An increase in the rate of the target behaviors and related topographies after extinction is started; this may be intense but is not long-term. This phenomenon is called?

• A. Extinction
• B. Extinction Burst
• C. Differential Reinforcement Procedures
• D. DRO

Answer: (B)

Extinction burst is the temporary increase in the rate, frequency, or intensity of a behavior that occurs when reinforcement for that behavior is stopped. When a behavior that used to be reinforced no longer yields a payoff, the individual often fires off more responses or even shows stronger, different topographies as they try to regain the reinforcement. This surge can be quite intense, but it is not long-lasting; with continued extinction, the behavior typically diminishes overall. In the scenario described, the initial spike after starting extinction is exactly what we call an extinction burst. The other procedures mentioned—like reinforcing other behaviors or using differential reinforcement—address the problem differently by altering what gets reinforced, not describing the temporary surge that sometimes accompanies extinction.