Consistency in extinction procedures means what?

Consistency in extinction procedures is critical for their effectiveness and involves the uniform application of the procedure across all contexts and staff members. This means that once a behavior is identified for extinction, it should not be reinforced by any staff member; everyone involved must apply the same approach uniformly. Consistent application helps prevent confusion for the learner and strengthens the impact of the extinction procedure, as inconsistency can lead to continued occurrences of the undesired behavior.

Inconsistent approaches, such as having different staff members reinforce a behavior in varying ways, could undermine the extinction process, allowing the behavior to persist or even increase. Likewise, changing the reinforcement schedule during extinction may lead to ambiguity for the individual, as they may not understand when or why a behavior is no longer being reinforced. Focusing on only one type of behavior can be part of a broader treatment plan, but it does not directly relate to the concept of consistency in the application of extinction procedures. Therefore, uniform application is key to ensuring the success of the intervention.