Temporary increase in unwanted behavior during behavioral change
Core Idea: An extinction burst is a temporary intensification of an unwanted behavior that occurs when reinforcement is removed, often manifesting during sleep training as increased crying after initial improvement.
Key Elements
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Behavioral pattern:
- Occurs in approximately 30% of children during sleep training
- Behavior (crying) temporarily increases or resumes after initially decreasing
- Represents the child's attempt to elicit the previous response (rocking, feeding, etc.)
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Psychological mechanism:
- Based on principles of operant conditioning
- When a previously reinforced behavior no longer produces results, the subject often increases the intensity/frequency before giving up
- Represents a predictable phase in the extinction process
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Management approach:
- Maintain consistent response (or non-response)
- Continue with the established plan without reverting to old patterns
- Recognize it as a temporary phase that will pass with consistency
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Broader applications:
- Occurs with many childhood behaviors beyond sleep (hitting, whining, demands)
- Understanding the pattern helps parents maintain consistency in various behavioral interventions
Practical Implications
- Parents should be prepared for this potential pattern before beginning sleep training
- The appearance of an extinction burst can be misleading, suggesting the method isn't working when it actually indicates progress
- Reverting to old habits during an extinction burst can strengthen the unwanted behavior
Additional Connections
- Broader Context: Behavioral Psychology Principles (theoretical framework)
- Applications: Consistency in Parenting (practical implementation)
- See Also: Sleep Training Challenges (common obstacles)
References
- Dubief, A. (2017). Precious Little Sleep.
#sleep #parenting #behavioralpsychology #extinction #childdevelopment
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