Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior Increases Resistance to Extinction: Clinical Demonstration, Animal Modeling, and Clinical Test of One Solution

Mace, F. Charles; McComas, Jennifer J.; Mauro, Benjamin C.; Progar, Patrick R.; Taylor, Bridget A.; Ervin, Ruth A.; Zangrillo, Amanda N.

doi:10.1901/jeab.2010.93-349

Cited by 142 publications

(296 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Mace et al (2010) evaluated maintenance of treatment effects following DRA-based treatment. Findings from Mace et al (2010) indicated that DRA resulted in increased rates of reinforcement and, subsequently, increased persistence of other responses (i.e., problem behavior) that were in the same response class when extinction for the alternative response was placed on extinction.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of response preference on resistance to change

Ringdahl¹,

Berg

Wacker

et al. 2018

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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Treatments based on differential reinforcement of alternative behavior, such as functional communication training, are widely used. Research regarding the maintenance of related treatment effects is limited. Nevin and Wacker (2013) provided a conceptual framework, rooted in behavioral momentum theory, for the study of treatment maintenance that addressed two components: (a) reemergence of problem behavior, and (b) continued expression of appropriate behavior. In the few studies on this topic, focus has been on variables impacting the reemergence of problem behavior, with fewer studies evaluating the persistence of appropriate behavior. Given the findings from applied research related to functional communication training, variables related to response topography, such as response preference, may impact this aspect of maintenance. In the current study, the impact of response preference on persistence was evaluated in the context of functional communication training for individuals who did not exhibit problem behavior (Experiment 1) and for individuals with a history of reinforcement for problem behavior (Experiment 2). High-preferred mands were more persistent than low-preferred mands. These findings suggest that response related variables, such as response preference, impact response persistence and further suggest that response related variables should be considered when developing interventions such as functional communication training.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of response preference on resistance to change

Ringdahl¹,

Berg

Wacker

et al. 2018

J Exper Analysis Behavior

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show abstract

“…Because alternative reinforcement increases the stimulus–reinforcer relationship of the context, it increases resistance to change despite its disruptive impact (see Nevin & Shahan, 2011, for discussion). For example, Mace et al (2010, Exp. 1) implemented alternative reinforcement in the treatment of problem behavior in three participants with developmental disabilities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioral momentum and resurgence: Effects of time in extinction and repeated resurgence tests

Sweeney

Shahan

2013

Learn Behav

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Resurgence is an increase in a previously extinguished operant response that occurs if an alternative reinforcement introduced during extinction is removed. Shahan and Sweeney (2011) developed a quantitative model of resurgence based on behavioral momentum theory that captures existing data well and predicts that resurgence should decrease as time in extinction and exposure to the alternative reinforcement increases. Two experiments tested this prediction. The data from Experiment 1 suggested that without a return to baseline, resurgence decreases with increased exposure to alternative reinforcement and to extinction of the target response. Experiment 2 tested the predictions of the model across two conditions, one with constant alternative reinforcement for five sessions, and the other with alternative reinforcement removed three times. In both conditions, the alternative reinforcement was removed for the final test session. Experiment 2 again demonstrated a decrease in relapse across repeated resurgence tests. Furthermore, comparably little resurgence was observed at the same time point in extinction in the final test, despite dissimilar previous exposures to alternative reinforcement removal. The quantitative model provided a good description of the observed data in both experiments. More broadly, these data suggest that increased exposure to extinction may be a successful strategy to reduce resurgence. The relationship between these data and existing tests of the effect of time in extinction on resurgence is discussed.

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“…However, if alternative reinforcers are presented within the same context as problem behavior, those added reinforcers, although intended to decrease problem behavior and replace it with socially desirable behavior, may actually increase the persistence of problem behavior when the intervention ends. Indeed, this perverse outcome has been obtained by Mace et al (2010) during interventions with children exhibiting problem behavior.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Contingencies and Stimuli in a Human Laboratory Model of Treatment of Problem Behavior

et al. 2017

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Behavioral momentum theory posits a paradoxical implication for behavioral interventions in clinical situations using Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior (DRA): When alternative reinforcers are presented within the same context as the problem behavior, the added reinforcers may decrease the frequency of the behavior but also increase its persistence when the intervention ends. Providing alternative reinforcers in a setting that is distinctively different from that in which the target behavior occurs may avoid or reduce this increase in persistence. The present experiment compared behavioral persistence following standard DRA versus DRA in a different context that was available after refraining from target behavior (Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior, DRO). We arranged a human laboratory model of treatment intervention using computer games and token reinforcement. Participants were five individuals with intellectual disabilities. Experimental phases included (a) an initial multiple-schedule baseline with token reinforcement for target behaviors A and B, (b) an intervention phase with alternative reinforcement using a conventional DRA procedure for A and a DRO-DRA procedure for B, and (c) an extinction phase with no interventions and no tokens. Response rates as proportion of baseline in the initial extinction phase were greater for A than for B for three of five participants. Four participants whose response rates remained relatively high during the extinction phase then received a second extinction-plus-distraction test with leisure items available. Response rates were greater for A than for B in three of four participants. The results indicate that DRO-DRA contingencies may contribute to reduced post-intervention persistence of problem behavior.

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Differential Reinforcement of Alternative Behavior Increases Resistance to Extinction: Clinical Demonstration, Animal Modeling, and Clinical Test of One Solution

Cited by 142 publications

References 28 publications

Effects of response preference on resistance to change

Effects of response preference on resistance to change

Behavioral momentum and resurgence: Effects of time in extinction and repeated resurgence tests

The Role of Contingencies and Stimuli in a Human Laboratory Model of Treatment of Problem Behavior

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