Differential ReinforcementDifferential Reinforcement is a behavior modification technique in which reinforcement is provided for responses that meet specific criteria, while other responses are not reinforced. T... More of Incompatible BehaviorBehavior refers to any activity or action that living organisms engage in, which can be observed, measured, and analyzed. It encompasses all interactions an organism has with its environment, inc... More (DRI) is a technique used in AppliedApplied means that the behaviors targeted for change in ABA are important and meaningful in everyday life, helping to improve the person’s quality of life or social functioning. Example A ... More Behavior Analysis (ABA) where reinforcementReinforcement is a fundamental concept in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) and behavioral psychology. It refers to any consequence that follows a behavior and increases the likelihood that the behavior... More is provided for a behavior that is incompatible with the undesired or maladaptive behavior. In other words, the individual is reinforced for engaging in a behavior that physically cannot occur at the same time as the problematic behavior. The goal of DRI is to decrease the occurrence of the maladaptive behavior by reinforcing an alternative, incompatible behavior.
Example
A student in class frequently engages in fidgeting and hand-flapping, which disrupts their focus and the class environment. The teacher implements a DRI strategy by reinforcing the behavior of folding hands on the desk, which is incompatible with hand-flapping. Since the student cannot flap their hands while keeping them folded on the desk, the teacher provides praise and rewards each time the student keeps their hands folded. Over time, the hand-flapping behavior decreases as the student learns that folding hands results in reinforcement.