Use extinction to eliminate unwanted behaviors from "summary" of Don't Shoot the Dog! by Karen Pryor
Extinction is a powerful tool in the world of behavior modification. It involves simply failing to reinforce a behavior that you want to eliminate. Why does this work? Because behaviors that are not reinforced tend to weaken and eventually disappear. It's like a plant that withers without sunlight or water. Take, for example, a dog who jumps up on people when they come through the door. If every time the dog jumps, the owner pushes him off and yells "No!", the dog is actually being reinforced by the attention. But if the owner turns away and ignores the dog completely when he jumps, the behavior will likely diminish over time. The dog will learn that jumping up does not get him the attention he craves. Extinction can be a tricky process, however. Sometimes behaviors will actually get worse before they get better. This is known as an extinction burst. The dog may jump higher or more frequently, hoping that eventually the old response will work. It's important to stay consistent during this phase and not give in to the behavior. One key to successful extinction is to make sure the unwanted behavior is truly not being reinforced. This means being aware of any inadvertent reinforcement that may be occurring. For instance, if the owner occasionally pets the dog when he jumps up, even though most of the time he is ignored, the behavior may persist. It's also important to remember that extinction should be paired with reinforcement of an alternative behavior. In the case of the jumping dog, the owner could reinforce the dog for sitting calmly when people come in the door. This gives the dog a clear, more appropriate behavior to engage in.- Extinction can be a highly effective tool for eliminating unwanted behaviors. By withholding reinforcement for the behavior you wish to extinguish and reinforcing an alternative behavior, you can shape your pet's behavior in a positive way. It requires consistency, patience, and a keen awareness of the reinforcement that may be inadvertently occurring. With these elements in place, extinction can be a powerful tool in behavior modification.
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