Extinction Procedures

Question 1

Define extinction

Answer 1

Discontinuing the Reinforcer maintaining a behavior, resulting in a decrease of that behavior (due to lack of Reinforcement).

Question 2

Define attention extinction

Answer 2

No longer providing attention following a behavior that was previously followed by attention.

ie
Falling to the floor was previously followed by comforting attention from mom. When falling to the floor is put on extinction, comforting is not provided following instances of falling on the floor.

Question 3

Define escape extinction

Answer 3

No longer providing escape following a behavior that was previously followed by escape.

ie
Swiping materials from the table was previously followed by removal of that task. When sipping is placed on extinction, the task is no longer removed (the task is re-presented after the swiping occurs).

Question 4

Define extinction burst

Answer 4

An increase in the rate of the target behavior, as well as other behavioral topographical serving the same function, following the introduction of extinction procedures. If extinction is presented with fidelity, this is not long term but may be very intense.

ie
When mom no longer provides comforting attention following instances of falling to the floor, Johnny might fall out more, as well as begin crying and screaming paired with it.
Once it is established that these behaviors will also not result in comforting attention, all topographies decrease.

Question 5

Define spontaneous recovery

Answer 5

The reappearance of a behavior previously extinguished and had not been observed to occur over some stretch of time.

ie
After swiping materials has decreased to 0 across a month (for example) the student might engage in swiping when a similar task is presented.