A common example of the partial reinforcement extinction effect appears in dysfunctional romantic relationships when one partner behaves badly (perhaps even abusively) toward the other, but not consistently enough or predictably enough to lead the other partner to leave the relationship. Indeed, because the first partner sometimes–but unpredictably–behaves in a loving, supportive way, the other partner keeps \u201changing onto\u201d the relationship in the hope that there will eventually be more good times than bad times. We know of one highly intelligent, educated professional woman whose husband\u2019s unpredictable bad moods and emotionally abusive actions left her constantly uncertain about what each day would bring and how she might forestall his misbehavior. It took 12 years for her to recognize that the good times were never going to outnumber the bad times, at which time she decided to divorce.\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A common example of the partial reinforcement extinction effect appears in dysfunctional romantic relationships when one partner behaves badly (perhaps even abusively) toward the other, but not consistently enough or predictably enough to lead the other partner to leave the … Continue reading