rbt D.4 Extinction

By RBThub February 23, 2026

Imagine putting money in a vending machine. You press the button, but no soda comes out.

What do you do? You press it again. Harder. You shake the machine. You yell at it. Eventually, you give up and walk away.

This is Extinction. The behavior (pressing the button) used to work, but now it doesn't. And just like you yelled at the machine, your client's behavior will get worse before it goes away.

Executive Summary

This video clarifies that Extinction is NOT "ignoring." It is withholding the reinforcer that was maintaining the behavior. You will learn about the Extinction Burst (the temporary spike in behavior) and Spontaneous Recovery (the random return of the behavior later on).

⏱️ Video Timeline

00:37
What is Extinction?
Discontinuing reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior. It is NOT punishment.
01:59
It's Not Always Ignoring
If the function is Attention, yes, ignore. But if the function is Tangible, you just withhold the item. If the function is Escape, you block the escape.
05:05
Extinction Burst
A predictable, temporary increase in frequency or intensity immediately after extinction starts. This is a good sign! It means you found the right reinforcer.
05:23
Spontaneous Recovery
The behavior is gone for weeks, and suddenly pops up again to "test the waters." Do not reinforce it!

🔑 Key Insights

Function-Based: You cannot use extinction unless you know the function. Ignoring escape behavior effectively reinforces it!
Consistency: Extinction fails if you give in even once. Intermittent reinforcement makes behavior stronger (harder to extinguish).
The Burst: Warn the parents! "It will get worse before it gets better."
Not Punishment: Punishment adds something bad. Extinction just stops the good thing from happening.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if the behavior is dangerous?
A: Do NOT use Extinction alone. You cannot ignore head-banging. You must use punishment or blocking to ensure safety while teaching a replacement behavior.
Q: Why did the behavior come back?
A: Spontaneous Recovery. It's normal. Just stay consistent, and it will go away faster this time.

1. The Extinction Curve

This graph shows the classic pattern. First, the behavior spikes (Burst). Then it drops to zero. Later, it randomly pops up again (Spontaneous Recovery).
Frequency of Behavior Time (Sessions) Reinforcement EXTINCTION START BURST! Spontaneous Recovery

2. Extinction by Function

Attention Extinction:
Planned Ignoring. No eye contact, no talking.
Tangible Extinction:
Withholding the item. They can scream, but they don't get the iPad.
Escape Extinction:
Follow through. They must complete the task even if they cry. (Also called "Escape Prevention").
Sensory Extinction:
Masking the sensation. (e.g., Putting a helmet on a head-banger so the impact doesn't feel good).
Safety First

Sensory Extinction is rare because it is hard to block internal feelings. Always consult a BCBA before trying to block stimming.

📝 Knowledge Check

Don't be fooled.

Q1: You put a behavior on extinction. It immediately gets much worse. Did you fail?

Answer: No!
This is the Extinction Burst. It means it's working. Keep going!

Q2: A child screams to get out of homework. You put them in time-out. Is this extinction?

Answer: NO.
If the function is Escape, sending them to time-out gives them exactly what they want (Escape). You just Reinforced the behavior. Extinction would be making them finish the work.
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Reduction Quiz

Mock Exam

Test your knowledge on Extinction Bursts and Recovery.

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