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Extinction Burst

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Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

Synonyms

Extinction

Definition

Extinction burst refers to the phenomenon of a previously reinforced or learned behavior temporarily increasing when the reinforcement for the behavior is removed. Learning theory suggests the organism is increasing the frequency of the behavior in an attempt to regain the original reinforcement for the behavior. In the absence of additional reinforcement, the behavior will diminish to lower (pre-extinction burst) levels and eventual cessation.

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References

  1. Lerman, D. C., & Iwata, B. A. (1995). Prevalence of the extinction burst and it’s attenuation during treatment. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 28, 93–94.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rivier College, 420 South Main Street, Nashua, NH, USA

    Robert Walrath (Associate Professor of Counseling)

Authors
  1. Robert Walrath
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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© 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

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Walrath, R. (2011). Extinction Burst. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1073

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_1073

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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