Differential ReinforcementDifferential Reinforcement is a behavior modi... of Lower Rates of BehaviorBehavior refers to any activity or action that living o... (DRL) is a strategy used in AppliedApplied means that the behaviors targeted for change in... Behavior Analysis (ABA) to reduce the frequencyIn Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), frequency refers to the ... of a behavior that is socially acceptable but occurs too often or at inappropriate times. Rather than eliminating the behavior entirely, DRL aims to reinforce lower rates of the behavior by providing reinforcementReinforcement is a fundamental concept in Applied Behavior A... only when the behavior occurs less frequently or within a set criterion. This method is useful when a behavior is acceptable but needs to be reduced to a more appropriate levelIn Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), leve....
Example
A student named Jake often raises his hand to ask questions during class. While asking questions is an appropriate behavior, Jake does this excessively, disrupting the flow of the lesson. The teacher implements a DRL strategy by setting a limit: Jake can ask up to three questions per class period. If Jake raises his hand fewer than three times, the teacher praises him and provides positive reinforcementPositive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by... at the end of the class. Over time, Jake learns to moderate his behavior by asking fewer questions during class while still engaging appropriately.