Behaviour Modification Chapter 6

Front 1

What are the two parts to the principle of operant extinction

Back 1

If an individual in a given situation emits a previously reinforced behavior and that behavior isn’t followed by a reinforcer then that person is less likely to do the same thing again when next encountering a similar situation.

Front 2

Is telling someone to stop eating candy and the person stops an example of operant extinction? Explain why or why not on the basis of the definition of operant extinction.

Back 2

No, because the parents telling them to stop eating candy does not stop the reinforcing effect of the good taste of the candy.

Front 3

Is a parent ignoring a child’s behaivour an example of operant extinction? Explain why or why not on the basis of the definition of operant extinction.

Back 3

It can be, if the attention is working as a reinforcer for that particular behaviour, then yes, if it is not, then no.

Front 4

Suppose immediately after an instance of swearing, parents remove part of a child’s allowance and the result is that swearing decrease. Is this an example of operant extinction? Explain why or why not.

Back 4

No, because it is a response-cost punishment, not operant extinction.

Front 5

What’s the difference between forgetting and operant extinction.

Back 5

In forgetting a behavior is weakened as a function of time following its last occurance, operant extinction weakens behavior as a resumt of being emitted without being reinforced.

Front 6

Explain the difference, in terms of procedure and results, between the loss of value of a conditioned reinforcer and the operant extinction of a positively reinforced behaivour.

Back 6

In loss of value of a reinforcer, the reinforcer is no longer strong enough to motivate a behavior, despite being reinforced. In operant extinction, the positive reinforcer is no longer presented at all.

Front 7

If a behavior that was maintained by positive reinforcement is not reinforced at least once in a while isn’t reinforced at least once in a while, what will happen.

Back 7

Operant extinction.

Front 8

Why did the mother’s attempt to extinguish the child’s cooking eating fail?

Back 8

She wasn’t withholding the reinforcement that was responsible for the cookie eating.

Front 9

In table 6.1 which example involved positive reinforcement for an alternative response. For those that don’t, indicate how positive reinforcement for an alternative response may be introduced.

Back 9

A teacher attends to children who aren’t snapping their fingers.
Introduction of positive reinforcement for alternate response:
Parents give child dessert when they ask quietly and say please.
Wife responds to husband when he talks about positive things
Cashier is friendly to customers who wait in line.

Front 10

Why is it necessary to consider the setting as a factor influencing your operant extinction program.

Back 10

a) To minimize the influence of aextlternative reinforcers on the undesirable behavior to be extinguished
b) To maximize the chances of behavior modifier persisting with the program.

Front 11

Describe a particular behavior you would like to decrease in a child with whom you have had contact. Would your extinction program require a special setting? Why or why not?

Back 11

A child I know screams when they want a snack. The program should be in a private setting, so the screaming doesn’t disturb others, and a setting in which there is no one who will give the child a snack in response to their screaming.

Front 12

Define continuous reinforcement and give an example that isn’t in this chapter.

Back 12

A schedule in which each instance of a particular behavior is reinforced. Eg. Everytime Peter studies for an hour he gets a cookie.

Front 13

Define intermittented reinforcement and give an example that isn’t in this chapter.

Back 13

A schedule in which a behavior is reinforced only occasionally. Eg. Sometimes when John finishes reading a chapter book, he gets ice cream.

Front 14

What is the effect of continuous versus intermittent reinforcement on the resistance to extinction of an operant behavior.

Back 14

When a behavior is continuously reinforced, and then abruptly is never reinforced, the behavior extinguishes quickly. When intermittent reinforcment has maintained a behavior, the behaviour is likely to extinguish slowly.

Front 15

What is an extinction burst? Describe an example

Back 15

During operant extinction, behavior may increase before it begins to decrease. Eg. A kid is picking their scabs and you ignore them, they begin to pick more vigorously and more often, before the picking decreases.

Front 16

What is spontaneous recovery? Describe an example

Back 16

The reappearance of an extinguished behavior following a break. Eg. Jonathan’s interrupting behavior extinguished for a day, then returned a day later, in smaller instances.

Front 17

In a sentence for each, describe eight general factors influencing the effectiveness of operant extinction.

Back 17

a) Control of reinforcers for the behavior that’s to be decreased
b) Combining extinction with positive reinforcement for an alternative behavior
c) The setting in which extinction is carried out
d) Instructions or rules
e) Schedule of reinforcement before extinction is carried out.
f) Behaviour being extinguished may get worse before it gets better
g) Extinction may produce aggression that interferes with the program
h) Spontaneous recovery after a delay

Front 18

Describe two examples of operant extinction that you’ve encountered. One involving a desirable behavior and one involving an undesirable behavior. For each example, identify situation, behavior, immediate consequence and probable long term consequence. (Example not from text)

Back 18

Example 1: Situation: My sister wanted my attention while I was trying to do homework, Response: She started poking me Immediate consequence: I ignored her, Long term consequence: She didn’t poke me the next time she wanted my attention.
Example 2: Situation: A girl is told to practice piano after school Response: She plays the piano Immediate response: No one compliments her Long term consequence: She stops practicing piano.

Front 19

Briefly describe an example of a pitfall of operant extinction. Which type of pitfall does your example illustrate

Back 19

John ignores his daughters screaming for cookies, but when mom comes home, she gives the daughter a cookie when she screams. This is partial-knowledge pitfall.

Front 20

Operant extinction shouldn’t be applied to certain behaviours or in certain situations. What types of behaviours and situations would these be? Give an example of a behavior to which operant extinction shouldn’t be applied, and an example of a situation where operant extinction shouldn’t be applied.

Back 20

Behaviours that can be dangerous if they increase, or behaviours in settings where it is impractical to extinguish a behavior, Eg. Hitting oneself on the head Eg. Trying to extinguish a child’s temper tantrum in a library

Front 21

What are three possible reasons for the failure of an operant extinction program.

Back 21

a) The attention you are withholding following the undesirable beahviour isn’t the reinforcer that was maintain the beahviour
b) The undesirable behavior is reciving intermittent reinforcement from another source
c) The desired alternative behavior hasn’t bee strengthened sufficiently.

Front 22

Discuss whether the operant extinction program with Louise decreased her feelings of pain

Back 22

Yes, she reported less headache pain, and was able to do more behaviours she couldn’t do in the past due to headaches.

Front 23

What is bootleg reinforcement. Give an example

Back 23

An undesirable effect caused by unwanted reinforcement during operant extinction. Eg. John gives his daughter a hug after she’s crying because she saw a bug.