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Resurgence Behavior

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Sometimes, a behaviour disappears for some period of time, but comes back later for no apparent reason. According to Epstein (1983), this phenomenon is called as resurgence. Epstein explains resurgence as follows: when a behaviour is put on extinction, another previously reinforced behaviour in the same context will reoccur. Thus, a current behaviour, if no longer reinforced, leads to the occurrence of a previously reinforced behaviour, provided that the situation remains the same (Epstein, 1985). This has been evidenced by Doughty and Oken’s (2008) study as well.

Recent research is now focusing more on the concept of resurgence, not just in laboratory experimental conditions, but also in natural settings. Resurgence correlates with extinction- …show more content…

Shahan and Chase (2002) explain the importance of resurgence in ‘problem solving’ – problem solving cannot be sufficiently described in terms of behaviour shaping and variability. Individuals will engage with a variety of behaviours which were previously reinforced in the similar context, when the initial behaviour that they performed did not lead to the solution of the problem. For instance, Epstein (1987)’s study, showed that after the pigeon was trained to involve in a variety of behaviours such as to get a reinforcement such as pushing, climbing a box or pecking a plastic banana, then when one behaviour does not result in reinforcement, the pigeon will replicate previously trained responses when they are faced with the problem situation again. This repertoire of behaviours will occur under stimulus …show more content…

Normally, the resurgence of problem behaviours occurs when behaviour analysts implement an intervention by using extinction-based treatment such as Differential Reinforcement of Alternative behaviour procedure (DRA) with extinction, functional communication training with extinction, and so on to decrease inappropriate or undesired behaviours. If the alternative behaviour is not reinforced on time or not appropriately placed on extinction, leading to resurgence of undesired

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