A side effect of treatment that occurs in a multiple schedule of reinforcement or punishment when a change in the schedule of one part of the reinforcement or punishment contingency changes the behavior in the opposite direction in the other component of the schedule.

Hint: When the target behavior occurs in many settings, but intervention occurs in only one setting. The behavior improves in the treatment setting but has a contrast effect in the non-treatment settings, meaning it gets worse.

5th Edition Task List

H-5  Plan for possible unwanted effects when using reinforcement, extinction, and punishment procedures.

6th Edition TCO

H.4 Plan for and attempt to mitigate possible unwanted effects when using reinforcement, extinction, and punishment procedures.

Related Content

Transient effects

A temporary effect; when a reinforcer or punisher is removed, it should be expected that a change in responding can occur (for the worse) above or below baseline levels but…

Spontaneous recovery

The temporary reappearance of a behavior that was previously extinguished for a period of time.

Risk-benefit analysis

A deliberate evaluation of the potential risks (e.g., limitations, side effects, cost) and benefits (e.g., treatment outcomes, efficiency, savings) associated with a given intervention.

Extinction burst

An immediate increase in the rate of responding when an extinction procedure is first implemented.

Extinction induced aggression

An expected and temporary increase in aggression that can result during an escape extinction procedure for a non-aggressive behavior, and is typically an indicator that the correct maintaining consequence was…

Extinction induced variability

The occurrence of novel behavior that is sometimes produced during an extinction procedure and appears to be an attempt for the client to find new ways to contact reinforcement.

Adjunctive behaviors

Time-filling behaviors that occur as a result of reinforcement schedules, at times when reinforcement isn’t available. These behaviors are not related to the specific reinforcement yet tend to occur in…

Resurgence

The reemergence of an extinguished behavior, when the reinforcement for an alternative replacement behavior is discontinued (extinction) or when reinforcement is thinned too quickly.

Recovery from punishment

When the rate of a target behavior temporarily increases back to, or above, baseline levels, after a punishment procedure is discontinued.

Dana Do's: Extinguished Behaviors Resurge

When reinforcement for the alternative replacement behavior is discontinued, extinction for the alternative behavior can resurge.

Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Unwanted Effects in Responding

Test your knowledge of reinforcement and punishment procedures. PTB co-founder Dana Meller addresses the temporary effect in responding that is expected to occur during the implementation of the treatment procedures. Included, Dana contrasts the occurrence of a temporary increase in challenging behavior in an extinction procedure. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section H-5: Plan for possible unwanted effects when using reinforcement, extinction, and punishment procedures.

Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Types of Unwanted Treatment Side Effects Explained

Test your knowledge of planning interventions with PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she explained the types of unwanted treatment side effects. Also included is a description of the two types of contrast effects, positive behavioral contrast and negative behavioral contrast, as well as corresponding examples. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Section H-5: Plan for possible unwanted effects when using reinforcement, extinction, and punishment procedures.

Test your ABA Terminology ➠ Matching Law vs. Behavioral Contrast

Put your ABA terminology knowledge to the test with #PTB co-founder Dana Meller as she compares two commonly confused terms: Matching Law vs. Behavioral Contrast, and discusses corresponding examples of each. Refer to BCBA® Task List (5th ed.) Sections B-5: Define and provide examples of schedules of reinforcement, and H-5: Plan for possible unwanted effects when using reinforcement, extinction, and punishment procedures.