a change in the rate of reinforcement in one environment, which can result in a corresponding change in behavior in a different environment. Specifically, if a behavior is reinforced significantly in one context, a decrease in reinforcement in another context may cause that behavior to decline or diminish in that second context.

Understanding behavior contrast is crucial because it highlights the interconnected nature of behavior across different settings. For instance, if a child receives a lot of praise for a particular behavior at home but less attention or reinforcement for the same behavior at school, they may show a decrease in that behavior when they are in the school setting.

In contrast, the other terms do not accurately describe this specific phenomenon. Negative reinforcement refers to the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior. Generalization involves applying learned behaviors to similar situations, while behavior extinction refers to the cessation of reinforcement, ultimately leading to a decrease in the behavior. Each of these concepts is related to behavior but does not encapsulate the idea of reinforcement in one setting affecting behavior in another as behavior contrast does.