Lerman, D.C., Iwata, B.A., & Wallace, M.D.(1999).
Side effects of extinction: Prevalence of bursting and aggression during the treatment of self-injurious behavior.
Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis,
32, 1-8.
Findings from basic and applied
research suggest that treatment with operant extinction may produce adverse side effects; two of
these commonly noted are an increase in the frequency of the target response (extinction burst) and
an increase in aggression (extinction-induced aggression). Although extinction is often used to treat
problem behavior in clinical settings, few applied studies have examined the prevalence of these side
effects or their possible attenuation with other operant procedures. An analysis of 41 data sets for
individuals who received treatment for self-injurious behavior indicated that extinction bursts or
increases in aggression occurred in nearly one half of the cases. The prevalence of bursting and
aggression was substantially lower when extinction was implemented as part of a treatment package
rather than as the sole intervention.
DESCRIPTORS: extinction, extinction burst, extinction-induced aggression, side effects, behavior
disorders, self-injurious behavior