Chapter 14 - Application of Extinction

What is extinction?

• Extinction = an operant response is no longer followed by the reinforcing consequence.

• AKA someone does a behavior, but they no longer get the reward or outcome they used to get doing it.

• The behavior decreases and stops occurring in the future.

• Reinforcement must precede use of extinction

Explain the procedural variations of extinction?

• Extinction of positively reinforced behavior → the positive reinforcer is no longer delivered following the behavior.

  • Ex. a parent would give a child candy to stop crying. the child continues to cry because they want candy. during extinction the parent would NO LONGER GIVE candy, eventually decreasing crying because the child isn’t getting candy anymore.

• Extinction of negatively reinforced behavior → the aversive stimulus is no longer removed following the behavior.

  • Ex. teacher gives student difficulty homework. student complains. teacher removes the homework. student learns that complaining makes the homework go away. student continues to complain. during extinction, the teacher would give the student homework. the student complains. the teacher would NOT REMOVE the homework. this would eventually make the complaining decrease because the student is no longer able to escape from the homework.

• In both cases, the behavior decreases.

What were the findings of the Iwata et al. reading?

• Each of the three variations of extinction reduced SIB (self-injurious behavior) only when the functional reinforcer was discontinued.

• The lack of therapeutic effects when implementing extinction implies that extinction is not truly in place, and the functional reinforcer possibly has not been identified.

What is extinction burst?

• The behavior is likely to increase before it decreases.

• A temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, or duration of a behavior when reinforcement is first stopped.

• AKA someone might try harder to get what they want before eventually giving up.

What is spontaneous recovery?

• When a behavior that had decreased or stopped through extinction suddenly appears after some time has passed.

• AKA a behavior you thought was gone comes back unexpectedly.

What is extinction-induced variability?

• Different forms of the behavior may emerge before the behavior decreases.

• AKA when one behavior stops working, the person may try different behaviors to get the same reward.

What are the 6 considerations before implementing extinction?

1.) collect data to assess treatment effects

2.) identify the maintaining reinforcer

3.) eliminate the reinforcer when problem behavior occurs

4.) consider the reinforcement schedule

5.) reinforce alternative behaviors

6.) promote generalization and maintenance

Explain the collect data to assess treatment effects consideration?

• Always record behavior before and after you implement extinction (or any other treatment).

Explain the identifying the maintaining reinforcer consideration?

• We need to know why the behavior is happening before we can withhold reinforcement.

• How do we identify the reinforcer for problem behavior? by conducting a functional assessment (direct observation or FA)!

Explain the eliminate the reinforcer when problem behavior occurs consideration?

• Have you identified the reinforcer?

• Behavior maintained by positive reinforcement → the reinforcer is withheld when previously reinforced behavior occurs.

• Behavior maintained by negative reinforcement → the aversive stimulation persists when previously reinforced behavior occurs.

• Behavior maintained by automatic reinforcement → sensory extinction or other methods other than EXT.

  • Automatic reinforcement = the behavior itself produces a rewarding sensory experienced without another person needing to provide reinforcement.

  • Ex. hand flapping → the person enjoys the sensory stimulation.

  • Sensory extinction = preventing or reducing the sensory stimulation that is reinforcing the behavior.

Explain the eliminate the reinforcer when problem behavior occurs consideration?

• Is it safe to use?

• Will the behavior result in harm?

• What if the target behavior is elopement (leaving a designated or supervised area without permission)?

• What if the target behavior is cooperating with haircutting? How about toothbrushing?

• When extinction is not feasible, other interventions should be used instead.

Explain the eliminate the reinforcer when problem behavior occurs consideration?

• Can an extinction burst be tolerated?

• Extinction burst:

  • Initial increase in the response frequency, magnitude, or intensity in a behavior.

  • Might lead to “emotional” or aggressive side effects.

  • Occurrence of novel behaviors or variability might occur in place of the previously reinforced behavior.

• Determine if you have the resources to withstand increases in the intensity of problem behavior.

Explain the eliminate the reinforcer when problem behavior occurs consideration?

• Can consistency be maintained?

• Are the change agents well equipped (trained) to withhold reinforcement when problem behavior occurs?

• AKA extinction only works when everyone involved is consistent and knows how to implement it correctly.

Explain the reinforcement schedules and extinction consideration?

• Continous reinforcement → behavior is reinforced on an FR 1 schedule (or after every occurrence).

• Intermittent reinforcement → behavior is reinforced only sometimes.

• Is behavior more or less resistant to extinction when it was previously reinforced on continuous reinforcement schedule? Intermittent?

  • Behavior is generally MORE resistant (remains unaffected) to extinction when previously reinforced intermittently, not continuously.

Explain the reinforcement of alternative behaviors consideration?

• Extinction should always be implemented alongside reinforcement procedure.

  • Why? because the goal of behavior modification is to increase desirable behavior. The learner should always have an appropriate, alternative way to contact reinforcement.

  • Ex: when my cousin, Xavier, slaps my arm, I do not deliver attention. But when he says, “Arielle”, I will turn toward him and give him attention. Eventually he stops hitting me and calls my name instead.

Explain the promoting maintenance and generalization consideration?

• Extinction must be implemented in different contexts and across change agents (generalization).

• Extinction should continue to be implemented even after behavior decreases (maintenance).

What are factors influencing effectiveness for induced behaviors?

• Induced behavior = a behavior that is triggered or brought about by a situation or stimulus and is influenced by a person’s learning history.

• AKA something happens in the environment, and it causes that person to react in a particular way.

• Induced behavior is elicited behavior that is influenced (or interferes with) learning history

  • Aggression

  • Biting

  • Crying

• If the behavior is induced, extinction may not be effective.

• Ex: a child starts crying because they are frustrated the teacher took away their toy. This may be an emotional reaction rather than a behavior intended to get attention or escape work.

Why do you need to identify the function of a behavior before using extinction?

• If you don’t identify the function correctly, you might withhold the wrong reinforcer, and extinction may not work.