rbt D.6 Side Effects of Extinction

By RBThub February 23, 2026

Imagine you are sick. You take medicine. At first, you might feel worse (nausea) before you feel better.

Extinction is the medicine for problem behavior. It works, but it has Side Effects. It often makes the behavior worse (Burst) or makes it reappear later (Recovery). As an RBT, you must expect this, or you will give up too soon.

Executive Summary

This lesson focuses specifically on the Side Effects of Extinction. When you stop reinforcing a behavior, it does not just fade away quietly. It fights back. You will learn about the Extinction Burst (a temporary spike in intensity), Spontaneous Recovery (the return of the behavior), and Emotional Aggression (frustration).

⏱️ Video Timeline

05:05
Extinction Burst
The behavior gets louder, harder, and more intense immediately after extinction begins.
05:23
Spontaneous Recovery
The behavior was gone, but it suddenly reappears for a short time to "check" if reinforcement is available again.
06:31
Emotional Outbursts/Aggression
Frustration leads to new behaviors like crying, hitting, or kicking, even if those weren't the original problem.

🔑 Key Insights

The Burst is Good: It means you identified the correct reinforcer. If the behavior didn't spike, you might be withholding the wrong thing.
Spontaneous Recovery is Normal: It is not a regression. It is just the learner "testing the waters." Do not reinforce it!
Resurgence: If you stop reinforcing the replacement behavior, the old bad behavior might come back (Resurgence).
Safety First: If the burst involves dangerous aggression, you may need a Crisis Plan, not just extinction.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How long does an extinction burst last?
A: It varies. If you hold your ground, it usually passes quickly. If you "give in" during the burst, you just reinforced the louder/harder behavior, making it last forever.
Q: What is the difference between Spontaneous Recovery and Resurgence?
A: Spontaneous Recovery happens randomly over time. Resurgence happens because the new replacement behavior stopped working, so they went back to the old one.

1. The Extinction Graph (Visualized)

You must be able to identify "Burst" and "Recovery" on a graph for the exam.
Frequency of Behavior Time (Sessions) Reinforcement EXTINCTION START BURST! Spontaneous Recovery

2. Emotional Aggression

Warning

Extinction Induced Aggression.
Just like you might kick the vending machine, a client might hit or kick when their reinforcement is stopped. This is why we never use extinction alone. We always pair it with reinforcement for a replacement behavior (DRA) to reduce this frustration.

📝 Knowledge Check

Test your understanding.

Q1: You have been ignoring a student's shouting for 2 weeks, and it stopped. Suddenly, on Tuesday, they shout again. What is this?

Answer: Spontaneous Recovery.
The behavior re-emerged after being extinguished.

Q2: You stop giving candy for crying. The child immediately cries LOUDER and LONGER. What is this?

Answer: Extinction Burst.
The temporary increase in frequency/intensity at the start of extinction.
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Reduction Quiz

Mock Exam

Test your knowledge on Extinction Side Effects.

Start Practice Test

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