Chapter+06+Extinction+ANSWERS

** Extinction ** ** ANSWERS ** = =
 * Chapter 6 **
 * REVIEW:** As a refresher, write the definitions for a **Penalty contingency** and **Extinction.**


 * ANSWER:**
 * Penalty contingency** (negative punishment) – The immediate, response-contingent removal of a reinforcer that results in a decrease in frequency of the response.
 * Extinction -** Stopping the reinforcement or escape contingency for a previously reinforced response causes the response frequency to decrease.

1. Be able to construct, describe, and explain the following table illustrating the differences between extinction, response cost, and time-out.


 * ** Differences Between Extinction Following Reinforcement, Response Cost, and Time-out ** ||
 * || ** Procedure ** || ** Process or Results ** ||
 * ** Extinction ** || Stop giving the reinforcer || Response frequency decreases ||
 * ** Response Cost ** || Contingent loss of a reinforcer currently possessed || Rate may decrease rapidly ||
 * ** Time-out ** || Contingent removal of access to a reinforcer || Rate may decrease rapidly ||

2. Penalty contingency versus extinction following reinforcement (with the relevant reinforcement contingencies for the response of interest as well). **Note: these examples do not have to be super original, just good enough that you can be comfortable with them and will be able to use them to speak fluently about the various concepts in these ASO’s.** Note: Everyday life refers to events that happen without someone intending to change performance. An example of this is a penalty contingency of a child dropping an ice cream cone. Performance management refers to all contingencies in which someone provides a consequence with the intention to change performance. An example of this would be mom taking you dinner away when you swear during dinner.

a. Give examples from three areas: Everyday life, performance management and Skinner box.
 * ANSWER:** Everyday Life

**Reinforcement**

 * Extinction﻿ **

Helen has no attention Helen walks into the nurses’ office Helen has attention Helen has tokens Helen walks into the nurses’ office Helen has fewer tokens Helen has NO attention Helen walks into the nurses’ office Helen has NO attention Rudolph has no water Rudolph presses lever Rudolph has water Rudolph has food Rudolph presses lever Rudolph has NO food Rudolph has NO water Rudolph presses lever Rudolph has NO water
 * Dysfunctional reinforcement contingency:**
 * Performance management penalty contingency:**
 * Performance management extinction “contingency”:**
 * Skinner box reinforcement contingency:**
 * Skinner box penalty contingency:**
 * Skinner box extinction “contingency”:**

3 Using the preceding examples, distinguish between not giving the reinforcer **maintaining** the behavior and contingently removing a **seperate** reinforcer.

a. What's the common confusion?


 * ANSWER:** People often erroneously offer a penalty contingency as an example of extinction. To better understand where this confusion stems from, take for example the first diagram in #5 (notice: when we compare and contrast examples, we make the pair as identical as possible, except for the crucial difference. That’s standard, good instructional technology; you should do the same)

b. Using Example Compare and Contrast: Extinction (not giving the reinforcer maintaining behavior) vs. penalty (contingently removing a seperate reinforcer or negative punishment)


 * ANSWER: Similarites:** In both penalty and extinction Tom does not receive a reinforcer. (NO interest from victim or NO shocked expression). Also, in both penalty and extinction, response frequency decreases.
 * Crucial Difference:** In the penalty contingency, a **seperate** reinforcer (interest from the victim) from the one **maintaining** his obnoxious remark (a shocked expression) is taken away from Tom. Wheareas during the extinction procedure the SAME reinforcer that is maintaining Tom's obnoxious remarks (shocked expression) is NO LONGER given to Tom. The acid test for extinction is to remember that it's like disconnecting the lever in the Skinner box. **During extinction, the response has no effect.**
 * In both Tom does not receive the reinforcer
 * In both the response frequency decreases
 * In penalty a seperate reinforcer from the one maintaining the response is taken away
 * In extinction the same reinforcer maintaining the response is no longer given. The response has no effect

4.Extinction of escape vs. not presenting the aversive before condition (e.g., not turning on the shock in the Skinner box.)

a. What's the common confusion?


 * ANSWER:** People think not presenting the aversive before condition is extinction of escape; but in extinction of escape, we would have shock on – press lever – shock STILL on.

b. Compare and Contrast: Extinction of escape vs. not presenting the aversive before condition


 * ANSWER: In extinction, the response still occurs, but no longer produces the outcome.** So while extinguishing a //reinforcement contingency// requires NOT presenting a reinforcer after the response, extinguishing an //escape contingency// requires KEEPING the aversive condition in place after the response. **The response needs to have NO effect on the environment.** Simply not presenting the aversive condition before an escape response is NOT an example of extinction. The aversive before condition in an escape contingency is the occasion for the response to occur, and without this, the response will not occur, and therefore cannot be extinguished (If there is no shock in the before condition, the lever press cannot be reinforced by the contingent termination of the shock)//.//
 * In extinction of escape, response still occurs but no longer produces the outcome (shock on-press lever-shock on)
 * In extinction of escape, response needs to have no effect on the environment
 * In not presenting the aversive before condition, there is no occasion for a response to occur. Without a response occuriring it cannot be extinguished