Resurgence Following Response Cost in a Human-Operant Procedure

Resurgence is the reemergence of a previously reinforced behavior following the extinction of an alternative behavior. Although several variables are known to impact resurgence, few studies have examined resurgence when the target response was previously punished. Results of two studies examining resurgence after punishment have been mixed. In the current study, we employed a human-operant procedure to compare resurgence following differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) with extinction and DRA with extinction and response cost. For the three participants, target responding was eliminated more rapidly and fully following DRA with response cost. Similar levels of resurgence, however, occurred following both procedures. These data provide evidence that arranging response cost during DRA facilitates suppression of target responding without affecting subsequent resurgence. The results further our understanding of the role of negative punishment in resurgence as a process and have implications for the development of clinical intervention packages.