Differential Reinforcement of Other Behavior

Description of the Strategy

Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) involves the delivery of a reinforcer when a target behavior is not emitted for a specified period of time. Sometimes referred to as differential reinforcement of zero rates of behavior, reinforcement within DRO interventions is contingent on the nonoccurrence of target behavior over a specified period of time.

There are two basic types of DRO schedules: whole interval and momentary interval. In whole-interval DRO, reinforcement is delivered if the target behavior has not occurred for the entire prescribed interval. An example of a whole-interval DRO contingency would be “Eric will earn 5 minutes of computer time [i.e., a reinforcer] for each 90-minute interval during which he does not destroy property.” To earn the ...

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