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How to ThinkIn the Age of AI
Principlev1PR-1544

When initiating extinction, prepare for and endure…

When initiating extinction, prepare for and endure the temporary behavioral intensification (extinction burst) without reinstating reinforcement, as the burst is evidence the process is working.

Why This Is a Principle

Derives from Behaviors that produce satisfying consequences tend… (behavior reinforcement), When reinforcement is first withdrawn, behavior temporarily… (behavior temporarily increases when reinforcement is first withdrawn), and When a consistently reinforced behavior stops being… (extinction burst pattern). This principle prescribes specific action during a critical phase of extinction—endure the burst without giving in—and explains why doing so is correct.

Source Lessons

Extinction bursts

When you stop rewarding a behavior it temporarily intensifies before declining — expect this.

Behavioral extinction mastery gives you control over your automatic programming

The ability to deliberately remove behaviors is as important as the ability to install them.

Connections

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