Extinction and Differential Reinforcement

Question 1

What is extinction?

Answer 1

• When a behaviour stops occurring because it is no longer reinforced
• We say that the behaviour has undergone extinction or that the behaviour has been extinguished
• Basic principle of behaviour, but can also refer to a procedure that is used to reduce the frequency of a behaviour
• This involves eliminating the consequence that maintains the behaviour of concern

Question 2

What is sensory extinction?

Answer 2

• The putative source of automatic reinforcement is cut off or blocked

Question 3

What are the side effects of extinction?

Answer 3

• The behaviour may increase in frequency, duration, or intensity
• Novel behaviours may occur (response variation)
• Aggression and emotional behaviour may occur

Question 4

What is differential reinforcement

Answer 4

• Generally speaking means ‘reinforcing something else’
• Eliminate the current schedule of reinforcement for problem behaviour
• Differential reinforcement strategies are considered reductive procedures
• Benefit of such procedures is that they are ‘positive’ approaches to behavioural reduction and in some cases can establish more appropriate responses

Question 5

Types of differential reinforcement: Differential reinforcement of alternative behaviour (DRA)

Answer 5

• Procedure in which an appropriate behaviour is reinforced instead of reinforcing the behaviour of concern (which is placed on EXT)

Question 6

How do you implement DRA?

Answer 6

• Choose an alternative behaviour that requires less effort than the behaviour of concern
• Define both the behaviour of concern and alternative behaviour
• Reinforce each instance of the alternative behaviour immediately and consistently (continuous reinforcement schedule)
• After the alternative behaviour begins to occur according to the criterion levels, adjust the schedule to require more behaviour to access reinforcement

Question 7

What are the limitations of DRA?

Answer 7

• If the person doesn’t know how to do the alternative behaviour, you’ll have to teach it
• Often we have to start small and work up to the behaviour we want

Question 8

Pros of DRA

Answer 8

• Is a positive behaviour change approach

- Can teach or strengthen replacement behaviours

Question 9

Cons of DRA

Answer 9

• Is often resource intensive (requires constant observation)
• Requires that replacement behaviours occur before contact with the reinforcer is permitted
• Does not always produce immediate results

Question 10

Types of differential reinforcement: Differential reinforcement of other behaviour (DRO)

Answer 10

• Procedure in which a reinforcer is delivered if the behaviour of concern does not occur at all during a specified time period
• This procedure involves the delivery of a reinforcer contingent on the absence of the behaviour of concern

Question 11

How do you implement DRO

Answer 11

• Set a DRO interval
• This is the period of time that must elapse without the occurrence of a behaviour in order for reinforcement to be delivered
• Use baseline inter-response times (IRT) to decide length of initial DRO interval, set at less than mean baseline IRT
• Deliver the reinforcer for the absence of the behaviour of concern at the end of each interval
• If the behaviour of concern occurs, do not provide reinforcer (EXT) and reset the interval
• Following successful decrease of behaviour to a pre-determined criterion, slowly increase the interval length

Question 12

What are the variations of DRO?

Answer 12

Whole interval:
- Behaviour is absent throughout the entire interval –> deliver reinforcer

Momentary:
- Behaviour is absent when the interval ends –> deliver reinforcer

Question 13

Types of differential reinforcement: Differential reinforcement of low rates of responding (DRL)

Answer 13

• Procedure in which a reinforcer is delivered for a behaviour that occurs at a rate equal to or below a predetermined criterion
• DRL is used to decrease frequency of the occurrence of a behaviour, not to eliminate it all together

Question 14

How do you implement full session DRL?

Answer 14

• Determine session length
• Use baseline data to determine number of responses permitted each session
• Set at mean baseline or slightly lower
• If behaviour occurs at a level equal to or lower than criterion, deliver reinforcer
• If behaviour occurs above criterion level, withhold reinforcement
• Set new criterion based on learner’s performance until target performance has been achieved

Question 15

Types of differential reinforcement: Differential reinforcement of incompatible behaviour (DRI)

Answer 15

• Reinforce a behaviour that cannot occur with the problem behaviour
• Withhold reinforcement for instances of problem behaviour
• The behaviour that gets reinforced and the problem behaviour that is placed on EXT are mutually exclusive response classes of differing topographies that cannot co-occur