Study smarter with practical nursing learning resources.

Explore student support
OnlineNursingOwl

Extinction as an Intervention

Post ID: 3502397

Extinction as an Intervention

Consider the following common scenario:

A family is out to dinner at a local, popular restaurant. As they are waiting for their food to arrive at the table, the parents set out some toys on the table for their toddler to play with. The toddler tosses a toy on the floor and another patron sitting at the table next to them picks it up, smiles at the toddler, and returns it. The toddler throws the toy again.

Many people have witnessed this situation before, either as the parent, the neighboring patron, wait staff, or other person in the restaurant. It is possible that the patron who tried to help may be setting himself/herself, or the parents, up for a situation where an intervention may be needed. As you consider the future actions of the toddler and the others involved in the scene, what is the function of the behavior and how does it affect the method used by those involved?

For this Discussion, you will analyze the relationship between function of the behavior and the use of extinction as an intervention technique.You will also identify current literature on the topic of extinction.

To Prepare

  • Review the Learning Resources for this week as well as the required weekly media programs to gain an understanding of extinction as an intervention. Note: It is critical for you to review all media for this week prior to completing this Discussion.
  • Search the internet and/or the Walden Library for current literature based on the topic of extinction and consider when it is appropriate to use extinction as an intervention technique.

Resources

  • Cooper, J. O., Heron, T. E., & Heward, W. L. (2020). Applied behavior analysis (3rd ed.). Pearson.
    • Chapter 24, “Extinction” (pp. 582–594)