Decreasing a Behavior with Extinction

Chapter 5

Extinction

• When a response (previously reinforced) not followed by reinforcement, person is less likely to engage in behavior again

Extinction

Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Extinction

1. Controlling reinforcers for the behavior that is to be decreased

– Reinforcers from others or from environment can undo extinction

– Make sure that the reinforcers you are withholding are actually the ones maintaining the behavior

2. Extinction combined with positive reinforcement for an alternate behavior

– Extinction most effective when alternate behavior is reinforced

3. Setting in which extinction is carried out– Minimize the influence of alternative reinforcers on

the undesirable behavior (from others in the old setting)

– Maximize the chances of the behavior modifier persisting with the program

Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Extinction

4. Instructions: Make use of rules– May speed up behavior change

5. Extinction may be quicker after continuous reinforcement– When behavior was constantly reinforced, quick to extinction– Intermittent reinforcement may lead to slower extinction– Behaviors slow to extinguish are said to be slow to extinction

6. Behavior being extinguished might get worse before it gets better

– Extinction burst – increase in responding during extinction– In situations where extinction burst may be harmful, need to

take preventative measures or extinction should not be used7. Extinction may produce aggression

– Aggression lower in programs that reinforce alternative behaviors

8. Extinguished behavior may reappear after a delay– Spontaneous recovery – reappearance of an extinguished

response– Typically less behavior reappears than was originally present

Pitfalls

• Extinction program might be undone by other, less knowledgeable people

Pitfalls of Extinction

Guidelines for Effective Application of Extinction

• Select behavior to be decreased– Be specific– Select proper location (behavior might get worse before

getting better)– Select behavior for which you can control the reinforcers

maintaining it• Preliminary considerations

– Keep track of how often behavior occurs before extinction

– Identify current reinforcers– Identify desirable alternate behavior– Identify effective reinforcers for the desirable alternate

behavior– Select setting in which extinction will work best– Let all relevant individuals know what is going on (what

is being extinguished and what is being reinforced)

Guidelines for Effective Application of Extinction

• Implementing the Plan– Tell the individual about the plan before

starting– Use rules of reinforcement if rewarding

alternate behavior– Be consistent

• Weaning from the program– Be prepared for occasional relapses– Three possible reasons for failure:

1. Attention withholding is not the reinforcer2. Undesirable behavior is receiving intermittent

reinforcement from another source3. The desired alternative behavior has not been

strengthened sufficiently