The current study tested the potential of teaching multiple response alternatives to mitigate resurgence of a target response. Two experimental arrangements were alternated. In one component a target response was reinforced, then an alternative response was reinforced while the target response was placed on extinction. In the final phase, both responses were placed on extinction. In the second component, a target response was reinforced, then four alternative responses were reinforced while the target response was placed on extinction. In the final phase, all responses were placed on extinction. Six of nine participants demonstrated lower resurgence of the target response following reinforcement of multiple response alternatives. The results of this study suggest teaching multiple response alternatives is a possible treatment strategy to mitigate response resurgence.

Resurgence is the re-emergence of a previously extinguished response following the establishment and elimination of reinforcement for an alternative response. Resurgence has been evaluated with non-human animals (Epstien, 1983; Lieving & Lattal, 2003) as well as in translational and applied studies with humans (Bruzek & Thompson, 2006; Hoffman & Falcomata, 2014; Lieving et al., 2004). Mitigating resurgence can be an important clinical concern to address when the initially extinguished response (i.e., the one that resurges) is problem behavior. The current study sought to extend previous research from Carrasquillo (2014) related to the effect teaching multiple alternative responses might have on levels of resurgence. Three participants with developmental disabilities participated in the study. One participant’s behavior did not come under control of the contingencies, thus resurgence could not be evaluated. For the remaining two participants, some level of resurgence was noted following extinction of single alternative and multiple alternative responses. When resurgence occurred, it was less pronounced in the context associated with the multiple alternative responses. These results supported previous, similar findings. The results are discussed with respect to the implications for future research and clinical practice.

To be meaningfully in solidarity with Indigenous liberation struggles, Marxism must bring Indigenous values of consensual intimacy, relational autonomy and responsibility to its centre, by (1) plucking out premises in ethical, political, ontological, epistemological and analytic registers that close off Marx and many contemporary Marxists from centring these values, and (2) bringing Indigenous resurgence values to the centre of Marxism to engage in normative and theoretical repair to enable a more decolonial praxis. I generate my understanding of Indigenous values through a close examination of Indigenous Resurgence Theory, guided by the ethical framework of the Two Row Wampum. With these in hand, I examine the aforementioned registers through immanent critique of the places in Marx's thought where he elaborates them, and suggest transformations that eventuate from incorporating Indigenous values. / Graduate

archives@tulane.edu / 1 / Abu Thomas

According to W̱SÁNEĆ oral history, the W̱SÁNEĆ people have lived on their territorial homelands back to the time of creation. The W̱SÁNEĆ way of life has been passed on to each succeeding generation through an educational way, centered in large part on the W̱SÁNEĆ Reef Net Fishery. This fishing practice formed the backbone of W̱SÁNEĆ culture and society. Despite being protected by the Douglas Treaty of 1852, over the next 163 years of colonization, the knowledge, ceremony, practice, and educational way of the SX̱OLE (Reef Net) was nearly lost. Using a framework for Indigenous Resurgence, this dissertātiō or path focuses on the revitalization and restoration of the SX̱OLE. This resurgent path described herein tells the story of how the “researcher” pulled together the disappearing knowledge of the SX̱OLE, reinvigorated cross border cooperation between the W̱SÁNEĆ and their Xwelemi relatives, and how after being named ȻWENÁLYEN, or the Reef Net Captain through ceremony was able to coordinate the community based creation and fishing of the first SX̱OLE on Canadian waters in 100 years. This resurgent path is just the beginning of a long and endless journey forward by looking backward, where the W̱SÁNEĆ people can be a proud people of the SX̱OLE once again. / Graduate

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the conditions under which resurgence of appropriate communicative responses (mands) would occur with children with developmental disabilities. The experimental preparation consisted of a sequence of conditions that included (a) the reinforcement of one mand (i.e., microswitch activation or card exchange) on a FR 1 schedule, (b) an extinction condition in which the mand was no longer reinforced, (c) the reinforcement of a second mand (i.e., microswitch activation or card exchange) on a FR 1 schedule, and (d) a test for resurgence of the first mand which consisted of placing the second mand on extinction. The results demonstrated resurgence of mands during 2 out of 3 tests for resurgence for one participant. Resurgence of mands was demonstrated during all three tests for resurgence with the second participant. / text

The mitigation of response resurgence is a topic which has garnered recent attention due to its importance in a clinical setting. The present study examined the mitigation of response resurgence in a human operant study using a computer program to teach multiple response alternatives using a Lag 3 schedule of reinforcement. Of the six undergraduate students who participated in this study, three came under the control of the programmed contingencies. All three of these participants demonstrated higher rates of resurgence in the component which simulated a single response alternative when compared to the component which simulated a multiple response alternative. Areas for future study are discussed.

