Which procedure is defined by withholding attention as a consequence for undesired behavior, typically used as a time-out strategy?

• A. Partition Time Out
• B. Planned Ignoring
• C. Overcorrection
• D. PlacCHECK

Answer: (B)

Withholding attention after undesired behavior is a powerful way to reduce that behavior because attention often acts as the reinforcement driving it. Planned ignoring uses a clear rule: when the undesired behavior occurs, keep interactions minimal for a brief, predefined period, and then resume attention once the learner shows appropriate behavior. By not providing the social reinforcement that the behavior seeks, the likelihood of the behavior repeating decreases over time. This is typically used as a time-out strategy because the “timeout” is essentially a short pause in access to attention, rather than a punishment or a demand to perform a task. A practical approach is to cue the undesired behavior, pause interaction for a set time, and then re-engage only when the learner has oriented themselves to a appropriate behavior or request. Other strategies involve different mechanisms, such as removing the child from the activity location or requiring corrective actions, but planned ignoring specifically centers on withholding social attention as the consequence.