ABA glossary
Extinction
Definition
No longer delivering the reinforcer that has maintained a behavior, so the behavior decreases over time. To work, the procedure must withhold the specific reinforcer identified by the behavior's function.
In plain words
Extinction stops the payoff. If whining has been getting attention, attention no longer follows whining; if screaming has been ending tasks, the task continues. Extinction is defined by the reinforcer it withholds, not by what it looks like: ignoring a behavior is extinction only if attention was the reinforcer. Behavior usually does not drop right away. It often gets worse first (an extinction burst), may change form, and can briefly come back later (spontaneous recovery), so extinction has to be applied consistently by everyone, every time.
Example from a session
Ava's FBA showed that her screaming for the tablet was maintained by getting the tablet. The plan says the RBT keeps the tablet put away when Ava screams and gives it only when she uses her "tablet please" card. On day one, Ava screams longer than usual; the RBT stays calm, keeps everyone safe, follows the plan, and records the duration. Over the following sessions, screaming decreases while card use increases.
For BCBA candidates and supervisors
Analysts match the procedure to function: attention extinction (planned ignoring) for attention-maintained behavior, escape extinction for escape-maintained behavior, sensory extinction for automatically maintained behavior, and withholding access for tangible-maintained behavior. Extinction alone is rarely the best plan; pairing it with reinforcement for a replacement behavior and antecedent strategies reduces bursts and aggression. Analysts check that the reinforcer can actually be controlled in every setting, plan for safety when bursts are likely, train caregivers, and plan for spontaneous recovery and resurgence. Behaviors too dangerous to tolerate through a burst need a different plan.
Often confused with punishment, planned ignoring
Extinction withholds the reinforcer that maintained the behavior; punishment adds or removes something else after the behavior. Both can reduce behavior, but extinction does not deliver any new consequence. Planned ignoring is extinction only when attention is the maintaining reinforcer; ignoring escape-maintained behavior while the task is removed is not extinction at all.
Exam tip
Ask what the behavior gets the person. The correct extinction procedure withholds exactly that. If a stem says the team "ignored" escape-maintained behavior and it did not decrease, the problem is a mismatch between procedure and function.
Can you spot extinction in a scenario?
Practice RBT D.3 with exam-style questions and instant feedback.