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From DBT Skills Training Handouts and Worksheets, Second Edition  by Marsha M. Linehan. Copyright 2015 by Marsha M. Linehan. Permis -
sion to photocopy this worksheet is granted to purchasers of this book for personal use only (see copyright page for details). Purchasers may 
download a larger version of this worksheet from www.guilford.com/dbt-  
worksheets .Interpersonal effect Iv eness Worksheet 15   (I. E. Handouts 21–22)
Changing Behavior by Extinguishing or Punishing It
Due Date:       Name:                   Week Starting:  
F
ill out this sheet whenever you try to increase your own or someone else’s behavior with reinforce -
ment. Look for opportunities (since they occur all the time) to reinforce behavior. Write on the back 
of this sheet if you need more room.
1.
 I
n advance, identify the behavior you want to decrease, and decide whether you will 
extinguish it by eliminating a reinforcer or stop it with punishment. (Skip the one you are 
not using.)
If you are using punishment, identify the consequence. Also decide the new alternative 
behavior to reinforce, and the reinforcer to use to increase it to replace the behavior you are decreasing.
a.
 F
or yourself:
Behavior to decrease: 
 
R
einforcer to remove:
 
P
unishing consequence to add: 
 
N
ew behavior and reinforcer: 
 
b
.
 F
or someone else:
Behavior to decrease: 
 
R
einforcer to remove: 
 
P
unishing consequence to add: 
 
N
ew behavior and reinforcer: 
 
2
.
 D