What behavioral modification technique is used when an owner stops feeding a pet that begs for food?

The correct answer, extinction, refers to a behavioral modification technique that involves the removal of reinforcement that was previously associated with a behavior. In this context, when a pet begs for food and the owner stops feeding the pet in response, the owner is effectively withholding the reward (food) that encouraged the begging behavior.

By not providing food to the begging pet, the owner aims to decrease or eliminate the begging behavior over time, as the behavior is no longer being reinforced. This is an application of extinction because the pet learns that begging will not result in getting food, ultimately leading to a reduction in that behavior.

In contrast, reinforcement involves increasing a behavior by providing a reward, while punishment seeks to decrease a behavior by introducing an unpleasant consequence. Aversion techniques might involve using unpleasant stimuli to inhibit a behavior, which is not what is happening in this scenario. Understanding extinction as a method shows its relevance in behavioral training for pets.