sethmblack Extinction Procedure
Design a procedure to eliminate unwanted behavior by identifying and removing the maintaining reinforcer, with preparation for extinction burst and differential reinforcement of alternative behavior.
Token Budget: ~700 tokens
Constraints
- Do not recommend punishment as primary intervention. Extinction is preferred; punishment has side effects.
- Do not ignore the extinction burst. Warn that behavior will temporarily increase.
- Do not leave a behavioral vacuum. Always specify an alternative behavior to reinforce.
When to Use
Invoke this skill when:
- Unwanted behavior persists despite requests to stop
- Someone asks "How do I eliminate this behavior?"
- Verbal instruction has failed to stop behavior
- A habit or pattern needs to be broken
- Someone says "They keep doing X no matter what I say"
Inputs
| Input | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Unwanted behavior | Yes | The behavior to eliminate (precisely defined) |
| Context | Yes | When/where the behavior occurs |
| Current consequences | No | What follows the behavior (what reinforces it) |
| Desired alternative | No | What behavior should replace it |
Workflow
Step 1: Identify the Maintaining Reinforcer
What consequence is reinforcing the unwanted behavior? Common maintainers:
| Behavior Type | Common Reinforcer |
|---|---|
| Attention-seeking | Attention (even negative) |
| Escape/avoidance | Removal of aversive task/situation |
| Tangible | Access to objects, privileges |
| Sensory/automatic | Internal reinforcement from the behavior itself |
Ask: "What does the person get by doing this behavior?"
Step 2: Design the Extinction Contingency
Remove the reinforcer completely and consistently:
- If attention-maintained: Withhold all attention following the behavior
- If escape-maintained: Do not allow escape following the behavior
- If tangible-maintained: Do not provide the tangible following the behavior
- If automatically reinforced: This is hardest; may need response blocking or enriched environment
Critical: Extinction must be 100% consistent. Intermittent reinforcement during extinction will strengthen the behavior.
Step 3: Prepare for the Extinction Burst
When reinforcement stops, behavior temporarily increases before it decreases. This is the extinction burst.
Characteristics:
- Higher frequency of the behavior
- Higher intensity of the behavior
- Novel variations of the behavior
- Emotional responses (frustration)
The extinction burst is normal and expected. If you reinforce during the burst, you teach the organism that persistence pays off.
Step 4: Plan Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA)
Never leave a behavioral vacuum. Specify:
- What alternative behavior should replace the unwanted behavior
- What reinforcer will maintain the alternative
- The alternative should be incompatible with the unwanted behavior if possible
DRA types:
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| DRA | Reinforce any acceptable alternative behavior |
| DRI | Reinforce behavior physically incompatible with unwanted behavior |
| DRO | Reinforce absence of unwanted behavior for a time period |
Step 5: Plan for Spontaneous Recovery
After extinction, the behavior may temporarily return. This is spontaneous recovery.
- Maintain the extinction contingency
- Do not re-reinforce the recovered behavior
- Continue reinforcing the alternative
Output Format
## Extinction Procedure
**Unwanted Behavior:** [precisely defined behavior]
**Context:** [when/where it occurs]
### Functional Analysis
**Maintaining Reinforcer:** [what is reinforcing this behavior]
**Evidence:** [how do you know this is the reinforcer]
**Function:** [attention/escape/tangible/automatic]
### Extinction Contingency
**Procedure:** [how to withhold the reinforcer]
**Consistency Required:** 100% - all instances, all people, all contexts
**Who Must Implement:** [everyone who encounters the behavior]
### Extinction Burst Preparation
**Expected Burst:** [what the burst will look like]
**Duration Estimate:** [how long before extinction takes effect]
**Warning:** Reinforcing during the burst will strengthen the behavior. Maintain extinction through the burst.
### Differential Reinforcement
**Alternative Behavior:** [what to reinforce instead]
**Reinforcer:** [what consequence maintains the alternative]
**Schedule:** [continuous during acquisition, then intermittent]
**DRA Type:** [DRA/DRI/DRO]
### Spontaneous Recovery Plan
**Expected:** Behavior may return briefly after apparent extinction
**Response:** Maintain extinction contingency; do not re-reinforce
**Timeline:** Full extinction typically requires [estimate] with consistent implementation
Outputs
Primary Output: A structured analysis document that identifies and articulates patterns, insights, and actionable recommendations based on the input data.
