6.4 Extinction Procedures and Secondary Effects

Withholding the maintaining reinforcer

Extinction is a behavior reduction procedure in which reinforcement that previously maintained a behavior is withheld. This definition is precise. It does not mean ignore the client, ignore all behavior, or withhold every good thing. If yelling is maintained by attention, extinction may involve not providing attention following yelling while reinforcing appropriate attention requests. If throwing materials is maintained by escape, extinction may involve keeping the task requirement in place while reinforcing functional break requests.

If behavior is maintained by access to a toy, extinction may involve not giving the toy after grabbing while teaching a request.

Because extinction must match function, RBTs do not start it independently. The supervisor determines whether extinction is appropriate, whether it is safe, what reinforcer will be withheld, what replacement behavior will be reinforced, and what to do if behavior escalates. The RBT needs clear instructions before implementation. Vague instructions such as just ignore it are not enough when behavior may involve aggression, self-injury, property destruction, elopement, or intense emotional responding. The RBT should ask for clarification before the session if the protocol is unclear.

An extinction burst is one of the most tested practical concepts because it changes what the RBT sees during implementation. If a behavior used to produce reinforcement and now does not, the behavior may temporarily increase. A client who usually yells for 20 seconds may yell for two minutes. A client who taps the table may hit it harder. This does not automatically mean the plan is failing, but it does mean safety and fidelity must be monitored. The RBT records the increase and follows the plan rather than switching consequences based on discomfort.

Response variation means the client may try different forms of behavior when the old form no longer works. If whining no longer produces access, the client may grab, point, cry, or bring an adult to the item. Some variation may be appropriate and should be reinforced if it matches the replacement response. Other variation may be target behavior or unsafe behavior. The RBT needs definitions, examples, and nonexamples in the plan. If a new topography appears and the plan does not cover it, the RBT documents and escalates rather than making an on-the-spot rule.

Resurgence means a previously reinforced behavior returns when a more recent behavior no longer produces reinforcement. For example, a client who used to hit for escape, then learned to yell for escape, may hit again when yelling no longer works. Resurgence can surprise staff because the behavior may not have occurred for weeks. The RBT should avoid saying the behavior came out of nowhere if there is history. The useful response is to record the topography, antecedent, consequence, intensity, and any injury or property impact, then notify the supervisor according to urgency.

Extinction is rarely the whole plan. Ethical and effective behavior reduction usually includes reinforcement for replacement behavior, antecedent supports, skill teaching, and caregiver or staff consistency. If the client is losing access to an old response but has no effective new response, escalation is more likely. For this reason, the RBT should be especially precise with FCT or DRA steps paired with extinction. The client should experience that appropriate behavior works better, faster, or more reliably than target behavior.

Extinction fidelity checklist:

• Identify the maintaining reinforcer to be withheld and the exact target behavior.
• Identify the replacement behavior that will contact reinforcement.
• Confirm safety limits, blocking procedures if trained, and emergency criteria before starting.
• Know whether planned ignoring, escape extinction, tangible extinction, or another function-matched procedure is being used.
• Prepare data collection for frequency, duration, intensity, latency, replacement behavior, and secondary effects.
• Coordinate with other adults so they do not accidentally provide the withheld reinforcer.
• Contact the supervisor immediately if behavior exceeds the plan's criteria, changes topography, or creates safety risk.

Scenario: a child screams when the caregiver talks to another adult. The plan says staff should not provide attention following screaming, should continue the conversation briefly if safe, and should immediately reinforce the child tapping an attention card or saying excuse me. During implementation, screaming increases from three episodes to seven and includes stomping. The RBT records the burst and response variation, reinforces the attention card when it occurs, and tells the supervisor after the session or sooner if the plan's escalation criteria are met.

The RBT does not scold, threaten, or abandon the procedure because the first day is loud.

Scenario: a teen leaves the table when math starts. The plan includes escape extinction only in a setting with trained staff, clear safety procedures, short demands, and reinforcement for requesting help or a break. If the teen moves toward an unsafe area, the crisis or safety protocol may override the instructional procedure. The RBT should not physically block or guide unless trained, authorized, and directed by the written plan and workplace requirements. When safety and extinction conflict, the RBT follows the safety protocol and contacts the supervisor.