Extinction

Extinction

• Occurs when reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior is discontinued
• Causes a decrease in the occurrence of that behavior in the future
• Doesn't prevent the target behavior from occurring
• Terminates the response-reinforcer relation

Procedural and Functional Forms of Extinction

• The form of extinction should match the function of the problem behavior for effective intervention

Misuses of a Technical Term

• Should be used specifically to identify:
  • Withholding the reinforcer for a previously reinforced behavior
  • A decreasing response rate under an extinction procedure
  • The functional relation between withholding reinforcement and the diminishing rate of response
• Incorrectly used when referring to any decrease in behavior
• Mistaken for forgetting, response blocking, sensory extinction, or noncontingent reinforcement

Extinction Semantics

• "We used extinction to treat Yoshiaki's inappropriate call-outs"
  • Correct if the procedure withheld previous sources of reinforcement
  • Incorrect if it withheld presumed sources without experimental analysis
• "Yoshiaki's call-outs are undergoing extinction"
  • Correct if describing a decreasing rate of response during a treatment condition
  • Incorrect if describing a decreasing rate in a condition where presumed sources of reinforcement are withheld
• "Extinction decreased Yoshiaki's call-outs"
  • Correct only if experimental analysis demonstrated a functional relation between the extinction procedure and the decreased occurrence of the behavior
• "Audrey's second-language skills have extinguished"
  • Correct only if attempts to speak Italian produced no reinforcement since class
  • Confused with forgetting if her Italian weakened due to lack of opportunity to speak it
• "I recommend escape extinction"
  • This correctly identifies the function-based form of extinction and describes implementation
• "We have been extinguishing Jeremy's eye rubbing by blocking hand movements"
  • Probably confuses response blocking with extinction
  • An extinction procedure would allow the eye rubbing but with no reinforcing stimulation

Extinction of Behavior Maintained by Positive Reinforcement

• Behaviors are placed on extinction when they no longer produce the reinforcer

Extinction of Behavior Maintained by Negative Reinforcement

• Behaviors are placed on extinction when they do not produce a removal of the aversive stimulus
• Known as escape extinction

Extinction of Behavior Maintained by Automatic Reinforcement

• Behaviors are placed on extinction by masking or removing the sensory consequence
• Known as sensory extinction

Secondary Effects of Extinction

• Extinction Burst
  • Immediate increase in the rate of response after removing positive, negative, or automatic reinforcement
  • Common effect where problem behaviors can worsen before improving
• Response Variation
  • Diverse and novel forms of behavior are sometimes observed
  • Called extinction-induced variability
• Initial Increase in Response Magnitude
  • An increase in response magnitude may occur during the early stages
• Spontaneous Recovery
  • Reappearance of the behavior after it has diminished to its pre-reinforcement level or stopped entirely
  • Short-lived and limited if maintained in effect
  • Behavior recurs even though it doesn't produce reinforcement
• Resurgence
  • Reoccurrence of a previously reinforced behavior when reinforcement for an alternative behavior is terminated or decreased
  • A target behavior is reinforced, placed on extinction, and reinforcement is provided for an alternative behavior
  • Then both responses are placed on extinction
• Emotional Outbursts and Aggression
  • May evoke other emotional or aggressive behaviors

Variables Affecting Resistance to Extinction

• Resistance to Extinction
  • Continued responding during an extinction procedure
  • Measures include declining rate of response, total count of responses until responding ceases, and duration for the behavior to reach a predetermined criterion
• Continuous and Intermittent Reinforcement
  • Intermittent reinforcement may lead to greater resistance to extinction
  • Thinner schedules of reinforcement result in greater resistance
• Motivating Operations
  • Strength of the establishing operation influences resistance
  • Resistance is greater when extinction is carried out under high motivation
• Number, Magnitude, and Quality of Reinforcement
  • A behavior with a long history of reinforcement may be more resistant than one with a shorter history
  • The magnitude and quality of a reinforcer influence resistance
• Number of Previous Extinction Trials
  • Successive applications of conditioning and extinction influence resistance
  • Reapply the extinction procedure, when this happens
  • Successive applications decrease behavior more rapidly
• Response Effort
  • Responses requiring greater effort diminish more quickly

Using Extinction Effectively

• Withhold all Reinforcers
  • Effectiveness relies on correctly identifying consequences
  • Behaviors maintained by multiple sources of reinforcement
• Hold Reinforcement Consistently
  • Consistency is essential
  • Intermittent schedules of reinforcement make the behavior more resistant
• Combine with other Procedures
  • Combine with other treatments
  • Reinforce alternative behaviors
  • Use differential reinforcement and antecedent procedures
  • May reduce extinction bursts and aggression
• Use Instructions
  • Behaviors diminish more quickly during extinction with instructions
• Plan for Extinction-Produced Aggression
  • Infrequent behaviors may become prominent
  • Extinction-produced aggression must not produce reinforcement
• Increase Number of Extinction Trials
  • Improves efficiency and accelerates the process
  • Useful when increased occurrences can be tolerated
• Include Significants Others
  • Maximally effective when others don't reinforce undesirable behavior
• Maintain Extinction-Decreased Behavior
  • Permanent application is preferred
  • Includes escape, attention, and sensory extinction
• Guard Against Unintentional Extinction
  • Desirable behaviors may be unintentionally placed on extinction
  • Behaviors must continue to be reinforced to be maintained

When Not to Use Extinction

• If the behavior is harmful
• If all sources of reinforcement cannot be withheld
• If a rapid reduction in response rate is required
• If others are likely to imitate the problem behavior