Translated from the Portuguese original. Read the original (Português)
In Behavior Analysis, extinction is what happens when a behavior that used to be reinforced stops producing the reinforcer — and, because of that, it gradually decreases until it almost stops. It is not punishment (nothing is added or removed to “punish”) and it is not forgetting. For it to work, you need to know which reinforcer maintains the behavior and withhold exactly that one. There is an important detail: right at the start the behavior usually increases before it drops — this is called the extinction burst.
In Applied Behavior Analysis (Cooper, Heron & Heward), extinction is the procedure in which the reinforcement of a previously reinforced response is discontinued, with the effect of reducing the frequency of that response to levels close to those before reinforcement, or until it stops occurring altogether. In operant terms: a response that used to produce a reinforcer stops producing it.
Extinction is not punishment
It is easy to confuse the two, but they are different things. In punishment, something is added or removed right after the behavior to make it decrease. In extinction, nothing new happens: what changes is that the consequence that maintained the behavior — the reinforcer — stops coming.
Think of a vending machine. You insert the coin and, normally, the product drops (reinforcement). One day the machine jams: you insert the coin and nothing happens. What do you do? You press the button again, several times, harder, maybe you shake the machine — and, finally, you give up. That “giving up” is extinction in action: the response stopped being reinforced and gradually weakened.
What happens when the reinforcer disappears
The extinction curve has a characteristic shape. Instead of the behavior dropping right away, it usually rises before it falls — and it can have a “relapse” after some time:
Three phenomena almost always accompany extinction. Tap the cards:
Why does the burst happen?It makes sense: when something that always worked suddenly fails, the first reaction is to try harder — like pressing the vending machine button several times. Knowing that the burst is expected prevents interpreting it as “getting worse” and giving up right when extinction was starting to work.
Extinction depends on function
There is no generic “extinction”: to withhold reinforcement, you need to know which reinforcer maintains the behavior. The same action — for example, “ignoring” — can be extinction in one case and the opposite of it in another. See how it changes depending on function:
When the reinforcer is attention
If the behavior “works” because it attracts attention (looks, conversation, scolding), extinction is withdrawing that attention in a planned way — the so-called planned ignoring. Note: ignoring is only extinction when the function really is attention.
When the reinforcer is escape or avoidance
If the behavior serves to escape a demanding or unpleasant task (negative reinforcement), extinction is escape extinction: not letting the behavior interrupt the demand. Here, “ignoring” and withdrawing the task would do the opposite — they would reinforce escape.
When the reinforcer is the sensory stimulus itself
Some behaviors are maintained by the sensation they produce (automatic reinforcement). Sensory extinction seeks to reduce or mask that consequence. It is not always feasible or recommended — and it requires careful evaluation by a professional.
“Ignoring” is not always extinctionIgnoring a behavior whose function is to escape a task can reinforce it: if the person manages to escape the demand, the behavior was rewarded, not extinguished. That is why extinction always comes after understanding the function — see challenging behaviors and how to manage them.
How to use it responsibly
Extinction is a powerful tool, but it is rarely used alone. Ethical, evidence-based practice combines withholding reinforcement of the problem behavior with teaching and reinforcing an alternative:
- Pair it with reinforcement of alternatives. Differential reinforcement strategies let an appropriate behavior “take the place” of the old one, instead of just trying to erase it.
- Plan for the burst. Knowing that there may be a temporary increase, you decide in advance how to maintain consistency safely.
- Keep it consistent. If reinforcement slips through “every once in a while,” it becomes an intermittent schedule — and the behavior becomes more resistant, not less.
- Assess the risk. For dangerous behaviors (self-injury, serious aggression), extinction alone may not be appropriate because of the burst. The decision belongs to a qualified professional.
Extinction is not forgettingForgetting is the behavior weakening just from the passage of time, without the opportunity to occur. In extinction, the behavior keeps happening — just without the reinforcer — and it is that repeated experience that weakens it. They are different processes.
Test your understanding
Quick quiz
Three questions to reinforce the concept. You see the explanation right away.
Further reading
- Cooper, J. O.; Heron, T. E.; Heward, W. L. Applied Behavior Analysis. 3rd ed., 2020 — chapter on Extinction.
- Lerman, D. C.; Iwata, B. A. "Prevalence of the extinction burst and its attenuation during treatment". Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 1995.
- Skinner, B. F. Science and Human Behavior. 1953.
- Catania, A. C. Learning. 4th ed.
This entry is educational and does not replace assessment, diagnosis or treatment by a qualified health professional. Every person is unique — for a specific case, seek individual guidance.