Compare And Contrast Extinction For Behavior Maintained ✓ Solved

Compare and contrast extinction for behavior maintained

1. Compare and contrast extinction for behavior maintained by positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and automatic reinforcement. How are they the same in principle? How would they operate differently procedurally?

2. How would you explain the differences between the following terms? Extinction, Forgetting, Response Blocking, Noncontingent Reinforcement.

3. Describe and give an example of the following: Extinction Burst, Spontaneous Recovery, Resurgence, Relapse.

1. Fill in this Prompting Flow Chart: Prompting R_____________ Prompts S_____________ Prompts V___________ I_______________ P___________ G_______________ M___________ Transferring Stimulus Control from Response Prompts to Naturally Existing Stimuli Stimulus S______________ M_______ to L_________ L_______ to M_________ G_______ G_________ T_______ D_________ S_______ F_________ S_______ S_________ T___________.

2. Give a definition and an example for each of the following: A. Preattending Skills B. Stimulus Salience C. Masking D. Overshadowing.

3. Write or draw out your own stimulus shape transformation prompt procedure (see Figures 17.7 and 17.8 for inspiration). Your example should have a minimum of 5 prompt steps.

Paper For Above Instructions

Extinction refers to the process through which a previously reinforced behavior is weakened or eliminated by stopping the reinforcement. In the realm of behavior analysis, extinction can occur under three primary categories of reinforcement: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and automatic reinforcement. Each type, while fundamentally similar in that they all involve the cessation of reinforcement, presents unique procedural variations that are significant for practical application.

Comparing Extinction Across Reinforcement Types

In principle, extinction applies uniformly across the three forms of reinforcement. Each type contemplates the progressive decline of a behavior due to the withholding of the reinforcement that previously maintained it. For instance, a child who stops receiving praise for completing chores (positive reinforcement) will eventually stop doing them. Similarly, if a child no longer experiences the removal of an aversive stimulus when they throw a tantrum (negative reinforcement), they may learn to cease that behavior over time.

However, the procedural intricacies differ significantly across these modalities. For positive reinforcement, extinction necessitates identifying the specific reinforcer (e.g., praise or rewards) and systematically withholding it. Conversely, in negative reinforcement, the focus shifts to eliminating the escape from aversive stimuli, effectively requiring the individual to tolerate the aversive circumstances without engaging in the problem behavior. Automatic reinforcement, which refers to behaviors that are intrinsically reinforcing (either positively or negatively), presents a unique challenge as it can be hard to identify the exact nature of the reinforcement that must be addressed.

Differences Between Related Terms

When discussing extinction, it is essential to distinguish it from related concepts such as forgetting, response blocking, and noncontingent reinforcement. Forgetting refers to the loss of learned behavior over time without reinforcement. Unlike extinction, which is an active process wherein the reinforcement stops, forgetting leads to a natural decay of behavior. Response blocking, on the other hand, prevents the individual from engaging in the behavior, effectively safeguarding against reinforcement without the behavior needing to diminish through extinction.

Noncontingent reinforcement differs in that reinforcement is delivered regardless of the behavior exhibited, making it less likely for the behavior to undergo extinction since it lacks the direct relationship that typically fuels behavioral repetition. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for practitioners when choosing appropriate intervention strategies.

Examples of Extinction Phenomena

Extinction may lead to various phenomena, including extinction bursts, spontaneous recovery, resurgence, and relapse. An extinction burst refers to an initial increase in the frequency or intensity of a behavior as reinforcement is withheld; for example, if a child throws a tantrum for attention, their behavior may escalate before it declines. Spontaneous recovery occurs when a previously extinguished behavior re-emerges after some time without reinforcement.

Resurgence is notable when an individual returns to previously reinforced behaviors once a new behavior (that may not be receiving reinforcement) is ignored. Relapse encompasses the reoccurrence of problematic behavior due to various triggers or contexts, demonstrating that extinction is not permanent and requires continuous management. These phenomena underline the importance of closely monitoring behaviors and applying mitigating strategies during intervention phases.

Prompting and Behavior Transfer

In clinical practice, utilizing effective prompting procedures is critical to maintaining behavioral changes. A flow chart depicting the prompting process may include steps such as identifying the relevant Response prompts, Stimuli prompts, Verbal prompts, and other necessary components of a successful transformation methodology. The transfer of stimulus control from prompted behavior to naturally occurring stimuli is fundamental in ensuring that individuals can generalize their skills beyond the structured environment.

Defining Key Concepts

Preattending skills refer to the ability to engage with relevant stimuli before actively participating in a task. Stimulus salience involves the prominence or intensity of a stimulus, affecting its likelihood of eliciting a response. Masking and overshadowing relate to situations where the presence of a more salient stimulus either conceals or inhibits the recognition of a less prominent stimulus, influencing learning and behavior outcomes. For instance, a loud noise may mask a quiet sound, preventing the recognition of the quieter stimulus even if it serves as a signal for a specific behavior.

Conclusion

In summary, extinction is a multifaceted process influenced by the type of reinforcement maintaining a behavior. By understanding how distinct forms of reinforcement interact differently with extinction procedures, practitioners can implement more effective behavioral interventions. Additionally, distinguishing extinction from related concepts and anticipating associated phenomena can enhance treatment outcomes and ensure sustainable behavioral change.

References

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