EXTINCTION: What is it?

Extinction is one of many basic behavioral principals of applied behavior analysis that may be used to reduce or eliminate an unwanted behavior. Extinction reduces behavior by abruptly withdrawing or terminating the positive reinforcer that maintains an inappropriate target behavior. This abrupt withdrawal results in the stopping or extinction of behavior.

Extinction procedures have been used to decrease the occurrence of a variety of problem behaviors, including disruptive behavior, tantrums, swearing, whining, and aggressive, self-injurious behavior.

Extinction is most often used in conjunction with reinforcing other more appropriate behaviors. Combining procedures this way appears to speed extinction. When attention is given to appropriate or desired behavior, the individual learns that the teacher or parent's attention is still available, but selectively available. It is not the individual being ignored, but the behavior.