When reinforcement of a previously reinforced behavior is withdrawn, what might you expect to see?

Withdrawing reinforcement from a previously reinforced behavior often leads to what is known in behavior analysis as an "extinction burst." This phenomenon refers to a temporary increase in the frequency or intensity of the behavior before it ultimately starts to decrease.

When reinforcement is stopped, individuals may initially react by intensifying their effort to engage in the behavior that previously earned them reinforcement. This increase can be seen in the form of more frequent attempts or more intense expressions of the behavior, as the individual might not immediately understand that the reinforcement is no longer available. Over time, as the behavior continues to be unreinforced, a decrease in that behavior should occur, but the initial response is typically an increase in attempts to regain the lost reinforcement.

Understanding this concept is crucial in the application of behavior modification strategies, particularly in therapeutic settings such as Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), where clients may exhibit heightened behaviors in response to changes in reinforcement patterns.