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.

5th Edition Task List

E-2.15 Minimizing Risk of Behavior-Change Interventions

6th Edition TCO

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

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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.

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.

Behavioral contrast

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…

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…