Extinction and Differential Reinforcement in Behavior Analysis

Dr. Nuse

Hi All! Welcome to this week's podcast where we will be exploring extinction and differential reinforcement. I used Chapter 24 and Chapter 25 from Cooper to develop this. Please consider reading your chapters before taking a listen. So, let's go ahead and get started.

Dr. Nuse

Extinction, in behavior analysis, occurs when a behavior that was previously reinforced is no longer followed by that reinforcement. Over time, this lack of reinforcement typically leads to a decrease in the frequency of the behavior. It is important to note that extinction does not actively prevent the behavior from occurring; rather, it simply alters the relationship between the behavior and its consequences by removing that reinforcement contingency.

Dr. Nuse

Now, there are some common misconceptions about the concept of extinction, and I want to make sure we clarify those here. One of the most frequent errors is equating extinction with forgetting. These are distinct processes. Forgetting involves the passage of time in which the individual no longer engages with the behavior, but extinction is deliberately planned by removing the reinforcement that previously maintained the behavior.

Dr. Nuse

A similar confusion arises with sensory extinction. Consider a behavior that is self-reinforcing through sensory input, such as a child tapping their head to hear the sound it produces. Sensory extinction doesn't block the behavior; instead, it disrupts the sensory feedback, perhaps by placing a helmet that muffles the sound. This is distinct from just ignoring the behavior.

Dr. Nuse

Another misuse of the term is conflating it with noncontingent reinforcement. For example, if you systematically provide attention to a student regardless of their behavior, that’s a noncontingent reinforcement strategy, not extinction. Extinction specifically ends the contingency between a behavior and the reinforcement it once produced.

Dr. Nuse

Let’s turn now to the secondary effects of extinction, which are important to anticipate when implementing these procedures. One common phenomenon is the extinction burst. This simply means that the behavior might increase in intensity or frequency immediately after reinforcement is withdrawn. For instance, a child who previously shouted to get attention might shout even louder after that behavior is placed on extinction.

Dr. Nuse

Another effect is spontaneous recovery, where the behavior briefly reappears after it has significantly decreased or seemingly disappeared. For example, even after months of successfully extinguishing a dog’s jumping behavior when guests arrive, you might notice it happen again temporarily. So, it’s critical to maintain the extinction procedure to prevent reinforcement from occurring during these moments.

Dr. Nuse

And finally, we often observe a phenomenon called resurgence. This involves the reappearance of previously reinforced behaviors when an alternative behavior, which had been reinforced, is no longer supported. Say you’ve trained a student to raise their hand instead of calling out in class. If you stop reinforcing the hand-raising behavior, the student might resume calling out as they attempt to regain attention.

Dr. Nuse

Let’s dive into an essential aspect of extinction procedures, which is the resistance to extinction. A key variable here is the history of reinforcement. Behaviors that have been reinforced intermittently tend to exhibit greater resistance when placed on extinction compared to behaviors reinforced continuously. This is because intermittent reinforcement creates a pattern where the behavior persists in the absence of reinforcement for longer periods, as the individual essentially 'waits out' the removal of reinforcement.

Dr. Nuse

Equally influential are the magnitude and quality of the previous reinforcement. For example, if a child received significant attention or a highly preferred item for a behavior, that behavior might exhibit stronger resistance during extinction. Similarly, motivating operations play a role. Higher states of deprivation or need can amplify resistance, as these conditions intensify the value of the reinforcement that’s now withheld.

Dr. Nuse

Now, resistance isn’t the only challenge we see. Extinction procedures frequently evoke secondary effects, one of which is an increase in emotional responses or aggression. For instance, a child whose tantrums are no longer rewarded with avoidance of tasks might initially scream louder or even lash out physically. Although these reactions are temporary, the ethical implications necessitate that we prepare adequately and ensure that such behaviors do not inadvertently produce reinforcement.

Dr. Nuse

This leads us to another critical area—ensuring significant others in the client’s environment, such as parents, teachers, or peers, do not inadvertently provide intermittent reinforcement. For an extinction procedure to succeed, consistency across settings is vital. If one caregiver withholds reinforcement, but another provides it, the behavior is likely to persist or even escalate.

Dr. Nuse

It’s also worth noting that extinction isn’t always an appropriate intervention. There are situations where its use might be ethically or practically unjustifiable. For example, if the behavior poses immediate harm to the individual or others, or if the sources of reinforcement are outside our control—for instance, peer attention in a school setting—extinction could fail or even make the situation worse. In these cases, alternative strategies, like differential reinforcement, should be prioritized.

Dr. Nuse

To wrap up our discussion, let’s delve into one of the most effective alternatives to extinction procedures—differential reinforcement. Differential reinforcement essentially involves reinforcing one set of behaviors while withholding reinforcement for another, and it comes in three primary forms.

Dr. Nuse

First, there’s Differential Reinforcement of Alternative behavior, or DRA. This method strengthens a desirable behavior by reinforcing it while simultaneously placing the problematic behavior on extinction. What’s critical here is identifying alternative behaviors that are practical, already part of the individual’s repertoire, and likely to be reinforced in natural settings. For example, teaching a child to use a communication card instead of engaging in disruptive vocalizations can effectively shift their behavior.

Dr. Nuse

Ensuring the consistency of reinforcement is also pivotal. For instance, if the child’s card request for a break consistently results in escape from a task, this alternative behavior becomes strongly maintained. Reinforcers must not only align with the individual’s motivation but also be consistently delivered each time the alternative behavior occurs—especially during initial implementation phases.

Dr. Nuse

Next, we have Differential Reinforcement of Other behavior, or DRO. DRO focuses on reducing problematic behaviors by delivering reinforcement when the behavior does not occur for a specified interval. For example, in a classroom, if a student refrains from interrupting the teacher for five minutes, they might earn a token toward free play. Gradually extending these intervals ensures sustained progress while minimizing opportunities for reinforcement of inappropriate behaviors.

Dr. Nuse

The third method, Differential Reinforcement of Low rates, or DRL, is slightly different in that it targets behaviors we don’t necessarily want to eliminate entirely but wish to reduce. For example, if a child frequently raises their hand to ask questions, a spaced-responding DRL schedule might reinforce questions asked only after a five-minute gap, encouraging a more manageable rate.

Dr. Nuse

The key with these techniques lies in tailoring reinforcement criteria and schedules to the individual’s behavior and context. Combining differential reinforcement with other behavior-reduction strategies, such as antecedent modifications or noncontingent reinforcement, often leads to greater efficacy while ensuring more sustainable outcomes.

Dr. Nuse

And with that, we reach the conclusion of today’s episode. Thank you for exploring the intricacies of extinction and differential reinforcement with me. These foundational concepts are not only vital in understanding behavior analysis but also in applying it effectively in practical settings. I look forward to joining you next time to dive into more behavioral strategies and insights. Take care, and until then, keep shaping behavior one reinforcement at a time.