As an RBT, you will use extinction as a strategy to reduce unwanted behaviors. However, before a behavior decreases, you may notice it temporarily gets worse—this is known as an extinction burst.
Definition of Extinction Burst
An extinction burst occurs when a previously reinforced behavior temporarily increases in frequency, intensity, or duration before it decreases after reinforcement is removed.
Example of Extinction Burst
Imagine a child cries to get candy at the store, and the parent usually gives in. One day, the parent decides to stop giving candy when the child cries (extinction).
What happens next?
The child may cry louder, scream, or even throw a tantrum (extinction burst). If the parent stays consistent and does not give in, the behavior will eventually decrease. However, if the parent gives in during the burst, the child learns that escalating the behavior worsens the problem.
Another example, a child with autism engaging in hand-flapping to get attention. The RBT and caregivers decide to stop reacting to the hand-flapping (extinction).
At first, the child flaps even more, maybe louder or with more force (extinction burst). If the caregivers remain consistent and reinforce alternative behaviors, the hand-flapping will decrease over time.
How Can RBTs Manage Extinction Bursts?
- Stay Consistent – If reinforcement is removed, do not give in during the burst. Otherwise, the behavior might become even stronger.
- Teach Alternative Behaviors – Instead of just ignoring the problem behavior, teach and reinforce a more appropriate way to communicate needs.
- Use Differential Reinforcement – Reinforce desired behaviors while ignoring problem behaviors. For example, if a child screams for attention, only give attention when they ask calmly.
- Prepare Caregivers and Teachers – Explain extinction bursts so that parents and teachers do not accidentally reinforce the behavior during escalation.
- Ensure Safety – Some behaviors may become dangerous during an extinction burst. If aggression or self-injury increases, talk to your BCBA supervisor for guidance.
Conclusion
Extinction bursts are a temporary and natural response when reinforcement is removed. As an RBT, you should be ready to manage the extension burst and ensures your client safety.