The use of extinction procedures or the discontinuation of reinforcement following a behavior targeted for reduction is often used to enhance the efficacy of behavioral interventions. Unfortunately, the application of extinction procedures is associated with several side effects that can produce potentially harmful and counterproductive outcomes. This article defines and describes extinction in practical terms for teachers and outlines recommendations for its use in educational settings.
AlbertoP. A.TroutmanA. C. (2013). Applied behavior analysis for teachers. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill/Pearson.
2.
AlterP.BrownE. T.PyleJ. (2011). A strategy-based intervention to improve math word problem-solving skills of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Education and Treatment of Children, 34, 535–550.
3.
AzrinN.HutchinsonR. R.HakeD. (1966). Extinction-induced aggression1. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 9, 191–204.
4.
CarrJ. E.CoriatyS.WilderD. A.GauntB. T.DozierC. L.BrittonL. N. . . . ReedC. L. (2000). A review of “noncontingent” reinforcement as treatment for the aberrant behavior of individuals with developmental disabilities. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 21, 377–391.
5.
CooperJ. O.HeronT. E.HewardW. L. (2007). Applied behavior analysis (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.
6.
FersterC. B.SkinnerB. F. (1957). Schedules of reinforcement. New York, NY: Appleton-Century-Crofts.
7.
HagopianL. P.FisherW. W.SullivanM. T.AcquistoJ.LeBlancL. A. (1998). Effectiveness of functional communication training with and without extinction and punishment: A summary of 21 inpatient cases. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 31, 211–235.
8.
IwataB. A.PaceG. M.CowderyG. E.MiltenbergerR. G. (1994). What makes extinction work: An analysis of procedural form and function. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 27, 131–144.
9.
JanneyD. M.UmbreitJ.FerroJ. B.LiaupsinC. J.LaneK. L. (2013). The effect of the extinction procedure in function-based intervention. Journal of Positive Behavior Interventions, 15, 113–123.
10.
LattalK. A.St.PeterC.EscobarR. (2013). Operant extinction: Elimination and generation of behavior. In MaddenG. J. (Ed.), APA handbook of behavior analysis (Vol. 2, pp. 77–107). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
11.
LeeR.SturmeyP.FieldsL. (2010). Schedule-induced and operant mechanisms that influence response variability: A review and implications for future investigations. Psychological Record, 57, Article 7.
12.
LermanD. C.IwataB. A. (1995). Prevalence of the extinction burst and its attenuation during treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 93–94.
13.
LermanD. C.IwataB. A. (1996). Developing a technology for the use of operant extinction in clinical settings: An examination of basic and applied research. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 345–382.
14.
LermanD. C.IwataB. A.ShoreB. A.KahngS. (1996). Responding maintained by intermittent reinforcement: Implications for the use of extinction with problem behavior in clinical settings. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 153–171.
15.
LermanD. C.IwataB. A.WallaceM. D. (1999). Side effects of extinction: Prevalence of bursting and aggression during the treatment of self-injurious behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 1–8.
16.
LermanD. C.KelleyM. E.CampC. M. V.RoaneH. S. (1999). Effects of reinforcement magnitude on spontaneous recovery. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 32, 197–200.
17.
MazaleskiJ. L.IwataB. A.VollmerT. R.ZarconeJ. R.SmithR. G. (1993). Analysis of the reinforcement and extinction components in DRO contingencies with self-injury. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 26, 143–156.
18.
PatelM. R.PiazzaC. C.MartinezC. J.VolkertV. M.ChristineM. S. (2002). An evaluation of two differential reinforcement procedures with escape extinction to treat food refusal. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 35, 363–374.
19.
PenningtonR.StrangeC.StenhoffD.DelanoM.FergusonL. (2012). Leave the running shoes at home: Addressing elopement in the classroom. Beyond Behavior, 21, 3–7.
20.
PiazzaC. C.MoesD. R.FisherW. W. (1996). Differential reinforcement of alternative behavior and demand fading in the treatment of escape-maintained destructive behavior. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 29, 569–572.
21.
RodriguezN. M.ThompsonR. H. (2015). Behavioral variability and autism spectrum disorder. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 48, 167–187.
22.
ScottT. M.KampsD. M. (2007). The future of functional behavioral assessment in school settings. Behavioral Disorders, 32, 146–157.
23.
SkinnerB. F. (1938). The behavior of organisms: An experimental analysis. New York, NY: Appleton-Century.
24.
TigerJ. H.HanleyG. P.BruzekJ. (2008). Functional communication training: A review and practical guide. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1, 16–23.
25.
WoleryM.BaileyD. B.SugaiG. M. (1988). Effective teaching: Principles and procedures of applied behavior analysis with exceptional students. Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon.
