Behaviors That Are Negatively Reinforced Decrease Over Time.

Behaviors That Are Negatively Reinforced Decrease Over Time: A Comprehensive Look at Extinction and Its Implications

Negatively reinforced behaviors, while seemingly beneficial in the short-term, often present a paradoxical outcome: they tend to decrease over time. This counterintuitive phenomenon stems from a misunderstanding of the intricacies of negative reinforcement and its interplay with other behavioral principles. This article delves deep into the mechanisms behind this decrease, exploring the concepts of extinction, habituation, and the crucial role of alternative behaviors in shaping long-term behavioral patterns. We'll also examine real-world examples and offer strategies to understand and manage this phenomenon.

Understanding Negative Reinforcement

Before dissecting why negatively reinforced behaviors wane, let's clarify the concept. Negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring. Crucially, it's not about punishment; it's about escaping or avoiding something unpleasant.

Examples of Negative Reinforcement:

• Taking Aspirin to relieve a headache: The aversive stimulus (headache pain) is removed, increasing the likelihood of taking aspirin in the future when a headache arises.
• Studying to avoid a failing grade: The aversive stimulus (failing grade) is avoided by studying, thus strengthening the study behavior.
• Cleaning your room to stop your parent's nagging: The aversive stimulus (nagging) is removed by cleaning your room, making you more likely to clean your room in the future to avoid further nagging.
• Using an umbrella to avoid getting wet in the rain: The unpleasantness of getting wet is removed by using an umbrella. This reinforces umbrella usage during rain.

Why Negatively Reinforced Behaviors Decrease Over Time: The Role of Extinction

The apparent decrease in negatively reinforced behaviors is primarily attributed to the process of extinction. Extinction, in operant conditioning, refers to the weakening and eventual disappearance of a learned response when the reinforcement is no longer provided.

The Extinction Process in Negative Reinforcement:

When the aversive stimulus is consistently not removed after the behavior, the connection between the behavior and the avoidance of the unpleasant stimulus weakens. The individual learns that the behavior no longer produces the desired outcome (avoidance of the aversive stimulus), and consequently, the behavior becomes less frequent.

Example: Imagine a child who whines to avoid doing chores. If the parent consistently ignores the whining (i.e., doesn't remove the aversive stimulus of chores), the child will eventually learn that whining is ineffective and will stop whining.

Factors Influencing Extinction Rate:

The rate at which extinction occurs depends on several factors:

• Consistency of reinforcement history: Behaviors consistently reinforced are harder to extinguish than those inconsistently reinforced.
• Strength of the aversive stimulus: Strong aversive stimuli result in behaviors more resistant to extinction.
• Presence of alternative behaviors: The availability of alternative, more effective ways to deal with the aversive stimulus significantly speeds up extinction.

Beyond Extinction: Other Contributing Factors

While extinction plays a central role, other factors contribute to the decline of negatively reinforced behaviors:

Habituation: Getting Used to the Aversive Stimulus

Repeated exposure to an aversive stimulus can lead to habituation. The individual becomes less sensitive to the unpleasantness, diminishing the motivation to engage in the behavior aimed at avoiding it.

Example: Someone initially avoids walking past a barking dog due to fear (aversive stimulus). However, with repeated exposure and the absence of any actual harm, the fear might lessen, resulting in the avoidance behavior decreasing.

The Role of Alternative Behaviors: Finding Better Coping Mechanisms

The development of more adaptive and effective coping mechanisms significantly influences the frequency of negatively reinforced behaviors. Learning alternative strategies to manage the aversive stimulus renders the negatively reinforced behavior less necessary.

Example: An individual who uses excessive procrastination (negatively reinforced by avoiding the anxiety of the task) might find their behavior decreases after learning effective time management techniques. The alternative behavior (effective time management) replaces the need for procrastination.

Real-World Implications and Examples:

The decrease of negatively reinforced behaviors has numerous real-world implications across various domains:

Substance Abuse:

Addiction is often maintained through negative reinforcement. Substance users might consume drugs to alleviate withdrawal symptoms (aversive stimulus). However, consistent, effective treatment addressing withdrawal symptoms and providing alternative coping mechanisms can weaken this negative reinforcement, leading to decreased substance use.

Anxiety Disorders:

Avoidance behaviors are commonly seen in anxiety disorders. Individuals might avoid social situations (aversive stimulus: anxiety) to reduce their anxiety. However, exposure therapy, a technique aimed at gradually confronting feared situations, helps break the avoidance cycle. The decrease in avoidance is fueled by the individual realizing that the feared consequence isn't as severe as initially anticipated.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD):

Compulsions in OCD are negatively reinforced by the reduction of anxiety caused by obsessions. The ritualistic behaviors temporarily alleviate distress. However, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), particularly exposure and response prevention (ERP), helps break this cycle by preventing the compulsive behavior and allowing the individual to habituate to the anxiety.

Parenting and Child Behavior:

Parents often unintentionally reinforce negative behaviors. For instance, giving a child a treat to stop crying (removing the aversive stimulus of crying) reinforces the crying behavior. Consistent positive parenting techniques that teach alternative methods of expressing needs lead to a decrease in negative behaviors.

Strategies for Managing the Decline of Negatively Reinforced Behaviors:

Understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing the decrease of negatively reinforced behaviors:

• Identify the aversive stimulus: Clearly identifying what is being avoided is the first step.
• Reinforce alternative behaviors: Focus on teaching and reinforcing more adaptive responses to the aversive stimulus.
• Gradual exposure: Slowly introducing the aversive stimulus in controlled environments can help habituate individuals to it and reduce the reliance on the avoidance behavior.
• Consistency is key: Maintaining consistency in not removing the aversive stimulus after the behavior is critical for extinction to occur.
• Seek professional help: If dealing with complex behavioral issues, seeking help from a therapist or counselor is recommended.

Conclusion:

The seeming paradox of negatively reinforced behaviors decreasing over time is a testament to the dynamic interplay of behavioral principles. Extinction, habituation, and the availability of alternative behaviors all contribute to this decline. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for effectively managing behavior, addressing problematic patterns, and promoting healthier, more adaptive coping strategies. By focusing on reinforcing alternative behaviors and gradually exposing individuals to the aversive stimulus, we can effectively guide the transition towards more beneficial behavioral patterns. The key takeaway is that while negative reinforcement provides temporary relief, lasting behavioral change requires a more comprehensive and proactive approach.