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Differential Reinforcement of Incompatible Behavior

Description of the Strategy

Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI) is one of several procedures used to decrease the frequency of a problem response (e.g., tantrums), but it is unique in also increasing another response (e.g., appropriate play). Central to understanding differential reinforcement are the principles of reinforcement and extinction as related to the concepts of response differentiation and differential reinforcement, first explicated in the Skinner classics The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis and Science and Human Behavior, respectively. When only responses with particular properties are selectively reinforced, other operating principles being equal, all responses in that class increase in probability, decreasing the probability of all other responses. In DRI, purported reinforcers are delivered contingent on response topographies that are physically impossible to emit simultaneously with a response excess. For instance, completion of a manipulation task cannot occur simultaneously with hand flapping, body rocking, or aggressive behavior, nor can peer tutoring occur during disruptive behavior. The incompatible response competes with the maladaptive response in that increases in the frequency of the incompatible response reduce the opportunity to emit the maladaptive response. Other responses, particularly the target response excess, are on extinction, further reducing the future probability of the behavior excess.

The reinforcer is usually first delivered for each incompatible response and may be any stimulus that will strengthen that response. But use of the functional reinforcer that had maintained the response excess would further decrease the frequency of the behavior excess through satiation, reducing its momentary probability. This defines differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA), also called differential reinforcement of functionally equivalent behavior (DRFE). Therefore, functional reinforcement of an incompatible response combines DRI and DRA contingencies.

An advantage of DRI over punishment is avoiding undesirable effects such as emotional responses and conditioned aversions. In contrast to punishment, extinction, and differential reinforcement of other behavior, DRI can potentially be constructive in building the appropriate response repertoire and avoiding reinforcer deprivation.

Research Basis

It has been demonstrated in basic research that specific response properties, including topography, can be strengthened through reinforcement. The result is response differentiation, an increase in the probability of the reinforced response class and a simultaneous decrease in all nonreinforced responses. Studies in applied behavior analysis have shown reduction of a wide variety of unwanted responses via reinforcement of various incompatible behaviors. Representative examples include reinforcement of lying still to reduce disruptive activity during medical treatment, signing “please” to reduce grabbing or self-injury, task compliance to reduce oppositional responses, appropriate verbal responses to reduce inappropriate verbal responses, articulated speech to reduce inarticulate speech, and completion of academic tasks to reduce sleeping or disruptive classroom behavior.

DRI is effective using both positive and negative reinforcement, such as delivery of tokens and escape and avoidance of shock, respectively. Both reinforcers have shown to be effective in reducing self-injury when contingent on toy play. DRI is also effective in utilizing either arbitrary or functional reinforcers. The examples of positive and negative reinforcement described above illustrate arbitrary reinforcers. Examples effectively incorporating a functional (DRA) contingency include reinforcing toy play with the positive reinforcer of staff interaction or the negative reinforcer of escape from demands, depending on the reinforcer previously maintaining self-injury.

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