“You can’t have any candy!” Billy’s screams echo through the store, “I WANT CANDY, I WANT CANDY!” At this point Mommy usually relents and gives Billy his candy to avoid further scrutiny from nearby shoppers, but this time she decides enough is enough and turns and walks away. “How many times have I told you not to yell in here?” she demands. “Not right now,” she answers bravely, “you’ll spoil your dinner.” Unfazed by her conventional tone, Billy raises the stakes, “I WANT CANDY!” he screams louder than before. The inevitability does nothing to allay the dread that creeps into Mommy’s heart. Silently she pleads, “Please don’t see the candy, please don’t see the candy!” “I want candy!” comes the inevitable demand. On her way in to pick up some flour for the cake she’s making for Billy’s birthday, they pass the bane of every parent: the candy aisle! The theme from The Twilight Zone plays in the back of her mind as the hair on her arm raises. The Story Unfolds A three year old boy named Billy goes to the store with Mom. So why is it called an extinction burst? To better explain this phenomenon let me tell you a story. Simply put, an extinction burst looks like a tantrum, in fact, that’s pretty much what it is. An extinction burst is a sudden and temporary increase in “undesirable” behavior when the behavior is no longer reinforced. If you don’t have kids, you’ve probably seen one unfold at the store or the mall or even at a friend’s home. This term is probably unfamiliar to most people, but you’ve most likely seen one before, especially if you have kids.
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