Response Blocking and Extinction

In Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), response blocking and extinction are two similar but different procedures used to reduce problem behaviors. Response blocking occurs when a behavior technician physically prevents the individual from engaging in the behavior, generally to ensure safety or prevent reinforcement from occurring. It interrupts the behavior before it can be completed, but does not necessarily change the reinforcement contingencies maintaining it. Extinction occurs when the reinforcement that previously maintained a behavior is no longer provided, with the goal of decreasing that behavior over time.

Example: In response blocking, if a child tries to hit a peer, a therapist might block the child's hand to prevent contact. In extinction, if a child throws tantrums to obtain candy, the caregiver would no longer provide the candy following the tantrums, eventually reducing the behavior.