Staats Chapter 47: The Elimination of Tantrum Behavior by Extinction Behaviors Flashcards
Overview
Article discusses the successful treatment of “tyrant-like tantrum behavior” a male child by the removal of reinforcement (extinction)
Subject was 21 months old
When he was 18 months, he was ill, and now demanded special care and attention that had previously been given to him
He would cry and scream when parents left after putting to bed so they would stay for hours until he fell asleep
Method
Caregiver put S to bed and then shut door
First time S cried and screamed for 45 minutes
Second time, did not cry (possibly was tired from the first episode of crying)
By the 10th time, S no longer cried, and smiled when parents left his room during bedtime
Spontaneous recovery was observed one week later – behavior was reinforced by aunt who remained in bedroom – second extinction now needed
The second extinction was similar to the first – by the ninth night, no crying
No further tantrums reported during the next two years
All that was done was the removal of reinforcement – – no aversive punishment of any kind
