Rad N Bad: The Forbidden E-Word — Extinction, Its Side Effects, and Compassionate Implementation
Presented by Sean Yocum, MA, BCBA, LBA & Michael Carrero, BCBA, LBA
Extinction is among the most misunderstood and criticized procedures in ABA. In this middle-ground episode, hosts Sean Yocum and Michael Carrero clarify that operant extinction is the discontinuation of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior. It is not ignoring the person, withholding compassion, or being cold. They review predictable effects, including extinction bursts, extinction-induced variability, emotional responding, and resurgence in settings with different contingencies. They distinguish operant from respondent extinction, discuss when extinction is not safe or practical (such as severe aggression, self-injury, elopement, and dangerous escape behavior), and describe differential reinforcement without extinction as an alternative in those cases. They make the case that extinction should rarely stand alone: it should be combined with reinforcement of replacement behavior, functional communication, skill building, and rapport. Extinction without reinforcement is suppression, and extinction without communication is frustration. Participants will leave with a pre-implementation checklist for extinction-based procedures.
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About this CEU
Extinction isn't ignoring, and it isn't withholding compassion. It's breaking a reinforcement contingency. Mike and I cover what to expect when you put extinction in place, like bursts, variability, and resurgence. We talk about when extinction isn't safe or practical, and why it belongs alongside reinforcement and functional communication. Disclosures & Publication Info No commercial products discussed. Both instructors are employed in ABA service delivery. Published: 2026-06-08 Listening to the podcast episode does not earn CEUs; credit is earned only by completing this OpenCEU event.
Abstract
Extinction is among the most misunderstood and criticized procedures in ABA. In this middle-ground episode, hosts Sean Yocum and Michael Carrero clarify that operant extinction is the discontinuation of reinforcement for a previously reinforced behavior. It is not ignoring the person, withholding compassion, or being cold. They review predictable effects, including extinction bursts, extinction-induced variability, emotional responding, and resurgence in settings with different contingencies. They distinguish operant from respondent extinction, discuss when extinction is not safe or practical (such as severe aggression, self-injury, elopement, and dangerous escape behavior), and describe differential reinforcement without extinction as an alternative in those cases. They make the case that extinction should rarely stand alone: it should be combined with reinforcement of replacement behavior, functional communication, skill building, and rapport. Extinction without reinforcement is suppression, and extinction without communication is frustration. Participants will leave with a pre-implementation checklist for extinction-based procedures.
Credits
0.5 CEUs · 33 min
What you'll learn
- 1Define operant extinction and distinguish it from respondent extinction and from 'ignoring' behavior. Describe predictable effects of extinction, including bursts, induced variability, emotional responding, and resurgence. Identify conditions under which extinction is unsafe or impractical, and describe differential reinforcement without extinction as an alternative. Design an extinction-based procedure that includes reinforcement of a functional replacement behavior and a plan for side effects.
Course materials
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