Escape Extinction
Definition
Extinction applied to behavior maintained by negative reinforcement: the behavior no longer ends or postpones the demand or situation it used to escape. The demand stays in place and is followed through. It is designed by the supervising analyst, written into the plan with what follow-through means for that learner, and it is not something a technician improvises.
In plain language
When a behavior used to get the person out of something, it stops working: the task stays. The plan says exactly how. Never improvised.
Example
A learner who used to end a puzzle task by pushing it away now finds the puzzle stays until the plan's step is complete.
Not escape extinction
Ignoring a behavior that used to get attention. That is extinction of an attention-maintained behavior, not escape extinction.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- iwata-1982-1994
- lerman-iwata-1996
Written from Iwata et al. (1982/1994) and Lerman and Iwata (1996). No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.