Behavior-Change Procedures
Differential reinforcement with extinction planning
Strengthen alternative behavior while reducing reinforcement for target behavior, with attention to safety, consent, and treatment integrity.
How this shows up in scenario questions
- 1Interpret temporary increases during extinction.
- 2Select reinforcement for alternative communication.
- 3Avoid reinforcing the target behavior during intervention.
Common misconceptions
- Any increase means the plan failed.
- Providing the maintaining reinforcer after target behavior is harmless.
- Punishment should follow immediately when extinction is hard.
Distractor patterns
- Stop the plan immediately.
- Deliver attention for disruption.
- Switch to punishment before integrity review.
Related terms
DRADRIDROextinction burstFCT
Related practice prompts
Choose functional communication based on the maintaining reinforcer.
Assessment suggests a learner throws materials to escape difficult writing tasks. Which replacement response should be prioritized first?
Use differential reinforcement while planning for extinction effects.
A team begins withholding attention after minor attention-maintained disruption while reinforcing appropriate attention requests. Disruption briefly increases during the first sessions. What should the BCBA do?
Identify stimulus control in instructional contexts.
During following a schedule in a elementary classroom, the participant says "help" only when the therapist holds up a help card, but not when the card is absent. What does this pattern most directly show? The plan must be usable by new staff during routine implementation.