6.4 Extinction Procedures and Extinction Bursts

Extinction Procedures and Extinction Bursts

In Applied Behavior Analysis, Extinction (Ext) is a fundamental principle of operant conditioning used to reduce challenging behaviors. Extinction is defined as a technical procedure in which reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior is systematically withheld or discontinued, resulting in a decrease in the future frequency, intensity, or duration of that behavior over time. Although conceptually straightforward, extinction is one of the most clinically challenging interventions to execute correctly. For an Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT), implementing extinction requires precise knowledge of function-based variations, predictable side effects (such as extinction bursts and spontaneous recovery), and strict adherence to ethical safety rules.

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Function-Based Variations of Extinction

Extinction is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. It is not synonymous with "ignoring." Ignoring a behavior is only extinction if the maintaining function of that behavior is social attention. If extinction is applied incorrectly without matching the underlying function, it will fail to reduce the behavior and may cause severe behavioral side effects.

1. Attention Extinction (Planned Ignoring)

• Maintaining Function: Social Positive Reinforcement (Attention).
• Procedure: All social feedback—including eye contact, verbal reprimands, physical comfort, or facial expressions—is completely withheld contingent upon the target behavior.
• Clinical Example: A child drops to the floor and screams during group instruction to get the technician to look at him. The technician maintains neutral posture, turns head away, avoids eye contact, and continues teaching peers. (Once screaming ceases and appropriate hand-raising occurs, high-quality attention is delivered immediately via DRA).

2. Escape Extinction (Non-Removal of Demand / Guided Compliance)

• Maintaining Function: Social Negative Reinforcement (Escape/Avoidance).
• Procedure: The client is not permitted to escape or avoid an academic, self-care, or vocational demand contingent on target behavior. Prompts and demands continue until compliance is achieved.
• Clinical Example: When presented with a spoon during mealtime instruction, a child swats the spoon away. Under escape extinction, the technician uses hand-over-hand physical guidance to complete the bite loading, ensuring swatting does not result in avoiding the meal.

3. Tangible Extinction

• Maintaining Function: Access to Tangibles/Activities.
• Procedure: Access to preferred items, toys, activities, or food is denied contingent upon target behavior.
• Clinical Example: A client tantrums at a toy store counter. The parent remains calm and does not purchase or hand over the desired toy, regardless of tantrum length.

4. Sensory / Automatic Extinction (Response Blocking / Attenuation)

• Maintaining Function: Automatic/Sensory Reinforcement.
• Procedure: The physical sensory feedback produced by the behavior is blocked, altered, or masked so that the behavior no longer yields internal gratification.
• Clinical Example: A client engages in repetitive hand-scratching on wooden tables because of the auditory vibration. Placing a soft felt pad over the table masks the auditory feedback (sensory attenuation), extinguishing the sensory reinforcer.

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Side Effects and Behavioral Phenomena Associated with Extinction

When an extinction procedure is initiated, the target behavior rarely disappears immediately. Instead, predictable behavioral phenomena occur that technicians must anticipate and navigate expertly.

Baseline Rate  --->  [Extinction Initiated]  --->  EXTINCTION BURST (Spike in Rate/Intensity)  --->  Gradual Behavior Decline  --->  Spontaneous Recovery (Temporary Reappearance)  --->  Zero/Low Rate

1. The Extinction Burst

An extinction burst is an immediate, temporary increase in the frequency, intensity, duration, or topographical variability of the target behavior upon the removal of reinforcement.

• Why It Occurs: When a previously successful behavior suddenly stops producing reinforcement, the organism attempts "harder" or varies the response to access the reinforcer (e.g., pressing an unresponsive elevator button multiple times aggressively).
• Clinical Rule: An extinction burst is evidence that the correct maintaining function was identified and that extinction is active. Technicians must NOT give in during a burst. Accidental reinforcement during an extinction burst will inadvertently reinforce higher intensities of problem behavior!

2. Extinction-Induced Aggression & Emotional Responding

Frustration responses—such as crying, yelling, stamping feet, or physical aggression toward nearest objects or people—frequently accompany extinction bursts. Technicians must maintain physical safety while continuing the extinction protocol.

3. Spontaneous Recovery

Spontaneous recovery is the sudden, temporary reappearance of a previously extinguished behavior after a period of time has elapsed without the behavior occurring.

• Key Distinction: Spontaneous recovery occurs without reinforcer reintroduction. If technicians remain firm and withhold reinforcement during spontaneous recovery, the temporary wave quickly subsides and behavior remains extinguished.

4. Resurgence

Resurgence occurs when a recently established replacement behavior is placed on extinction or experiences a reduction in reinforcement, causing a previously extinguished challenging behavior to re-emerge.

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Contraindications: When NOT to Use Extinction

Ethical guidelines (including QABA standards) strictly dictate conditions under which extinction is contraindicated:

1. Severe, High-Risk Behaviors: Extinction should never be used for severe self-injurious behavior (SIB) (e.g., eye-gouge, violent head-banging on concrete) or severe aggression that poses immediate danger to life and safety, because ignoring or allowing the behavior to burst creates unacceptable harm.
2. Inability to Guarantee 100% Integrity: If caregivers or school staff cannot consistently withhold reinforcement (e.g., a parent who eventually gives in after 45 minutes of screaming), extinction must not be used. Intermittent reinforcement caused by inconsistent extinction makes behavior exceptionally resistant to change.
3. Imitation Risk: In group classroom settings, an extinction burst featuring high-magnitude disruption may be imitated by vulnerable peers.

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Ethical Rule: Combine Extinction with Differential Reinforcement

Extinction should NEVER be implemented as a standalone procedure. Ethically and clinically, extinction must always be combined with positive reinforcement procedures (such as DRA or FCT) to teach and strengthen appropriate replacement behaviors.