Extinction
Also called: EXT, extinction burst, planned ignoring
Definition
Discontinuing the reinforcement that has maintained a response, with the result that the response decreases over time. The procedure is specific to the maintaining consequence, so extinction for attention-maintained behavior differs from extinction for escape-maintained behavior. A temporary increase in rate, intensity, or variability at the start is common.
In plain language
A behavior stops working, so over time the person does it less. What you withhold depends on what was keeping the behavior going. The behavior often gets worse before it gets better.
Examples
An elevator button that no longer lights up. A person presses it several more times, presses harder, then stops using it.
The consequence that maintained pressing is gone, including the burst.
A written plan directs staff not to end a task when a learner whines, because the task ending is what has maintained whining.
Not extinction
Ignoring a behavior that is maintained by escape from work. Ignoring does not withhold escape, so this is not extinction for that function.
Extinction must target the actual maintaining consequence.
Withholding reinforcement for a behavior nobody has assessed. Without knowing the function you cannot know what to withhold.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- iwata-1982-1994 — Function-specific treatment
Written from the functional-analysis literature, primarily Iwata et al., which establishes that treatment must match function. No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.