Study Notes on Extinction in Applied Behavior Analysis

Extinction Defined: Extinction occurs when reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior is discontinued.
- This results in a decrease in the behavior's future occurrence.
- “When reinforcement is no longer forthcoming, a response becomes less and less frequent in what is called ‘operant extinction’” (Skinner, 1953).

Does Not Stop Behavior:
- Extinction does not stop the occurrence of the behavior but disrupts the response-reinforcer relationship.
- For effective implementation, the practitioner must accurately know the reinforcing consequence and apply the extinction procedure consistently.
Environmental Changes:
- The practitioner alters the environment to ensure that the problem behavior no longer produces reinforcement.

Escape Behavior:
- A student tears up his math worksheet to escape further demands.
- Every time the student rips the worksheet, the teacher presents a new one. Thus, tearing the worksheets is extinguished.
Attention-Seeking Behavior:
- A student hits the teacher to gain attention.
- The teacher ignores the hitting behavior and walks away. This way, hitting to obtain attention is extinguished.
Sensory Reinforcement:
- A student throws a plate for the sound it makes when it breaks.
- By replacing the porcelain plate with a plastic one that does not break, the sound is masked, leading to sensory extinction.

Zero Probability of Reinforcement:
- Extinction ensures that there is zero probability of reinforcement for the behavior.
Diminishing Rate of Behavior:
- Refers to the decrease in a previously reinforced behavior when reinforcement is withheld.
Functional Relation:
- Extinction indicates the functional relationship between withholding reinforcement and the resulting reduction in the rate of response.

Planned Ignoring:
- An outdated belief that challenging behavior is maintained by attention, primarily mentioned in early literature.
- Often noted as ineffective in contemporary practices.

Understanding the Function of Behavior:
- It is crucial to identify if the behavior is maintained by attention or escape; thus, appropriate extinction strategies can be applied accordingly.
- This approach is likely to be more effective than planned ignoring.

Common Misunderstandings:
- Describing Any Decrease in Behavior: Using "extinction" inaccurately to describe any reduction in problem behavior.
- Confusing Forgetting and Extinction:
- Forgetting: A decrease due to the passage of time without opportunities for the behavior.
- Response Blocking vs. Sensory Extinction:
- Response blocking prevents behavior occurrence; in extinction, the behavior still occurs but reinforcement is not provided.
- Sensory extinction procedures include tools like goggles and padding to mitigate sensory reinforcement.

Positive Reinforcement Extinction:
- Example: A child cries at bedtime for parent attention. Previously reinforced by parental attention, now crying does not yield attention.
Negative Reinforcement Extinction:
- Known as “Escape Extinction”.
- Behavior no longer produces removal of aversive stimuli.
- Example: Alex throws his toothbrush to avoid brushing teeth, but during extinction, he continues to brush his teeth regardless of any tantrum.
Automatic Reinforcement Extinction:
- Refers to “Sensory Extinction”.
- Examples of intervention include disconnecting light switches or wearing gloves to prevent scratching.

Extinction Burst:
- Initial increase in response rate immediately after removing reinforcement.
- Problem behavior may worsen temporarily before a decrease is observed.
- Clinical consideration: Practitioners must foresee and manage extinction bursts.
Response Variation:
- New or different behaviors may emerge during extinction, referred to as extinction-induced variability. This variation can include both negative and positive behavior changes.
Response Magnitude:
- There might be an increase in the loudness or intensity of responses before a decrease, complicating the extinction process for caregivers.
Spontaneous Recovery:
- The return of a previously extinguished behavior after a pause or interim cessation of response.
Resurgence:
- The occurrence of past behaviors formerly reinforced when alternative behaviors have been denied reinforcement.

Definition: Refers to the occurrence of behavior during the extinction process. Greater occurrence indicates increased resistance.
Measuring Resistance:
- Methods include the declining rate of responding, total count of responses before cessation, and the duration for the behavior to reach a predetermined criterion.
Intermittent Reinforcement:
- Behaviors maintained on intermittent schedules display greater resistance to extinction due to unpredictability of reinforcement.
Motivating Operations:
- Increased establishing operations lead to heightened resistance to extinction; the stronger the desire for reinforcement, the harder it is to extinguish the behavior.
Learning History:
- Behaviors with lengthy reinforcement histories tend to resist extinction more.

Key Elements for Success:
- All reinforcers maintaining the problem behavior must be consistently withheld.
- Practitioners must clearly identify the function of behavior to apply extinction effectively.
Combining with Other Procedures:
- Combining extinction with positive reinforcement or differential reinforcement strategies can enhance effectiveness and lessen aggressive responses during extinction bursts.
Planning for Procedures:
- Include instructions for those involved, anticipate aggression, and develop consistent action plans for all stakeholders.
Increase Extinction Trials:
- More trials can accelerate the extinction process.
Include Significant Others:
- Ensure consistency in approach across environments and individuals involved, like parents and therapists.
Prevent Unintentional Extinction:
- Reinforcement of appropriate behavior should continue to avoid accidentally extinguishing positive behaviors.

Risky Behaviors:
- Extinction should not be implemented if it poses danger to self or others.
Need for Immediate Response:
- Situations necessitating rapid behavior change or where imitation of behavior is a concern.

Extinction Dynamics:
- Occurs when behaviors previously reinforced are no longer reinforced, though the behavior still occurs without gaining reinforcement.
- Behaviors may worsen before they begin to improve.
Factors Influencing Extinction:
- Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) inform effective extinction procedures; relevant factors include reinforcement type, learning history, and characteristics of the equalizing operations (EO).
- Clinicians should proactively plan for possible aggression resulting from extinction while ensuring reinforcement of appropriate behaviors.