eneral

sychology

Extinction

Behaviors that are reinforced increase in frequency. However, a behavior that is no longer reinforced decreases in frequency. During extinction, a response that was previously reinforced is no longer reinforced. Extinction refers to the cessation of reinforcement of a response. Nonreinforcement of a response results in the eventual reduction or elimination of the behavior. Extinction was used as part of a program to change several feminine sex-typed behaviors of a five-year-old boy named Kraig (Rekers & Lovaas, 1974). Kraig continually displayed several female-typed behaviors such as dressing in women's clothes, playing with such objects as dolls and cosmetics, mimicking feminine gestures and mannerisms, and engaging in other traditionally female-typed behaviors. He avoided all male-typed activities.

At the clinic, the mother and child were placed in a room where the child had the opportunity to play with items traditionally regarded as female-typed activities or masculine-typed activities. The mother was instructed to ignore any play with female-typed objects. She simply read a book that she had brought into the room. Whenever, Kraig played with masculine-typed objects his mother provided him with attention (e.g., smiles, praise). Thus, extinction was combined with positive reinforcement. The program was also carried out at home where Kraig received tokens for gender-appropriate behavior. The treatment led to a dramatic increase in male-typed behaviors and a decline in female-typed behaviors.
 
 

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