Planned ignoring
Deliberately withholding social attention, such as eye contact, talk and physical contact, for a brief period following a specific behavior, as written in the plan.
In planned ignoring, the RBT and others stop giving attention when the target behavior occurs. That means no eye contact, no comments or reprimands, no explaining and no visible reaction, while still keeping the client safe. Attention is given again for appropriate behavior, often as soon as the target behavior stops.
Planned ignoring is most useful for mild behaviors maintained by attention, such as whining, silly noises or calling out. In that case it puts the behavior on extinction, which is why many plans list it as the way to carry out attention extinction. In behavior analysis texts it is also classified as a form of nonexclusionary time-out, because social reinforcement is removed for a short time while the client stays in the setting. Either way, it works only if attention is the reinforcer that matters. Ignoring a behavior maintained by escape or by its own sensory effects withholds nothing important.
Planned ignoring should not be used for behavior that is dangerous, and it is not the same as ignoring the client. The RBT still watches the client, keeps the environment safe, and is ready to reinforce appropriate behavior immediately. Like extinction in general, it may produce a temporary increase in the behavior.
The RBT uses planned ignoring only for the behaviors and situations in the plan, applies it consistently, and records the behavior.
Example and non-example
| Example | During circle time, a student makes animal noises that are maintained by the RBT's attention. Following the plan, the RBT looks at the book and keeps reading without reacting, then praises the student as soon as they sing along. |
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| Non-example | An RBT stops talking to a client for the rest of the session after the client hits them. Withholding all interaction for a long time is not the brief, planned procedure, and a dangerous behavior such as hitting needs the safety steps in the plan. |
Don't confuse it with
| Attention extinction | Attention extinction is defined by withholding the maintaining reinforcer, while planned ignoring is the specific act of withholding attention, which is extinction only if attention maintains the behavior. |
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| Exclusionary time-out | Exclusionary time-out removes the client from the setting, while planned ignoring withdraws attention with the client still present. |
Test yourself
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Question 1A functional assessment showed that a 6-year-old's loud silly words are maintained by adult laughter and comments. The supervisor's plan puts this behavior on attention extinction. The child shouts a silly word during a puzzle. What should the RBT do?
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C: Keep the puzzle going without any reaction to the shouting. Attention extinction means the target behavior no longer produces attention: no eye contact, comments or facial reactions. The RBT keeps the activity going and saves attention for appropriate behavior.
- A: A calm comment is still attention, which is the reinforcer the plan says to withhold.
- B: That is time-out, which is not in the plan; the RBT must implement the procedure as written.
- D: Delivering a preferred item right after shouting can reinforce the shouting.
Task D.4 · 40-hour curriculum section E
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Question 2An RBT is implementing planned ignoring for a client's whining at a park. While whining, the client starts to walk toward a busy street. What should the RBT do?
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B: Step in to keep the client safe, even though it gives attention. Safety always comes first. An RBT protects the client from harm even if that means delivering some attention, then follows the plan again and reports what happened.
- A: Extinction never overrides safety; a risk of harm must be addressed right away.
- C: This is neither safe nor consistent with the plan; the client must be kept safe directly.
- D: Waiting allows a serious risk of harm, which the RBT must prevent.
Task D.4 · 40-hour curriculum section E · RBT Ethics Code 2.01
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Question 3Which RBT behavior best fits planned ignoring of a client's attention-maintained behavior?
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B: Keeping a neutral face and avoiding eye contact and comments. Planned ignoring withholds all forms of attention after the target behavior: looks, comments, facial expressions and physical contact. The RBT keeps the client safe and gives attention for appropriate behavior instead.
- A: Announcing the ignoring is a comment, so it still gives attention.
- C: An explanation is attention delivered right after the behavior.
- D: A reprimand is attention and may reinforce attention-maintained behavior.
Task D.4 · 40-hour curriculum section E
Answer every question to see your score.
On the RBT exam
This term belongs to task D.4 Extinction in content area D, Behavior Reduction, which is 14 of the 75 scored questions.