The greatest degree of resistance to extinction is typically caused by a __________ schedule of reinforcement.

The greatest degree of resistance to extinction is typically associated with a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement. This schedule provides reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, which makes it very difficult for the individual to predict when the next reward will come. As a result, individuals continue to engage in the behavior for a longer time, even when reinforcement is no longer provided.

This phenomenon can be observed in many real-world scenarios, such as gambling on slot machines. The uncertain and sporadic nature of the payouts encourages sustained participation, making it hard to extinguish the behavior. The unpredictability of rewards keeps individuals motivated, leading to a high rate of response and a strong resistance to extinction once the reinforcement is removed.

In contrast, fixed interval and fixed ratio schedules provide reinforcement at predictable intervals or after a set number of responses, leading to a quicker extinction process once the reinforcement is no longer available. Variable interval schedules, while they do have some level of unpredictability, do not provide the same level of resistance as variable ratio schedules due to the nature of reinforcement timing and response requirements.