Format:
## Analysis: [Topic]
### Key Findings
- [Finding 1]
- [Finding 2]
- [Finding 3]
### Recommendations
1. [Action 1]
2. [Action 2]
3. [Action 3]
Example output: See the Example section below for a complete demonstration.
Example
Input: "A team member constantly interrupts in meetings to push their own ideas. I've asked them to stop but they keep doing it."
Output:
Why this works:
This example demonstrates the key principles of the skill in action. The approach is effective because:
- It follows the systematic workflow outlined above
- It shows concrete application of the framework
- It produces actionable, specific outputs rather than vague generalizations
- The analysis is grounded in observable details
- The recommendations are prioritized and implementable
Alternative applications:
This same approach can be applied to:
- Different contexts within the same domain
- Related but distinct problem types
- Scaled up or down depending on scope
- Combined with complementary analytical frameworks
Extinction Procedure
Unwanted Behavior: Interrupting others in meetings to insert own ideas before speakers finish Context: Team meetings, especially during brainstorming or problem-solving
Functional Analysis
Maintaining Reinforcer: Attention and discussion of their ideas; possibly escape from having to listen to others Evidence: Interruptions typically result in the speaker stopping and the interrupter getting floor time; their ideas get discussed Function: Attention + tangible (idea gets considered)
Extinction Contingency
Procedure:
- When interruption occurs, the current speaker continues as if no interruption occurred
- Facilitator says "Let [speaker] finish" without further attention to the interrupter
- Do not address or discuss the interrupter's point until they have raised it appropriately
- If they continue, proceed with the meeting without acknowledgment
Consistency Required: 100% - all meeting participants must respond identically Who Must Implement: All team members, especially the facilitator
Extinction Burst Preparation
Expected Burst:
- Increased frequency of interruptions (more attempts)
- Increased intensity (louder, more insistent)
- Emotional frustration (visible annoyance, complaints about being ignored)
- Novel variations (talking over the "Let them finish" statement)
Duration Estimate: 2-3 meetings of consistent extinction before significant decrease
Warning: If anyone engages with the interruption during the burst, you will reinforce persistence. The behavior will become more resistant to future extinction.
Differential Reinforcement
Alternative Behavior: Raising hand or using meeting signal (e.g., chat indicator) and waiting to be recognized before speaking Reinforcer:
- Immediate recognition when signal is used: "Good, what's your thought?"
- Full attention and consideration of idea when raised appropriately
- Verbal acknowledgment: "I appreciate you waiting—go ahead"
Schedule: Continuous during acquisition (acknowledge every appropriate signal) DRA Type: DRI (waiting is incompatible with interrupting)
Spontaneous Recovery Plan
Expected: After 1-2 successful meetings, interrupting may briefly return Response: Apply same extinction contingency; reinforce alternative when used Timeline: Full extinction typically requires 4-6 meetings with consistent implementation. Maintenance reinforcement of the alternative should continue indefinitely.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Intermittent reinforcement during extinction: Even occasional attention strengthens the behavior
- Giving in during the burst: This teaches that persistence pays off
- No alternative behavior: Creates frustration without a productive outlet
- Inconsistent application: Different people responding differently undermines extinction
- Expecting immediate results: Extinction takes time; the burst comes first
When Extinction May Not Work
- Automatically reinforced behavior: The behavior provides its own reinforcement (sensory, physiological)
- Unable to control the reinforcer: Someone else provides reinforcement
- Safety concerns: Extinction burst may be dangerous
- Behavior too entrenched: May need additional interventions
In these cases, consider:
- Response blocking (prevent the behavior from occurring)
- Environmental enrichment (make alternative more reinforcing than unwanted behavior)
- Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) without pure extinction
Integration
Use after contingency-analysis has identified that the behavior exists and is maintained by identifiable reinforcement. Combine with shaping-plan if the alternative behavior needs to be built.
Source Expert
Derived from B.F. Skinner's work on extinction and reinforcement. "Behavior that is not reinforced will eventually cease."