What term describes an initial increase in the frequency of responding when extinction is implemented?

• A. Forward Chaining
• B. Extinction
• C. Extinction Burst
• D. Fixed Ratio

Answer: (C)

Extinction burst is a temporary surge in a previously reinforced behavior that happens when reinforcement is withdrawn. When extinction begins, the behavior no longer produces the reinforcer, but the learner may respond more vigorously or more often at first, as they try to regain reinforcement or react to the frustration of not getting it. This uptick is usually short-lived, and the behavior then declines as reinforcement remains unavailable. For example, if shouting for attention used to work, a child might shout more at the start of extinction before eventually stopping. This phenomenon is distinct from forward chaining (a method for teaching sequences) and from a fixed ratio (a type of reinforcement schedule); it specifically describes the initial response increase that occurs when reinforcement stops.