Extinction of Learned Behavior Lesson 14

Extinction of Reinforced Behavior n Behavior changes relatively permanent l Modifiable if situation changes l NOT unlearning n Respondent: cue doesn’t predict important event l CS : No US n Operant: B no longer followed by important event l S D : B  No S R ~

Extinction Strength of R Hi Lo Acquisition CS : No US B  No S R

Effects of Extinction n Respondent behavior l CR diminishes l Emotional: frustration/relief n Operant behavior l  B Extinction burst l Gradual  B l  response variability ~

Operant Extinction Strength of R Hi Lo Acquisition B  No S R n frustration  burst &  response variability ~

Extinction & Negative RFT n Escape behavior l B  terminates aversive event l extinction similar to positive RFT n Avoidance Behavior l B  prevents aversive event l Resistant to extinction l limited exposure to S D l flooding  exposure to complete S D ~

Extinction: Punishment n Recovery of Punished Behavior n Behavior no longer punished l B  no S R n  B l full recovery  original B level l depends on intensity & frequency of punishment ~

Extinction vs Forgetting n Forgetting l Decay of memory l With passage of time n Extinction l Requires B to occur repeatedly l Without RFT ~

Extinction vs. Habituation n Habituation l  reflexive response l Reflexive response inherited n Extinction l  in an acquired response l B no longer reinforced l Response acquired via learning ~

Operant: Extinction vs. Punishment n Both reduce behavior frequency l extinction  gradual l strong punishment  rapid n Positive punishment disadvantages l fear responses l escape/avoidance l aggression ~

Why Does Extinction Occur? n Inhibitory learning l CS+ : no US and S D : B  no S R l contingencies change l become inhibitory signals: CS- / S Δ n Operant: role of CERs l nonRFT  frustration u B  aversive CER:  B l nonPunishment  relief u B  appetitive CER:  B ~

Reinstatement after Extinction n Recovery of learned responses (CR) l response to CS+ / S D n Phenomena l Spontaneous Recovery l Disinhibition l Renewal effect n Shows that association intact l NOT unlearned ~

Spontaneous Recovery Strength of R Hi Lo Acquistion Extinction CS/S D occurs Time passes n Passage of time since last CS/S D ~

Disinhibition Strength of CR Hi Lo Novel Stimulus Acquistion Extinction CS/S D occurs n Novel stimulus precedes CS/S D ~

Renewal Effect n Extinction context-dependent l Acquisition: “old” environment l Extinction: “new” environment n Go back to “old” environment l Responses are renewed n Indicates association intact l All CS / S D not present during extinction l different contexts ~

Renewal Effect: Flying Phobia Acquisition: in plane Old Fear Gone? Extinction: at clinic New

Reacquisition n Events paired again l CS : US l B  S R n Associations quickly re-strengthened l fewer trials  asymptote l than original acquisition n Because previous associations intact l adaptive behaviors l relapse for maladaptive behaviors ~

Reacquisition Strength of R Hi Lo Acquisition Extinction Reacquisition

Parodoxical RFT Effects n Particularly for CRF l  expectation of RFT l No S R   frustration  faster extinction n Overtraining Extinction Effect l More training  higher expectation of RFT n Magnitude of RFT l  RFT magnitude  higher expectation of RFT n  Frustration when not RFT l aversive – acts like punisher ~

Extinction ≠ Unlearning n Association persists after extinction n Reinstatement of responding after extinction l Spontaneous recovery l Renewal Effect l Disinhibition l Reacquisition n Difficulty in treating addictions & behavioral disorders l Relapse can occur relatively easy ~