In what scenario would tangible extinction be applied?

Tangible extinction involves removing access to a desired tangible item following the occurrence of a target behavior. In this scenario, it is applied by restricting items that an individual may be trying to gain through inappropriate or maladaptive behaviors, such as tantrums or requests made in an inappropriate manner.

By withholding access to these tangible objects, the individual learns that engaging in the target behavior will not result in the desired outcome. This helps in extinguishing the inappropriate behavior over time, as the individual starts to understand that the behavior will not lead to obtaining the item they want. Applying tangible extinction in this way can effectively promote the learning of more appropriate behaviors to obtain those tangible rewards in the future.

This method is distinct from alternatives like promoting positive behavior, which focuses on reinforcing appropriate actions rather than addressing undesired behaviors directly.