Chapter 27
Preventing and Reducing Unwanted Behavior:
Noncontingent Reinforcement and Extinction
Study Questions
1. Explain and illustrate what is meant by non-contingent delivery of reinforcers (NCR). Give an example of an instance of NCR that you have experienced within the past few days. (p. 558)
2. Martha’s son, Edgar, tantrums quite frequently throughout the day. Martha tries to ignore this behavior hoping it will cease. Still, it continues. Martha notices that while she is playing with Edgar, or otherwise giving him positive attention those tantrums do not occur. Explain to Martha how to use non-contingent reinforcement (NCR) to help alleviate her son’s future tantrums. Consider, too, if she would do best to use a fixed time (FT) schedule, or a variable time (VT) schedule, and why. (p. 558-559)
3. NCR allows you to break the contingent relation between the response and the reinforcer without depriving the individual of important reinforcers. T or F? Please explain your chosen answer. (p. 558)
4. All of the following are advantages of NCR, except: (p. 560)
a. Teaches functional replacement behaviors
b. Inadvertently strengthens desirable behaviors
c. Provides higher rates of reinforcement
d. Easy to implement
e. Rapidly promotes reduction in problem behaviors
5. Discuss why you need to be cautious when combining NCR with other interventions, such as, differential reinforcement of alternate behaviors (DRA), or modeling. (p. 560)
6. What conditions might be responsible if using NCR appears to be ineffective in reducing unwanted behaviors? (Hint: there are 4 conditions to consider) (p. 561)
7. What are competing reinforcers? Why use them? (p. 561)
8. Define and provide an original example of extinction. (p. 562)
9. It is important to understand the reinforcement history of a behavior you wish to place on extinction. T or F? Please explain your answer. (p. 562-564)
10. Extinction often is used in combination with other procedures. Explain the circumstances under which this may not be the best choice. (p. 562-564)
11. Describe and illustrate by drawing on your own personal experience the event called an extinction burst. (p. 564)
12. Behavior treated with ______reinforcement, rather than ______- reinforcement, is more likely to produce an “extinction burst.” (p. 565)
13. Discuss what resurgence means and why it is important to be aware of it when using extinction. (p. 566)
14. Define the term positive behavioral contrast and give an example of this phenomenon. (p. 566-567)
15. Mr. Hope is tired of his son’s failure to do his homework. He feels the boy is just lazy and is sick of hollering, bribing, and punishing him. Someone suggests that he try extinction to change his son’s behavior. This doesn’t work either. Why might this method not be effective in this particular case? What would you suggest Mr. Hope do instead? (p. 567-571)
16. Set up the conditions for extinction for the following behaviors: (p. 567-571)
a. Julian not bothering his mother when she is on the phone
b. Gloria constantly complaining about the boss to her co-workers
c. LuLu begging for snacks just before dinner
17. Under what circumstances might using extinction not be the optimal choice? (p. 570)
18. Often, in order to know that extinction is working, you need to maintain the extinction conditions for enough time. T or F? Please say why you chose that answer. (p. 570)
19. Explain why, and the circumstances under which, you would recommend combining extinction with other procedures. (p. 570-571)
20. Give your own example of how to promote “generalization” of the extinction of a behavior from one environment to another environment. (p. 571)
21. Think about your job, or schooling. How could that environment be enriched to encourage positive behaviors? (p. 571-572)
22. The main outcome of using extinction by itself is that alternative constructive behaviors emerge to replace those to be eliminated. T or F? Discuss your response. (p. 571)
23. Using extinction alone is a reasonable choice when: (Circle all that apply) (p. 573)
a. The behavior is not serious
b. Setbacks can be tolerated
c. Self-injury is the behavior (SIB) of concern
d. The behavior is dangerous
e. Reinforcers for unwanted behavior can be withheld for extended periods