My wife introduced me to the psychological phase Extinction Burst tonight. If you are trying to eliminate unwanted behavior through conditioning, there is a period of time during which that behavior will significantly increase before dropping back down and eventually disappearing for good.
My favorite example is the elevator button. Let’s say you ride the same
elevator every day. You get in, you push the button for your floor, and
you’re rewarded by the doors closing and the elevator taking you to your
destination. One day you get in and push the button, and nothing happens.
Do you immediately say, “Oh, this must not work anymore, I’ll just take the
stairs to the 11th floor”? Or do you push the button again? And again?
And harder? And faster? And in special sequences? That’s the extinction
burst.
That’s a great phrase. Nifty concept too.