Principlev1PR-1111
Expect an extinction burst when retiring an agent…
Expect an extinction burst when retiring an agent—a temporary increase in the urge to perform the retired behavior that occurs before decline—and do not interpret this as evidence the retirement was wrong.
Why This Is a Principle
Derives from When a consistently reinforced behavior stops being… (extinction burst) and Extinction does not erase original learning but creates… (extinction doesn't erase learning). This principle provides the interpretive framework that prevents premature reversal of retirement decisions. It's prescriptive about how to interpret the predictable psychological response to behavior cessation.