What happens during an extinction burst?

During an extinction burst, the behavior that is being targeted for extinction often temporarily increases in intensity before it ultimately diminishes. This phenomenon occurs because the individual may initially escalate their attempts to engage in the behavior that has previously been reinforced, in hopes of achieving the desired outcome. For example, if a child who is used to receiving attention for tantrums suddenly finds that such a response is no longer effective, they may initially increase the frequency, intensity, or duration of their tantrums before the behavior begins to decrease over time.

The increase in behavior intensity is a key characteristic of an extinction burst; it reflects the struggle against the removal of reinforcement and is a temporary reaction in the phase of behavior change. This behavior may eventually decrease as the individual learns that the behavior will no longer yield the anticipated rewards.

By understanding the extinction burst, practitioners can anticipate this phase and reinforce consistency in the approach to ensure that the undesirable behavior is effectively extinguished in the long run.