What is the process called when a behavior diminishes due to the absence of rewards?

The correct answer is the process referred to as extinction. Extinction occurs when a behavior that was previously reinforced no longer receives any rewards or positive reinforcement, leading to a gradual decrease in the frequency of that behavior. This principle comes from operant conditioning, which is a learning process through which behaviors are modified by their consequences.

When an individual engages in a behavior that has been consistently rewarded in the past but then stops receiving those rewards, they may initially continue to exhibit the behavior; however, over time, the lack of reinforcement will cause them to stop performing it altogether. This is why extinction is often observed in training scenarios where a previously effective reward system is removed or if the rewards become inconsistent.

The other options are related to different behavioral principles but do not apply to the concept of behavior diminishing specifically due to the absence of rewards. PREE (Partial and Random Reinforcement Effect) refers to the phenomenon where behaviors reinforced intermittently tend to be more resistant to extinction. Blocking involves a situation where a previously learned association interferes with the acquisition of a new one. Preparedness refers to the predisposition of an animal to learn certain associations more easily than others based on their evolutionary history.