Although pertussis vaccines have been available for over 7 decades, countries are experiencing a pertussis resurgence. This study sought to establish a relationship between the European pertussis immunization schedule designs (with and without the inclusion of adolescent boosters) and the immunization requirement (recommended or required), which potentially influences immunity waning, and thus the incidence rate and epidemiologic cycles of pertussis. The theoretical foundation for this study was the theory of herd immunity. A quantitative research method was used, supported by a secondary data source. The statistical analysis included the use of linear regression to evaluate the relationship between the requirement of the vaccine and the addition of adolescent boosters on the incidence level and the length of the epidemiologic cycles. The study findings suggest that pertussis immunization, whether recommended or required, does have an influence on the incidence rate within the populations of the countries analyzed. The same influence on incidence was demonstrated in relation to adolescent boosters as part of the immunization schedule. A similar relationship was not observed between the immunization schedule requirement and design on the epidemiologic cycles. This study provided relevant data that contributes to the enhanced understanding of the relationship between the design of the immunization schedule on incidence. This understanding could help control the resurgence, reduce immune waning through adolescent boosters, enhance immunization schedule timing, and lower the incidence. The result would be a positive public health social change through improved immunization strategy.

A common approach to the treatment of instrumental problem behavior is the introduction of an acceptable alternative source of reinforcement. However, when alternative reinforcement is removed or reduced, the target behavior tends to relapse. The relapse of a target response following the removal of alternative reinforcement has been termed resurgence. Shahan and Sweeney developed a quantitative model of resurgence based on behavioral momentum theory that captures both the disruptive and strengthening effects of alternative reinforcement on the target response. The quantitative model suggests that although higher rates of alternative reinforcement result in faster response elimination, lower rates of alternative reinforcement result in less relapse when removed. The present study was designed to examine the possibility that good target response suppression and less relapse could be achieved by beginning with a higher (rich) rate of alternative reinforcement and gradually thinning it such that a lower (lean) rate of alternative reinforcement is ultimately removed. Furthermore, the data obtained were generated to provide insight into how thinning rates of alternative reinforcement might be incorporated into the quantitative model of resurgence. Results suggest that rich rates of alternative reinforcement were more effective than lean or thinning rates of alternative reinforcement at response suppression during treatment, but when alternative reinforcement was discontinued, the group that experienced rich rates exhibited a substantial increase. Although lean and thinning rates of alternative reinforcement were not as effective at response suppression during treatment as rich rates, they still resulted in substantial decreases in the target response. Furthermore, removal of lean rates of alternative reinforcement did not result in substantial increase in the target response. Advantages and disadvantages of rich, lean, and thinning alternative reinforcement rates are discussed with respect to target response suppression and sensitivity to the end of treatment, and an alternative response rate is discussed. Although a small modification to the quantitative model was able to similarly account for data produced by rich, lean, and thinning alternative reinforcement, as it currently stands the model is unable to account for the finding that alternative reinforcement may not always serve as a disruptor relative to a no alternative reinforcement control.

Behavioral and cognitive-behavioral psychotherapies utilizing exposure are considered the gold standard in anxiety disorder treatments. Despite their success, relapse remains problematic, especially over long-term follow up periods. Basic researchers traditionally conceptualize the mechanism of exposure as Pavlovian extinction, but this may overlook the important role of operant processes in the treatment and relapse of anxiety. Resurgence, in which a previously extinguished behavior returns following the extinction of another behavior that has replaced it, is a promising model of operant relapse. Nonhuman research on resurgence has shown that, while higher rates of alternative reinforcement result in faster and more comprehensive extinction of target behavior, they also result in greater resurgence. This somewhat paradoxical finding could have important implications for clinicians treating anxiety, as higher rates of alternative reinforcement may have the unintended side effect of producing greater relapse of avoidance if access to positive reinforcement later becomes unavailable. The current study took a translational approach to investigating the effects of rich and lean rates of alternative reinforcement on extinction and magnitude of resurgence in typically developing humans using a computerized task. Three groups (Rich, n = 18; Lean, n = 18; Control, n = 10) underwent acquisition of a target response. Target responding was then placed on extinction while varying rates of reinforcement for an alternative behavior were delivered. Resurgence was assessed under extinction conditions for all groups. Results indicated that the rich rate of alternative reinforcement facilitated extinction while the lean rate ultimately had a detrimental effect on extinction. Within groups, Rich and Lean experienced significant resurgence, while Control did not. Effect sizes were large. Between groups, Rich resurged more than Lean and Control. Effect sizes were again large. There was no significant difference in resurgence between Lean and Control. Implications for the treatment of anxiety disorders and future research directions are discussed.