Question 1

Is a parent ignoring a child's behavior an example of operant extinction? Explain why or why not on the basis of the definition of operant extinction.

Accepted Answer

It would be extinction only if the attention of the parent was the reinforcer that was maintaining the behavior that was being ignored.However, if the child's behavior was maintained by some other reinforcer, such as attention from another child, then ignoring the behavior by the parent would not be extinction.

Question 2

Why is it necessary to consider the setting as a factor influencing your operant extinction program?

Accepted Answer

So as to (a)minimize the influence of alternative reinforcers for the undesirable behavior, and (b)maximize the chances that the behavior modifier(s)will persist in carrying out the program.

Question 3

Discuss whether the operant extinction program with Louise decreased her "feelings" of pain.

Accepted Answer

The extinction program focused on Louise's complaints of pain.Although there was no self-monitoring of actual headaches, she did report at a twelve-month follow-up that she had experienced only two headaches over the previous several months.Thus, presumably her "feelings" of pain also decreased.

Question 4

Describe two examples of operant extinction that you have encountered, one involving a desirable behavior and one involving an undesirable behavior.For each example, identify the situation, behavior, immediate consequence, and probable long-term effects as is done in Tables 6.1 and 6.2.(Your examples should not be from the text.)

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Question 5

Explain the difference, in terms of procedure and results, between the loss of value of a conditioned reinforcer (see Chapter 5)and the operant extinction of a positively reinforced behavior.

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Question 6

What is the difference between forgetting and operant extinction?

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Question 7

Is telling someone to stop eating candies and the person stops an example of operant extinction? Explain why or why not on the basis of the definition of operant extinction.

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Question 8

If a behavior that was maintained by positive reinforcement is not reinforced at least once in a while, what will happen to the behavior?

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Question 9

Define continuous reinforcement and give an example that is not in this chapter.

Accepted Answer

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Question 10

Why did the mother's attempt to extinguish the child's cookie eating fail ?

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Question 11

What is the effect of continuous versus intermittent reinforcement on the resistance to extinction of an operant behavior? Level 1/K]

Accepted Answer

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Question 12

Define intermittent reinforcement and give an example that is not in this chapter.

Accepted Answer

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Question 13

Suppose that, immediately after an instance of swearing, parents remove a portion of the child's weekly allowance and the result is that swearing decreases.Is this an example of operant extinction? Explain why or why not.

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Question 14

Describe a particular behavior you would like to decrease in a child with whom you have contact. Would your extinction program require a special setting?
 Why or why not?

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Question 15

What is an extinction burst? Describe an example.

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Question 16

What is bootleg reinforcement? Give an example.

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Question 17

What are the two parts to the principle of operant extinction?

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Question 18

Examine Table 6.1.Which one of those examples involved positive reinforcement for an alternative response? For those that do not, indicate how positive reinforcement for an alternative response might be introduced.

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Question 19

In a sentence for each, describe eight general factors influencing the effectiveness of operant extinction.[

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Question 20

Briefly describe an example of a pitfall of operant extinction. Which type of Pitfall does your example illustrate?

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Exam 6: Decreasing a Behavior With Operant Extinction