How can planned ignoring be utilized in behavior management?

Planned ignoring is a behavior management strategy aimed specifically at reducing attention-seeking behaviors by deliberately withholding attention from the individual when they engage in these behaviors. The essence of this approach is based on the principle that if a certain behavior is consistently met with a lack of response—either verbal or physical—it is likely to decrease over time.

When caregivers or practitioners choose to ignore attention-seeking behaviors, the individual may soon learn that such behaviors do not yield the desired reaction. Consequently, this lack of reinforcement minimizes the frequency of those behaviors. Over time, and with consistent application of this technique, the individual may find alternative, more appropriate means to gain attention or communicate their needs.

To understand this better, consider how attention tends to reinforce behaviors in a behavior management context. If a child engages in a disruptive act solely to receive attention, ignoring that act removes the reinforcer, leading the child to seek other, perhaps more positive, ways to interact.